Exploring the Cheapest Car Insurance Groups in
the Netherlands
Car insurance is compulsory in the Netherlands, and like in many countries premiums are very variable depending on many variables.
One of the main factors that affect the cost of your insurance in the Netherlands is the classification of your vehicle into so-called insurance groups.
These groups are formed on several factors including the vehicle's value, engine size, safety features, repair expenses and theft risk.
In the Netherlands, knowing how these groups work and which ones are the cheapest can help you make an informed choice when buying or insuring a vehicle.
What Are Car Insurance Groups?
Car insurance groups classify the types of automobiles that the insurer will insure. Note that although there is an officially set rating system like the UK’s Group 1–50 system, Dutch insurers themselves compare each car in their fleet to determine that vehicle’s insurance group.
The difference between the ratings allows insurers to estimate the probability (% chance) a vehicle will become involved in a claim and what the costs might be.
Factors that influence a car’s insurance group include:
- ü Purchase price and market value
- ü Repair costs and availability of spare parts
- ü Vehicle performance (engine size and top speed)
- ü Safety features and crash test ratings
- ü Theft susceptibility
- ü Historical claims data for that make and model
Lower insurance groups tend to have smaller engines, are cheaper to repair and have more dependable safety records so they tend to be cheaper to insure.
Characteristics of the Cheapest Insurance Groups
Vehicles in the cheapest insurance groups share common features:
Smaller Engine Sizes:
Cars with engines under 1. 4 liters are generally considered low risk because they 're not as powerful and much less likely to be driven aggressively.
Low Market Value:
Cheap vehicles can be cheaper to replace / repair than expensive ones so that reduces the risk of excess or total loss on the insurer's part.
High Safety Ratings:
It 's because cars with advanced safety features like anti - lock brakes airbags and electronic stability control tend to be in fewer serious accidents.
Low Theft Risk:
Some cars are just not so hot with thieves. That means there 's a lower chance of a theft claim and those types of cars are cheaper to insure.
Economical Maintenance:
Because cars that are relatively simple ( because they 're designed to be repaired rather than bought new ) are placed in lower risk categories.
Estimation of Cars in Low Insurance Groups
Although the
assignment of cars to groups may differ across different insurance companies,
these are typically among the cars with the lowest insurance premiums:
ü Toyota Aygo Small, affordable city car known
for its dependability. Cheap to insure due to its modest size and engine.
ü VW Up! Good-looking mini car with a low MPG
and low CO2 emission level. Consequently, it is affordable to insure. No wonder
it is popular among students and people with a limited disposable income.
ü Hyundai i10 The i10 is really stylish, weighs
less and gets top safety ratings. Therefore, it is often seen as one of the
cheapest cars to insure.
ü Fiat Panda The entry level hatchback is simple
and easy to maintain and repair. That is why it has been on the lowest
insurance group for years.
ü Suzuki Swift (standard models) While some of
the Swifts have a sporty look, the standard versions are in the lowest
insurance groups and have low insurance costs.
Who Are the Biggest Winners with Low Insurance Groups?
Most commonly,
the drivers who profit most from low insurance group cars are:
ü New or Young Drivers: You hardly have any
driving experience, yet you have to pay thorough the nose. By choosing a car
from a lower insurance group, you can soften the blow.
ü Citizens living or working in the City: Short
urban trips with a low driving speed are often taken by commuters. A low-cost,
cheap car with a small engine is really efficient for the city.
ü Budget Minded Individuals: Those looking to
save on total car ownership costs will also do good to choose a car that is
cheap to insure, as well as in fuel and maintentance.
ü Second Car Households: Families with more than
one car often choose a car from a low insurance group as a second car to
minimize costs.
Ways To Further Lower Premiums
In the Netherlands, it’s possible to save even more on car insurance with a ‘low-insurance-group’ car by:
- ü Preserving a clean driving history allows drivers to take advantage of the no-claim bonus system where discounts increase over time on claims made. Discounts are earned by safe drivers.
- ü If willing to take on more responsibility in the case of a plan, consider raising your ‘eigen risico’ (deductible) in order to lower your monthly payments.
- ü Lower your risk in the eyes of your insurer by installing anti-theft devices or securing parking lots that could lead to reduced premiums.
- ü Being willing to drive fewer kilometers statistically lowers the chance of being involved in an accident.
To Sum Up
One of the best ways to reduce insurance costs in the Netherlands is to choose a car from a lower insurance group.
Economical cars which are small in size and come with high safety ratings alongside being low on repair costs are often preferred by insurance companies and are ideal for young drivers, students, and car owners on a budget.
If carefully selected alongside how the insurer views the risk associated with the vehicle, benefits can be gained over time. Always check how the insurance group of a car impacts the total cost of ownership before purchasing.