Motor Traffic Guarantee Fund
The Motor Traffic Guarantee Fund helps you if you have damage to your car caused by an unknown or uninsured driver. For example, if someone drives on after an accident or has no insurance. Submit a damage claim. The fund ensures that you still receive compensation.
Guarantee fund for damage caused by unknown or stolen vehicles
You can get money from the Motor Traffic Guarantee Fund if you have damage caused by a motor vehicle and you cannot turn to an insurer. This is the case, for example, if the perpetrator is unknown, has no insurance or if the vehicle has been stolen.
The damage does not always have to be caused by a car. The Guarantee Fund compensates damage caused by all motor vehicles such as a moped or tractor. Damage caused by an attached trailer or fallen load also falls under the term motor vehicle.
Also for damage to items other than your car
The Guarantee Fund pays for damage to belongings and injuries if caused by a motor vehicle. So they also pay for damage to your bicycle, car, garden fence or house. If you have material damage caused by an unknown perpetrator, you have to pay €250 yourself.
This car damage is reimbursed by the Guarantee Fund
The Guarantee Fund helps with traffic damage in the Netherlands in 5 situations when it is clear who caused the damage. A few conditions do apply.
The Guarantee Fund pays out only if:
It is not clear who caused the damage.
The motor vehicle is not insured.
The motor vehicle is stolen and the driver is aware of it.
The insurance company of the vehicle that caused the damage is bankrupt.
The owner of the vehicle due to personal conviction does not need to have insurance.
No compensation for damages involving cyclists or vandalism
Damage to your car will only be reimbursed if it was caused by another motor vehicle. If the damage was caused by a collision with a cyclist or an object such as a shopping cart, you will not be compensated.
Damage caused by vandalism, vandalism and theft of your car will not be reimbursed by the Guarantee Fund. For this, make a report or a report to the Police.
Do you have an all-risk car insurance policy? Then you will be reimbursed for damage caused by vandalism.
Witness statement for car damage
Do you want to file your claim with the Guarantee Fund? Then you must provide proof of the damage. The Guarantee Fund will only reimburse the damage if you can prove that you made an effort to track down the perpetrator.
For example, by reporting it to the police, placing an ad or asking around the neighborhood. You must do something within 14 days of discovering the damage before filing the claim.
Using live witnesses in car damage case
Therefore, try to find witnesses as soon as possible. Witnesses are people who saw another motor vehicle hit your car. These are called live witnesses.
It is often difficult to find people who actually saw the accident. That is why the Guarantee Fund also uses people who were at the scene of the accident as witnesses.
A location witness can tell that the parked car:
Had no damage before parking.
In between has not been moved.
The car had damage when it was parked.
The Guarantee Fund has created a form for witnesses to fill out. Witnesses should also be willing to repeat their testimony to a judge if necessary.
Silent witnesses employed in car damage
Unfortunately, your self-declaration is not enough for the Guarantee Fund to pay for the car damage. The Guarantee Fund will only pay if there are people or evidence that can corroborate your story.
Witnesses do not always have to be people. Traces left at the accident scene can also be witnesses. We call these "silent witnesses. Silent witnesses include broken off parts from another car, pieces of glass, mud from a fender, or traces of paint.
Damage expert from the Guarantee Fund
In addition to witness statements, the Guarantee Fund engages an expert for each claim. This expert looks at whether the damage was really caused by another motor vehicle. The surveyor also examines whether the car was damaged while stationary.
Or that you may have caused the damage yourself, for example, in a collision. In the latter case, you will not receive compensation from the Guarantee Fund. If you file a claim anyway, you are committing fraud and that can have major consequences.
Excess Guarantee Fund in the event of car damage
The Guarantee Fund pays for damage to belongings and injuries if it is caused by a motor vehicle. Was the damage caused by an unknown motor vehicle? Then there is usually a €250 deductible with the Guarantee Fund.
The Motor Insurance Directive says that every EU country must have a Guarantee Fund. This directive distinguishes between damage from an uninsured vehicle and damage from an unknown vehicle. Sometimes it also involves a stolen vehicle or someone who is not required to have insurance because of personal concerns.
Auto damage caused by an uninsured vehicle
If you are hit by an insured car, you get full car damage compensation from the other party's insurer. You are not liable for the damage caused and therefore no deductible applies.
There is also no excess if you are hit by a car. The Guarantee Fund compensates for damages and then recovers as much as possible from the perpetrator.
Car damage caused by an unknown vehicle
For property damage caused by an unknown perpetrator, you have a deductible of €250.
Car damage caused by a stolen vehicle
With a stolen car, basically the same rule applies as with an uninsured car. The Guarantee Fund then does not charge a deductible.
Exemption from insurance obligation due to state of mind
Perhaps the person who caused car damage to you does not have auto insurance because of personal objections. If a person does not want insurance because of their religion or beliefs, that person is called a person of conscience and then does not have to buy insurance. Instead, they pay a contribution each year to the Temperance Objections Fund (FMG).
The FMG tries to recover as much of the costs as possible from liable conscientious objectors in the event of damages. The Guarantee Fund does the work for the FMG and also does not charge a deductible in these cases.
Disbursement by the Guarantee Fund
You naturally want to settle damages as quickly as possible. The Guarantee Fund will be happy to help you with this. How quickly you receive money also depends on how quickly all information is received. For example, the police report or if witnesses still need to be interviewed. Most damages reported to the Guarantee Fund are usually paid out within 6 weeks.
Financing the Guarantee Fund
The Motor Traffic Guarantee Fund gets money from insurance companies that sell auto insurance. These companies give part of the money they receive from customers to the fund.
They also get money from fines and other income related to uninsured driving. So basically everyone with an insured motor vehicle contributes to the Guarantee Fund.
Frequently asked questions about the Guarantee Fund
When am I eligible for the Car Guarantee Fund?
You are eligible for the Motor Traffic Guarantee Fund if you have suffered damage from an unknown, uninsured or stolen car and you cannot hold the perpetrator liable yourself. The condition is that you can prove that the vehicle caused the damage and that the incident took place in the Netherlands.
How do I file a claim with the Auto Insurance Fund?
You submit a claim through the online claim form on the website of the Guarantee Fund. You will need evidence such as a police report, witness statement(s), photos and a completed statement of damage. Upon receipt, the fund will assess whether your claim meets the conditions.
What are the conditions for reimbursement through the Guarantee Fund?
Important conditions are: the damage was caused by a motor vehicle, the perpetrator is unknown or uninsured, the incident took place in the Netherlands and you can substantiate the accident and damage with evidence, such as a police report or witness statement.
How do I prove my damage to the Auto Insurance Fund?
You provide proof with a combination of elements: photos of the damage, a police report, witness statement(s), quotations from repair companies and possibly camera footage. The stronger your file, the greater your chance of compensation.
Will my premium be affected if I file a claim with the Guarantee Fund?
No, a claim with the Motor Traffic Guarantee Fund does not affect your claim-free years or insurance premium. It is a separate entity from your own car insurer, so your policy remains unaffected.
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