Third-party liability
- Damage to property and injury to third parties
- A coupled trailer is usually included
- Compulsory under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM)
- No cover for your own vehicle
Third-party liability and own damage · body and semi-trailer · territorial limits
The cover provided by lorry insurance
A lorry policy covers the vehicle as described on the policy. What falls outside it is larger with lorries than most owners think.
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In brief
The cover under a lorry insurance consists of two blocks. The first is the third-party liability, compulsory under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM): damage you cause to others with the vehicle, to property and to people. The second is the own-damage cover: damage to the vehicle itself, either through a fixed list of events under third-party, fire and theft cover, or more broadly under comprehensive cover.
Exactly what falls under own-damage cover is determined by the description on the policy. As standard this covers the chassis, cab, engine, standard equipment and the fixed body. A lorry-mounted crane, refrigeration unit, tail lift, generator or demountable body is not automatically included; you must declare it separately with its own value. The same applies to navigation or on-board computer equipment not fitted at the factory.
The biggest blind spot concerns the load. The load almost never falls under the own-damage cover on the vehicle. Own-damage cover concerns the vehicle, not what is on or in it. There are separate solutions for the load: own-goods transit insurance for your own goods, goods-in-transit insurance for the goods themselves, and carrier's liability insurance for your liability as a carrier.
The three forms of cover in detail
What each form does and does not include, and where the boundary lies.
Third-party liability + fire and theft
Alongside third-party liability, an exhaustive list of events set out in the policy.
- Fire, explosion and lightning strike
- Theft, joyriding and damage from break-ins
- Storm, hail, flooding and windscreen damage
- Collision with wild animals
Comprehensive
All sudden and unforeseen damage to the vehicle, with the policy exclusions as the boundary.
- Collision, overturning and going into water
- Damage with no known other party
- Vandalism and wilful damage
- Excess per event
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability + fire and theft | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|
| Damage to property and injury to a third party | Yes | Yes |
| Fire, theft or storm damage to the vehicle | Yes | Yes |
| Damage to your own vehicle after overturning or a single-vehicle collision | No | Yes |
| Damage to a fitted lorry-mounted crane or refrigeration unit | Provided that | Provided that |
| Loss of or damage to the load | No | No |
| Damage outside the area named on the green card | No | No |
What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) that you receive before you take out cover.
Where the cover begins and ends
Four boundaries that in practice most often lead to discussion on a lorry policy.
The body and ancillary equipment are separate from the vehicle
What is on the policy is insured; what is not on it is not. A lorry-mounted crane, tipper body, refrigeration unit, tail lift, generator or demountable body must be listed separately, with its own sum insured. The same applies to loose equipment such as lashing straps, pallets and tarpaulins. Check with every change or purchase whether the policy is still accurate; an insurer does not cover parts it did not know about and for which no premium has been paid.
The vehicle as a piece of equipment
As soon as the lorry is not driving but works — lifting with the crane, tipping, driving a generator — you often leave the domain of the motor insurance. Damage caused to third parties in the process falls outside the WAM cover and ends up with ordinary liability under Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code. Plant and machinery cover or public and employers' liability insurance (AVB) is needed for that. Discuss this boundary in advance, because losses in lifting incidents in particular run high.
Area of cover and green card
The area in which your cover applies is stated on the green card and in the policy conditions. For statutory liability, the minimum cover prescribed locally applies in any event within the countries listed; for own-damage cover there may be restrictions, for instance for theft in certain countries or away from guarded parking areas. If you drive outside the area named, there is no cover. Arrange that in advance and keep the confirmation with the transport documents.
What is not covered
The following, among others, are outside the cover: the load, under no own-damage variant; wear, corrosion, construction faults and mechanical or electronic defects without an external cause; damage caused by overloading or by incorrect loading, stowing and securing; and damage while the vehicle is hired out or used in a way that differs from the description on the policy. Intent and recklessness are also excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code, as is damage while driving without the required licence or under the influence. War risks and nuclear reactions are excluded in virtually every policy.
What does your premium depend on?
- Maximum permitted mass — weight determines the potential for loss
- Value including the body — a crane and unit count towards it
- Purpose of use — hobby, carrying your own goods or professional transport
- Area of cover — domestic or international
- Mileage and number of drivers — intensity of use
- Type of cover and excess — third-party liability, third-party, fire and theft, or comprehensive
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, risk and wishes.
- We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
- You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
- We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
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Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often about this.
What does a lorry insurance cover as standard?
As standard, only statutory liability is covered: damage you cause to others with the vehicle. That is compulsory under Article 2 of the WAM. Everything after that is a choice: third-party, fire and theft cover for a fixed list of events such as fire, theft and storm, or comprehensive cover that also includes damage to your own vehicle. Load cover and driver covers are separate from this.
Is my lorry-mounted crane covered by the own-damage cover?
Only if it is listed on the policy with its own value. A crane, refrigeration unit, tail lift or demountable body is not automatically part of the vehicle as the insurer describes it. Declare them with your application and report later fitting as well. Note too that damage arising during lifting work often falls outside the motor cover and calls for plant and machinery cover.
Is the load covered as well?
No. This is the most common misconception with lorries. Own-damage cover covers the vehicle, not what is on or in it. For your own goods there is own-goods transit insurance; for third-party goods, goods-in-transit insurance or carrier's liability insurance. Without that cover you bear the full load risk yourself, even after a covered collision.
What happens with damage to the semi-trailer?
For statutory liability, a coupled semi-trailer usually counts as part of the combination. Own damage to the semi-trailer itself does not fall under that: it calls for separate cover with its own sum insured. An uncoupled semi-trailer that causes damage also often falls outside the towing vehicle's cover. Have it recorded which semi-trailers are covered.
Does my cover apply abroad?
Within the area stated on the green card, the statutory liability cover applies in any event. For own-damage cover there may be restrictions, for instance for theft away from guarded parking areas or in certain countries. If you drive outside the area named, there is no cover. Apply for an extension in advance and keep the written confirmation with your transport documents.
Read more
Similar pages
- Frequently asked questions about lorry insurance
- Types of lorry insurance: which categories are there?
- Insuring a lorry for private use
- Insuring a lorry in driving licence category C
- Lorry insurance for self-employed professionals
- Insuring a hobby lorry
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About our service
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
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This page was written and checked by an adviser at Finass Verzekert. Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.