What to do after damage to your car
After a collision the outcome is largely determined at the scene: by what goes on the claim form and by what you did and did not record.
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In brief
First make sure everyone is safe: warning triangle, high-visibility jacket, any injured people and the emergency services. Then comes the paperwork. Complete the European Accident Statement together with the other party and only sign once the sketch of the scene and the ticked boxes are correct. The account of events on that form carries considerable weight in determining the question of fault, and a signature is hard to correct afterwards.
Also record yourself what the form does not capture: photographs of both vehicles, of their final positions on the road, of skid marks, road signs and the road surface, plus the names and telephone numbers of witnesses. If the other party is unidentified, note the registration number and report it to the police. Report the loss to your insurer as soon as you reasonably can; that follows from Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code. The rest of the settlement process is described at the claims process for car damage.
Who pays what follows from two tracks. The other party's loss goes through the compulsory liability cover under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM) and liability itself under Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code. Your own damage only comes into play if you have own-damage cover, or if the other party is liable. What limited cover does and does not do is set out at Third-party liability plus third-party, fire and theft; the comparison of forms of cover is at compare car insurance.
This page deals with one situation. The full overview is on Compare home contents insurance (inboedelverzekering).
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The steps at a glance
Four points that make the difference after a collision.
Do not sign anything you disagree with
If the other party refuses to sign or you disagree about what happened, complete your own part, leave the other part unsigned and note that on the back. An unsigned form is still usable. Do not admit liability at the scene; that assessment is for the insurers and a premature admission can harm your position.
An unidentified driver, parking damage and animals
With a collision involving a driver who remains unidentified, a police report is necessary before recovery is possible anywhere. Parking damage without a note under the windscreen wiper is only covered under own-damage cover. A collision with an animal crossing the road is usually covered under third-party, fire and theft, provided you can demonstrate it with a report or a statement.
Claiming or paying yourself
A claim on your own own-damage cover costs no-claims years and raises the premium for several years. With a small loss, paying yourself can work out cheaper. If you are not liable and the loss is recovered in full from the other party, that has no consequences for your no-claims step. Ask your insurer for that assessment in advance.
When the insurer does not pay
The following are excluded, among others: driving without a valid driving licence, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, use of the car for hire or transport for payment without that having been reported, taking part in speed trials or using a circuit, and damage caused deliberately under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. In those cases the injured party keeps their rights under the WAM, but the insurer recovers the amount paid from the driver.
What does your premium depend on?
- Type of cover chosen: third-party liability, third-party liability plus fire and theft, or comprehensive
- Number of no-claims years: the biggest premium factor for cars
- Excess: often lower with an approved repairer
- Use of the car: private use, commuting or business use
- Region and storage: the postcode and whether the car is kept in a garage
- Age and value of the vehicle: determines whether own-damage cover is still worthwhile
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|
| The rear of the car you hit while merging | Yes | Yes |
| The dent in your own front bumper in that same collision | No | Yes |
| Injury to your passenger in a collision you caused | Yes | Yes |
| Your own broken wrist in that same collision | No | No |
| A stone chip crack in your windscreen on the motorway | No | Yes |
| A shopping trolley that blows against your door in a storm | No | Yes |
Injury to the driver themselves falls in neither column. For that there is occupants' indemnity cover or personal accident cover.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Do I have to report it if I am not going to claim?
Yes, report the event. Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires you to report a loss as soon as you can reasonably be expected to know about it, even if you do not yet know whether you will claim. The other party may still come forward later, and it then matters that your insurer has known about the file from the start. Do state that you are not yet claiming on the cover.
The other party will not sign the form. What do I do?
Note the registration number, make, colour, name and insurance details, complete your own column in full and take photographs of the scene and of both vehicles. Look for witnesses and ask for their contact details. If you doubt matters will end well, or if anyone is injured, call the police. A form completed by one party with photographs and witnesses is usable for determining fault.
Does an own-damage claim always cost me no-claims years?
Only if the loss is actually borne by your own insurer and is not recovered in full. At many insurers, glass damage and damage caused by an insured natural event do not count towards the step-back. Ask in advance what effect a claim has on your no-claims step. With a small amount, paying yourself is sometimes better over several years.
May I choose who repairs the car?
In principle yes, but many policies reward the use of an approved repairer with a reduced or waived excess and with a replacement vehicle. If you choose your own garage, a higher excess may apply. In both cases have the damage assessed first and do not start repairs before the insurer has agreed.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
- Compare car insuranceThe main page
- The European Accident StatementQuestion of fault, sketch of the scene, signature
- Filling in the accident statement form: step by stepFront, back, what to keep
- The European Accident StatementAccount of events, not an admission of fault, both signatures
- The claims process for car damageReporting, assessor, repair
- How does a claim work with car insurance?Accident statement form, reporting, repair
- Car insurance for the Opel AstraQuestion of fault, accident statement form, uninsured other party
- Reporting a claimReport immediately, Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code, what to record