Car insurance in the Netherlands for expats

If you have just moved to the Netherlands, the first surprise is often not the premium but the system. The policy is built around the car and its Dutch licence plate, not around a named driver. The minimum cover is WA, the Dutch equivalent of third-party liability. The choice above that is how much of your own car you want to insure.

This page is general information, not personal advice. We do not sell policies, arrange cover or collect your details. Some links may become affiliate links and are marked as such; none contains a tracking code today.

1. What is mandatory?

Every motor vehicle registered in the Netherlands must be insured for WA (wettelijke aansprakelijkheid). The obligation starts when the vehicle is registered in your name. It does not wait until you start driving, and it does not depend on how often you use the car.

The RDW checks the insurance and inspection registers every day. If your vehicle is not insured, the CJIB can send you a fine. If you cause damage while uninsured, you can also be held personally liable for that damage. Do not treat a short trip as a loophole.

2. WA, WA+ or allrisk?

Dutch insurers use three main levels. The names are not a legal classification of every policy, so always read the policy terms.

Indicative summary based on ANWB's public explanation of WA, WA+ and allrisk, checked 22 October 2026. Actual cover, exclusions and excess differ by insurer and policy.

The right level is not automatically the most expensive one. For an older car with a low value, WA can be enough. For a new or financed car, allrisk is often more sensible, and the lender may require it. Look at the value of the car, your savings and how much risk you can carry.

3. No-claims history from your home country

Dutch insurers use schadevrije jaren (claim-free years) to calculate a no-claims discount. If you have just arrived, you may start with zero Dutch years, even if you drove claim-free for years abroad. That can make your first Dutch premium much higher.

Some insurers accept a foreign claims statement. InShared is one insurer that says so publicly. On its FAQ page it explains that you can bring your foreign experience to a policy in your own name if you send a statement from your foreign insurer. The statement should show:

• the period you drove the vehicle, with an end date in the past;
• the claims you had;
• whether those claims were recoverable or not.

InShared says the process is fastest if the statement is in Dutch or English. It then tells you how many claim-free years it can use. This is a public statement from one insurer, not a guarantee that every insurer will do the same. Ask the insurer or comparator before you buy, and keep the original document.

4. How to compare policies

A premium comparison is only useful if you enter the same details everywhere. Use the same car, postcode, date of birth, number of claim-free years, annual mileage, coverage and excess. If one quote uses a higher excess or excludes theft, it is not the same product.

• Check the excess per coverage, not just the monthly price.
• Read the exclusions: alcohol, racing, commercial use, rental, undisclosed drivers.
• Check whether roadside assistance is included and whether it covers the whole of Europe.
• Check whether passenger injury cover (ongevallenverzekering opzittenden) is separate.
• Check whether legal expenses cover (rechtsbijstand) is included or extra.
• Check how to report a claim and whether you can choose your own repairer.
• Compare the annual premium with the monthly premium; instalments can cost extra.

5. What you need to apply

Insurers typically ask for your Dutch address, date of birth, the licence plate or vehicle details, your claim-free years and your payment details. If you have a foreign licence, ask whether it is accepted and whether you need a Dutch translation or an international driving permit. Rules differ by insurer and by how long you have been in the Netherlands.

We do not collect any of these details on this site. When you click through to an insurer or comparator, you enter your details on their site, under their privacy policy.

6. Dutch terms you will see

• WA — third-party liability, the mandatory minimum.
• WA+ / beperkt casco — limited comprehensive cover.
• Allrisk / volledig casco — full comprehensive cover.
• Eigen risico — excess you pay yourself.
• Schadevrije jaren — claim-free years used for your discount.
• Opzittendenverzekering — separate accident cover for driver and passengers.
• Pechhulp — roadside assistance.
• Rechtsbijstand — legal expenses cover.
• Kenteken — Dutch licence plate / registration.
• APK — periodic technical inspection.

7. Bringing your car to the Netherlands

If you are registered in the BRP, you generally cannot keep driving on foreign plates. You must import the car and register it with the RDW. The process includes an inspection, a Dutch registration certificate, plates, motor vehicle tax and possibly a BPM declaration. Read the full step-by-step guide: Importing a car to the Netherlands.

8. Insurers and comparators

We do not rank insurers. A policy that suits a 22-year-old with an old car is not necessarily right for a family with a new car. The market includes direct insurers, comparison sites and intermediaries. Some links below may become affiliate links; they are marked, none contains a tracking code today, and a commission would not change the premium.