9 juli 2008
According to the Wet Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering Motorrijtuigen (WAM, the liability insurance for motor vehicles), every owner or holder of a motor vehicle is obligated to have insurance for this vehicle. This law acts as protection for victims of traffic accidents. In the Netherlands almost everyone has a third-party insurance. Still approximately 150,000 vehicles are uninsured.
If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured vehicle, the chances of getting your damages paid are slim. At the very least a great deal of difficulties will be met. If you yourself do not have insurance for your vehicle you are not only committing an offence, but you are also at great financial risk if you get into an accident. A severe accident may cause you to go bankrupt.
Fine or subpoena
If you drive around in an uninsured car you can be caught in a regular traffic check. However the police can also use the CatchKen-system of the KLPD to trace uninsured vehicles. The RDW also regularly compares the insurance data with the vehicle registration data. If you have no insurance for your vehicle you will be fined. If you do not pay this fine, you will be subpoenaed. The Justice Officer will then determine the punishment which can vary from a prison sentence to a driving ban.
Obligatory for all motor vehicles
Drivers have the obligation to prove that their vehicle has insurance, if prove is asked by a police officer. The term motor vehicle includes all vehicles which are operated by or with an engine, other than those vehicles which have to use rails. To summarise: all cars, motorcycles, lorries, busses, mopeds, light mopeds, scooters, trikes, quads, etc. Even electrically powered bicycles (e.g. Sparta-met) have to be insured.
Trailers
For trailers insurance is also obligatory, but in the Netherlands, the trailer is automatically insured along with the car unto which it is attached. In some foreign countries the rules are different, that is why for Spain and Portugal for instance you will need a separate insurance card for the trailer. You can request for this card from your insurance company.