Got a pet? What damage does your Dutch liability insurance (AVP) cover?

Pets and liability: the short answer

Most Dutch personal liability insurance policies (AVP) cover damage your pet causes to others, provided you, as the owner or keeper, are legally liable. This means if your dog digs a hole in the neighbour’s garden, your cat tears apart a rare book at a friend’s house, or your parrot sprays a laptop, the AVP typically covers the material damage and any personal injuries to third parties. However, the key is that the incident must be unintentional and unexpected, and you must not have been grossly negligent. If the damage results from training the animal to be aggressive or ignoring prior warnings, the insurer may refuse the claim. Also, injury claims such as a dog bite often require that the animal has no history of aggression; some policies exclude certain breeds or demand extra precautions. But in general, a standard AVP gives solid protection against the financial consequences of a pet mishap.

• Damage to other people’s property is usually covered if you are liable.
• Personal injury to third parties is covered, unless intentional or grossly negligent.
• Damage to your own belongings is not covered; for that, look at your contents insurance.
• Different rules may apply when pet sitting; always check your policy terms.
• Many Dutch insurers apply a maximum sum insured per event, often up to €2.5 million.

When pet damage becomes a real concern

Think of everyday situations: you’re walking your dog, and suddenly he lunges at a jogger, ripping an expensive sports glasses off their face. Or your cat escapes and scratches the neighbour’s car while climbing on the bonnet. In a family with young children, a dog might playfully break a friend’s costly pair of glasses. Pets frightened by fireworks may panic and destroy fence panels, which typically falls under your responsibility. There are also less obvious cases: your rabbit chews through the downstairs neighbour’s internet cable, or your parrot throws a flowerpot from the balcony, injuring someone. The key question is whether you, as the owner, failed to supervise the animal adequately or should have kept it on a leash. Insurers usually judge based on circumstances and whether there was fault or negligence. Therefore, it’s wise to contact your insurer immediately after an incident and collect evidence.

What is usually covered under your AVP

A good AVP covers damage your pet causes to other people’s property and persons. This includes medical costs for a dog bite, broken glasses, ruined clothing, holes in neighbour’s garden furniture, and so on. This applies not just to dogs and cats but to any pet reasonably kept as a companion animal, from ferrets to chickens in a residential area. Many policies explicitly state ‘damage caused by an animal kept in your household’ as part of the cover, regardless of whether the incident happens inside or outside your home. The coverage amount is capped; standard Dutch AVP policies offer a sum insured of at least €1,000,000 and often up to €2,500,000 per event. This is usually more than enough for typical pet incidents, but check your policy schedule for the exact figure.

*Note: Exact cover varies per insurer and policy. Always consult your own policy terms and schedule. This table shows general patterns in the Dutch market and does not guarantee coverage.

What is often NOT covered and common exclusions

Despite broad cover, there are limits. Damage to your own items — from a torn sofa to a chewed remote — is not covered by liability insurance, as it only applies to third-party damage. For your own belongings, you might look to your contents insurance, but many contents policies exclude pet damage (e.g., gnawed furniture) because it’s often considered wear-and-tear or owner’s neglect. Intentional damage by your pet, even if you didn’t directly command it, is excluded. Contractual liability — for instance, a private agreement with your neighbour to pay for all garden damage caused by your cat — typically falls outside the standard policy. Most AVPs provide family cover: all household members and their pets are insured. Yet breed exclusions are common: certain dog breeds may appear on a ‘high-risk’ list, meaning damage caused by that breed is not covered unless you informed the insurer beforehand. Exotic pets like snakes or spiders may require special acceptance. Moreover, consequential losses such as lost income of the injured party or purely emotional damages are generally not covered.

• Breed exclusions: some insurers maintain a list of dog breeds that are not covered.
• Age of the animal: damage by young pups is usually covered, but older animals with behavioural problems can prompt questions.
• Uninsurable events: participation in dog sports, hunting training, or competitions may require separate insurance.
• Damage under influence: if the damage occurred partly because you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs and lost control of the animal, coverage may lapse.

Pet sitting: how does it work?

If you look after a friend’s dog and that dog bites a child, your AVP might kick in — provided your policy does not exclude it. Some policies state that damage caused by an animal under your temporary care is only covered if the animal belongs to your household. Others do cover it but with a lower limit or an extra deductible. It’s crucial to check whether your policy specifically addresses ‘pet sitting’ or ‘temporary custody’. Additionally, the pet owner could invoke their own AVP if you can show the animal normally lives with them and the incident wasn’t due to your negligence. In practice, insurers often dispute liability in such cases, so document exactly what happened and who was responsible. It’s also wise to agree in advance with the owner who will pay for any damage.

Checking your own policy: what to look for

Whether you’ve just got a pet or have had one for years, a targeted policy review is wise. Start with the policy schedule: it often briefly states whether ‘pets’ are covered and up to what amount. Then read the detailed policy terms under sections like ‘liability’, ‘exclusions’ or ‘special provisions’. Look for phrases such as ‘animals belonging to the household’, ‘damage caused by pets’, ‘motor vehicles and (domestic) animals’. Check whether a maximum sum insured applies per event or per year, and whether a deductible (eigen risico) is in force — personal injury claims often have no deductible, but material damage might. If in doubt, it’s smart to get a second opinion. Through PolisMoment’s free damage insurance check, one independent office will review whether your policy still fits your (new) pet situation. You’ll get insight into any gaps or overlaps without having to change anything immediately.

Common mistakes with pet damage

Many new pet owners don’t realise their existing AVP already provides cover — they mistakenly buy a separate pet insurance that focuses on veterinary costs, not liability. Conversely, some think their AVP covers medical bills for their pet, which it never does; that’s the domain of a pet healthcare policy. Another classic error is failing to report an incident out of fear of a premium increase: if the injured party later files a claim and you’ve delayed, the insurer may refuse to pay. Mixing up contents and liability is also frequent: damage your cat does to your own curtains is rarely covered by either policy unless you have a comprehensive contents policy that specifically includes pet damage. Finally, many owners underestimate the risk of pet sitting; they let someone else’s animal roam free and end up personally liable if their AVP doesn’t cover temporary custody.

• Confusing medical costs for your pet with liability cover; you need a separate pet healthcare insurance.
• Not checking whether your policy covers pet sitting, even though you regularly look after a friend’s dog.
• Forgetting to inform your insurer about a new pet; some policies require notification.
• Paying for damage yourself without first contacting the insurer; you may lose your right to coverage.

When an advisor check makes sense

Are you unsure whether your current AVP adequately covers your specific pet? Or are you planning to adopt a high-risk dog, frequently petsit, or live in an apartment complex where neighbours are sensitive to nuisance? In such cases, it’s advisable not to guess, but to get an objective review of your policy. An independent advisor can evaluate all your damage insurances together: does the AVP fit your home and family situation, are there overlaps or gaps? Especially for truly unique pets, like special reptiles or large birds, specialist knowledge is required. Through PolisMoment’s free damage insurance check, you can engage one advisory firm that evaluates your entire policy package commission-free and without resale. The conversation is entirely non-binding: no means no, you decide whether to adjust anything.

It’s also wise to have your policies reassessed at major life changes — such as moving in together, separation, or a child leaving home. If your partner moves in and brings a pet, your risk profile changes. An advisor can help you compare liability insurance and check whether your current premium and cover still match. Think about splitting policies after a breakup, as described in our checklist for dividing insurance after separation. Also, if you’re an expat in the Netherlands with a pet and end up in a dispute with your landlord or neighbours, a legal expenses insurance for rent, work and neighbourhood conflicts can be valuable to assess legal steps.