Theft from your car: does your car insurance or contents insurance pay?

Quick answer: which insurance covers what?

When it comes to theft from your car, the key question is: was the stolen item permanently mounted to the vehicle, or was it a loose, personal possession? Permanently installed components such as a built-in navigation system, factory-fitted radio, steering wheel, airbags, or light units are technically part of the car itself. These therefore generally fall under the casco coverage of your car insurance. Loose items like your phone, wallet, shopping bag, laptop, or sunglasses are personal belongings that happened to be in the car — and these are almost never covered by car insurance. For these, you need to turn to your contents insurance, specifically the outside-home cover module (buitenshuisdekking), or to your travel insurance if the theft occurred during a holiday or trip. The table below provides an overview of the most common scenarios and which insurance policy you can typically turn to.

The crucial distinction: fixed parts versus loose items

The dividing line between what is and is not covered by your car insurance essentially comes down to whether an item is 'attached to the vehicle' or was 'freely present in the car'. Most policy terms in the Netherlands apply an interpretation where anything screwed, bolted, or clamped to the vehicle is considered part of the car. A navigation system that is built into the dashboard and connected with a fixed wiring harness qualifies as a car part. A loose TomTom or smartphone holder attached with a suction cup to the windscreen usually falls outside that definition because it is easily removable. Similarly, a car radio screwed into a standard DIN slot is generally considered a fixed part, whereas a portable Bluetooth speaker on the passenger seat is not. This interpretation is not enshrined in law but is widely applied by Dutch non-life insurers.

For borderline cases — think of a dashcam that is connected to the car with a cable but easily unclipped, or an aftermarket navigation system you installed yourself — it is wise to check in advance with your insurer how they would assess it. Some insurers apply a clause stating that accessories are only covered under the casco policy if they are listed on your policy's accessory schedule. This applies particularly to valuable additions such as aftermarket alloy wheels, sports exhausts, or a high-end audio system. If you have had such accessories fitted, check whether you explicitly declared them when taking out the insurance. As a general rule: the more permanent the attachment, the greater the likelihood that it falls under your car insurance.

• Fixed parts: built-in navigation system, factory radio, airbags, steering wheel, light units, seats, integrated screens, fixed towbar, sensors and cameras integrated into the bodywork.
• Loose items: smartphone, laptop, tablet, wallet, shopping bag, coat, sunglasses, umbrella, sports bag, tools in the boot, pushchair, or shopping crate.
• Borderline cases: aftermarket radio you installed yourself, dashcam with fixed wiring, loose satnav with suction cup, removable subwoofer or amplifier. Check your policy terms or ask your insurer for clarification on these.

What your car insurance covers in case of theft

Dutch car insurance is structured across three coverage levels: WA (third-party liability, wettelijke aansprakelijkheid), limited casco (also called WA+ or beperkt casco), and all-risk (also called fully comprehensive or volledig casco). When it comes to theft from your car, it matters enormously which of these three you have taken out. WA insurance is legally mandatory for any registered vehicle in the Netherlands and exclusively covers damage you cause to others with your car. Theft of parts, break-in damage, or stolen belongings are all completely excluded. With WA alone, you are left empty-handed if a window is smashed and your radio is stolen overnight. For own damage due to theft, you need at least limited casco coverage — and for certain types of theft-related damage, you may even need all-risk.

A limited casco policy covers a restrictive list of events, which typically includes theft of the car itself, break-in damage (to windows and locks), storm damage, windscreen damage, collisions with animals, and fire. If someone steals your car radio or navigation system, this falls under the theft cover of limited casco, provided it concerns fixed parts as described above. The break-in damage — the smashed window or forced lock — is also reimbursed under limited casco. An all-risk policy goes a step further and also covers damage you cause yourself, such as a scratch you inflict, or damage from vandalism that cannot be classified as theft. For stolen fixed parts, the coverage difference between limited casco and all-risk is usually minimal; both cover theft of car components. What does matter is that comparing car insurance without commission goes beyond just coverage level. Factors like the deductible amount, the market value settlement method, and the claims handling process all vary significantly by insurer.

• WA (third-party liability): covers no theft of parts, no break-in damage, and no stolen belongings. Only covers damage you cause to others with your car.
• Limited casco (WA+): covers theft of the car itself, theft of fixed parts, and break-in damage to windows and locks. Check whether aftermarket accessories are explicitly insured.
• All-risk (fully comprehensive): covers the same as limited casco plus own-fault damage and vandalism without theft. For stolen fixed parts, this rarely offers extra cover compared to limited casco.

When your contents or travel insurance steps in

Now here is where it gets interesting: your laptop, weekend bag, or expensive sunglasses that were stolen from your car are not covered by your car insurance. These are personal belongings, and in principle they fall under your contents insurance — but only if your policy includes so-called outside-home cover (buitenshuisdekking). Standard contents insurance only covers items inside your home. By adding the 'outside-home' module (sometimes called 'all-risk contents' or 'buitenshuisdekking'), you extend the cover to damage and theft of personal items that you temporarily have with you outside your home, including in your car. However, most insurers apply a maximum payout limit per item, often around €750 to €1,500, unless you have specifically insured individual valuables separately. Comparing contents insurance without commission helps you get clarity on what outside-home limits your policy applies and whether they match the value of what you regularly carry in your car.

