When is it mandatory to purchase auto insurance?

A car owner is required to insure the vehicle for at least third-party liability. But what if you don’t drive the car on public roads? Is car insurance still required in that case ? Or can you leave the car uninsured? What are the consequences of leaving it uninsured?

It’s easy to check whether a car is insured or not. First, the license plate is registered in your name when the car is transferred to your name. On the day of registration, a notification must also be received from a car insurance provider. This notification from the insurer confirms that the car is insured for liability coverage. If this notification is not received, the simple conclusion is that the car is not insured. Because the car is registered in your name, it is immediately clear who is in violation—namely, the person in whose name the car is registered.

Car Temporarily Not in Use

For example, you buy a car that needs some work, and you spend a few months fixing it up before it’s roadworthy. So the car isn’t driven on public roads. Since the car is registered in your name, you are required to have insurance. You can avoid this insurance requirement by temporarily suspending the license plate. You’ll receive a temporary exemption from the insurance requirement. But be careful! The suspension is valid for a maximum of one year. After that, the obligation to have liability insurance resumes. You can apply for suspension online on the RDW website. After one year, you can extend the suspension, but you’ll need to take action to do so.

What if you forget to insure your car?

You buy a new car, but you forget to insure it. That’s a problem. You could be fined €609 for driving without insurance. The financial cost could end up being much higher. If you cause an accident, you’ll be responsible for the damages to the other party and to yourself. Car insurance is mandatory, and of course, there’s a good reason for that.

Is your vehicle on a public road but not insured?

If the vehicle is parked on a public road but you do not intend to drive it, you are still required to purchase valid liability insurance for the vehicle. It does not matter whether or not you actually drive the vehicle.

Is it possible to suspend a license plate?

Simply removing the vehicle from public roads and suspending its license plate does not exempt you from the requirement to have insurance.

Which motor vehicles are subject to mandatory insurance?

Motor vehicles are generally subject to mandatory insurance, but not in all cases. For example, a toy car with mechanical propulsion also falls under the definition of a motor vehicle. There is no mandatory insurance requirement for such vehicles. What about electric bicycles? Are you also required to purchase insurance for them? Read here to find out which motor vehicles are subject to mandatory insurance.