Third-party liability under the WAM
- Injury and property damage to others
- Compulsory as long as the registration is active
- Suspension is possible for long-term storage
- Your own damage is not included
WAM obligation · break-ins · market value
Insuring a van as a self-employed professional
If your van is off the road, your turnover is too. The choice between third-party fire and theft and comprehensive cover, and the arrangements around break-ins, therefore weigh more heavily than the premium.
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Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Bestelbus verzekeren als zelfstandige.
Calculate your premium or request a quote
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The calculator and the quote form below are in Dutch. Prefer to do this in English? Email info@finassverzekert.nl or call 072 - 509 24 56 and we will take it from there.
Work out your own premium with the calculator.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your activities
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
A van registered to your business must be insured against liability. That follows from Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM): as long as the registration is in your name and has not been suspended, third-party liability cover must be in place, even if the van stands idle for weeks. Third-party liability cover pays for the damage you cause to others with the van. Your own van is not insured by it.
For damage to your own vehicle you choose third-party, fire and theft or comprehensive cover. Third-party, fire and theft covers a list of causes: fire, theft, storm, glass damage, collision with an animal running loose and usually break-in damage to the bodywork. Comprehensive cover adds the damage you cause yourself, for example a collision or too low an entrance. With older vans the trade-off is worth making: after a few years the payment is often based on market value , and a high own-damage premium then weighs heavily.
Two matters call for extra attention with a van. First, burglary: own-damage cover repairs the van, not the contents. Second, the valuation arrangement: some policies apply the purchase price or replacement value as new for a set period and then switch to market value. Also read the frequently asked questions about van insurance.
What does third-party, fire and theft cover and what does comprehensive cover?
The difference comes down to one question: was the damage caused by you, or by a named external cause.
Third-party, fire and theft
Cover for an exhaustive list of external causes.
- Fire, lightning strike and explosion
- Theft and break-in damage to the van
- Storm, hail and falling branches
- Glass damage, often without an excess
Comprehensive cover
Also damage through your own doing, vandalism and a collision with no other party involved.
- Own fault and single-vehicle damage
- Vandalism to the bodywork
- The valuation arrangement expires over time
- A higher excess is usual
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party, fire and theft | Comprehensive cover |
|---|---|---|
| Fire or theft of the van | Yes | Yes |
| Break-in damage to the sliding door and lock | Yes | Yes |
| A collision for which you are at fault | No | Yes |
| Damage to the roof from too low a clearance | No | Yes |
| Tools stolen from the load space | No | No |
| A replacement vehicle during repairs | Provided that | Provided that |
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.
Four points when insuring a van
Four subjects that make the difference between a claim being paid and an argument.
The contents of the load space stand apart from the motor policy
For many self-employed people a van is a workshop on wheels. Even so, own-damage insurance covers only the vehicle and the permanently fitted parts. Loose machines, hand tools and materials you carry must be insured separately on a tools or business contents insurance. Those policies generally set requirements: the van in a locked space overnight, no tools left in plain sight and a complete inventory list. Racking and an inverter are not automatically covered either; declare them when you take out the policy.
The use and the circle of drivers must be correct
The policy schedule states what you use the van for and who drives it. If you use the van for delivery runs, courier work or hire while the policy states own-account carriage, reality departs from what you declared. That affects the duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code and can lead to reduction or refusal of the payout under Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Codein the event of a claim. The same applies to a hired-in worker who drives regularly: third parties are covered through the WAM, but own damage may fall within a limited circle of drivers.
Market value is often a disappointment with a van
Vans clock up kilometres quickly and lose value accordingly. Many policies apply a a purchase-value or replacement-value-as-new arrangement for a period and then switch to market value. In the event of a total loss that means a payment that does not cover the replacement, certainly if you have fitted the van out with signwriting and racking. So check how long the arrangement runs, how the market value is determined and whether there is a buy-out arrangement for the excess. Under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code , insurers may not pay more than the loss suffered.
What van insurance does not cover
Excluded as standard are, among other things: driving without a valid driving licence or while disqualified, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and taking part in competitions, speed trials and driving on a circuit. Also wear, mechanical defects and construction faults are not damage within the meaning of the policy, nor is damage arising during loading and unloading to the the load itself . In the case of theft without signs of forced entry or with the keys left behind, no payment is often made. Intent and wilful recklessness are excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code.
What does your premium depend on?
- Value and type of van — list price and year of manufacture
- Type of cover chosen — third-party liability, third-party, fire and theft, or comprehensive
- Excess — higher excess, lower premium
- Storage and security — alarm, glass marking, enclosed site
- Mileage and area of operation — urban areas count more heavily
- No-claims years — built up on the business vehicle
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.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
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.
Do I have to insure my van while it is off the road?
Yes, as long as the registration is in your name. Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM) requires liability cover for every motor vehicle with a valid registration, even if the vehicle is not being driven. If you want to store the van for a longer period, you can have the registration suspended with the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority); the insurance obligation then lapses, but the van may not be parked on the public road either.
Is third-party, fire and theft enough for an older van?
Often it is. Third-party, fire and theft covers the risks that occur most often with vans: fire, theft, break-in damage, storm and glass damage. The difference from comprehensive cover is at-fault damage. With a van with a low market value, the own-damage premium weighs heavily against the possible payout. Work out both options before you choose.
Is break-in damage to the van paid for?
The damage to the vehicle is: the forced lock, the damaged sliding door or the smashed glass fall under both third-party fire and theft and comprehensive cover. What has been taken does not. Always report the theft to the police and report the claim promptly, as Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires. Keep the damaged lock until the loss adjuster has seen it.
What if I also use the van privately?
Report it when you take out the policy. Combined business and private use is usually not a problem, but it must be stated on the policy. If your partner or a family member regularly drives it, check the circle of drivers and any age clause. For the tax side of private use, separate rules apply that stand apart from the insurance.
Do I get a replacement vehicle during repairs?
Only if you have taken out a module for it or if the insurer offers it through a repair network. A replacement vehicle is not part of van insurance as standard. For self-employed people who cannot work without a van, this is often the most important addition. Note the maximum period and whether you get a comparable van.
Read more
Similar pages
- Why you should not leave your van insurance on autopilot
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Van properly insured and not twice over?
Request a quote without obligation; we compare the valuation arrangement, the excess and the break-in conditions for each insurer.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
Claim on the road? Emergency line 06 - 55 20 40 72.
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.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
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.