In addition to your contents insurance, your travel insurance can also play a role, but only in specific situations. An annual travel insurance policy with luggage cover often covers theft of personal luggage from your car, but exclusively during a holiday or trip. If you are parked at a hotel in France and your suitcases are stolen from the car, you can claim under the luggage cover of your travel insurance. However, if your laptop is stolen while your car is simply parked outside your home in Amsterdam, the travel insurance provides no cover and you must rely on your contents insurance. In both cases, the insurer will scrutinise whether there was any negligence: were the items visible from outside, was the car locked, did you take reasonable precautions? Comparing travel insurance without commission can reveal whether your luggage cover includes theft from a vehicle and up to what amount — the differences between policies are considerable.

A practical example makes the distinction clear. Suppose your car is parked in a shopping centre car park. A thief smashes the side window and takes the built-in navigation system, plus the shopping bag on the back seat containing a newly purchased tablet. The window damage (break-in) and the stolen navigation system (fixed part) fall under the casco cover of your car insurance. The stolen tablet is a loose item and, provided you have outside-home cover, falls under your contents insurance up to the applicable limit. You therefore claim from two different insurers and may pay two separate excess amounts. That is frustrating, but it is the reality of how the Dutch insurance market has divided these risks. Just as you would need to determine whether buildings or contents insurance pays for water damage at home, the demarcation between policies is equally crucial when it comes to theft from your car.

Break-in damage: who pays for the car repair?

Break-in damage is the physical damage the thief inflicts on your car to gain entry. Think of a smashed side window, a forced door lock, a damaged window mechanism, or a forced tailgate. With most Dutch insurers, this damage is covered under the casco portion of your policy, even with a limited casco plan. It does not matter whether the thief ultimately took anything or not — the attempted break-in itself is sufficient to claim the break-in damage. Repair of a smashed window is typically fully reimbursed, although some insurers apply a separate excess for glass damage. This glass excess often ranges between €100 and €250, separate from the general excess on your casco cover. It is therefore sensible after a break-in to first assess the total damage before deciding whether a claim is worthwhile.

In addition to direct break-in damage, there may also be consequential damage. If the thief, for example, broke open the dashboard to access the radio, that damage likewise falls under the casco cover. Be aware, however, that water damage caused by rain entering through a smashed window in the days following the break-in is generally not automatically covered. You have a duty to mitigate damage: if you know a window is broken and you leave the car unprotected in the rain, the insurer may reject the consequential damage. So cover the car immediately with a tarpaulin or have the window repaired as soon as possible. Here too, take photos of all damage before you change anything about the situation, so you can demonstrate the original state to your insurer.

Evidence and police report: how to support your claim

When it comes to theft from your car, the burden of proof is a crucial but often underestimated part of the claims process. Insurers are rightly critical of theft claims because the risk of fraud is real. You need to be able to demonstrate that the theft actually took place, that there was break-in damage, and that the stolen items were genuinely in the car and belonged to you. The first and most important step is always to file a report with the police. Without an official report (proces-verbaal) or crime reference number, almost no insurer will process your claim. Do this preferably immediately upon discovering the theft; a report filed days later will raise questions. In your report, describe as precisely as possible what was stolen, including brand, model, serial number, and estimated value.

A common mistake is having the damage repaired before the insurer has had a chance to send an assessor. Although you cannot wait indefinitely with urgent damage (such as a broken window in winter), the rule is that you must give the insurer the opportunity to have the damage assessed. So always first consult your insurer by phone before initiating a repair. They can tell you whether an assessor will visit or whether photos are sufficient. Similarly, for stolen items, it is wise not to make replacement purchases immediately before the claim is approved, unless the insurer explicitly permits this.

When is it sensible to have your insurance checked?

If after reading this article you are uncertain whether your current policies provide sufficient cover in the event of theft from your car, this is a good moment to have your overall insurance package reviewed. Many people only discover when a loss occurs that their policy is structured differently than they thought. Perhaps you still have an old WA policy and assumed theft was covered, or it turns out your contents insurance lacks outside-home cover. Checking your total insurance package — car, contents, liability, and travel — can uncover overlapping cover, expose gaps, and reduce your premium without sacrificing protection. A free non-life insurance check provides a substantive assessment of your policy terms and coverage limits by an independent advisory firm, without any commission being involved.

For complex coverage questions like theft from your car, where multiple policies may be involved, it is valuable to have an expert look over your situation. An adviser can tell you whether your combination of car insurance, contents insurance, and possibly travel insurance is watertight, or whether there is an unexpected coverage gap. They can also lay out the amounts of your excesses and coverage limits so you are not faced with unpleasant surprises when something actually happens. This check is non-binding: you decide yourself whether you do anything with the results. If you prefer to arrange your insurance in English, the advisory firm you are connected with can generally assist you in English.

• Check annually whether your car cover still matches the age and market value of your vehicle. A car older than six years generally no longer needs all-risk for theft cover; limited casco is sufficient.
• Verify whether your contents policy includes outside-home cover and up to what maximum amount electronics and valuables are insured outside the home. Adjust the insured sum if the value of your belongings has changed.
• Check whether your accessories (aftermarket navigation, audio, alloy wheels) are explicitly listed on your policy schedule. If not, you risk them not being reimbursed in case of theft, even if they are fixed to the car.
• Weigh up whether for small damages it is better to pay yourself to avoid a drop in your no-claim years and a future premium increase. The break-even point varies by insurer and by situation.