Legal expenses insurance can be a useful insurance policy, but it often includes countless unnecessary types of cover. By leaving these out, it is certainly possible to save money on legal expenses insurance. Comparing legal expenses insurance is an important tip, but there are certainly other ways to save money on legal expenses insurance. They are set out below. This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.
Ways to save money on legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance can be a valuable choice to protect yourself against unforeseen legal problems. However, the premiums for this insurance can run high and take up a considerable part of the monthly budget. Fortunately, there are ways to save on the cost of legal expenses insurance. And this without sacrificing protection.
Avoiding unnecessary cover
With some insurers, it is possible to take out a number of additional types of cover alongside the basic cover. The idea is that you choose for yourself which additional modules you do or do not need. A retired person, for example, obviously does not need cover for employment disputes. By checking carefully which types of cover are useful and which are not, it is possible to save a lot on legal expenses insurance.
On the other hand, not many insurers offer that kind of flexibility. Among others, this concerns the legal expenses insurance policies of Interpolis, Centraal Beheer and FBTO. Most Dutch insurers offer their website and policy documents in Dutch only. Moreover, the number of modules and their content differ from legal expenses insurer to legal expenses insurer. Comparing legal expenses insurance therefore remains very important. Also think carefully about which types of cover are or are not of interest, especially if you already have legal assistance through your trade union or if subsidised legal aid is an option.
Reporting changes to the insurer
Do not forget to report changes in your family situation. With some insurers, legal expenses insurance is considerably cheaper if fewer children are co-insured. In the event of a relationship breakdown, it is also important, for example, to convert the family policy into individual cover. We therefore recommend reporting every change in your family situation to the insurer, but this of course also applies to your other insurance policies.
Checking supplementary legal expenses insurance
Many insurance policies offer supplementary legal expenses modules. It is of course important to check to what extent they overlap with general legal expenses insurance. They are often less extensive, but cheaper. That is the case, for example, with supplementary legal expenses insurance in car insurance. Here, moreover, making a claim has no effect on the number of no-claims years. Always compare such supplementary legal expenses insurance and any extra modules carefully. Sometimes a considerable saving is certainly possible and the difference in the terms and conditions turns out to be small. And sometimes they are better left out.
Claiming premium discounts
From time to time, insurers offer all kinds of premium discounts. This is often the case with so-called packages. Legal expenses insurance is also part of such a package now and then. This also applies to home contents insurance and buildings insurance, among others. The discounts can be attractive, but it is certainly no guarantee that a package really is cheaper than if all the insurance policies were taken out separately. There can also be a difference in quality. That is why we recommend always making the comparison very carefully.
Increasing the personal contribution
With some insurers, it is possible to opt voluntarily for a personal contribution. In a legal dispute, the policyholder then has to pay a certain sum themselves. In return, the policyholder does enjoy a nice premium discount. Do check for yourself which personal contribution you can easily afford. Such a personal contribution is usually limited in any case.
Pay annually instead of monthly
Another way to save on legal expenses insurance is to pay annually instead of monthly. Many insurers offer a discount if you choose to pay the annual premium for legal expenses insurance in one go. This can make a considerable difference to the total cost of the insurance. This is of course only of interest if you can afford to pay the amount in one go.
Comparing legal expenses insurance
We have already mentioned it several times above: the most efficient way to save on legal expenses insurance is to compare different quotes with each other. The terms and conditions and exclusions can sometimes differ greatly, and that of course also affects the premium. The most expensive legal expenses insurance may be more than you need and the cheapest may offer insufficient cover, but in between there is often some room for manoeuvre.
Beware of all-in-one packages
Although bundling different insurance policies with one insurer may seem attractive because of the package discount, it is important to pay close attention. The fact that an insurer offers, for example, excellent car insurance or home contents insurance does not necessarily mean that its legal expenses insurance is of the same quality. It is important to examine the terms and conditions and cover of the legal expenses insurance thoroughly, even if you are already familiar with other insurance policies with the same insurer.
Moreover, the premiums for legal expenses insurance in the package may be relatively high compared with other insurers that offer only legal expenses insurance. It is therefore always advisable to compare different insurers and decide which option best suits your personal situation and needs.
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Frequently asked questions about legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance can help you protect yourself against legal problems and disputes. However, taking out legal expenses insurance and understanding the terms and conditions can sometimes be confusing. Below, we have answered the most frequently asked questions about legal expenses insurance. This is to help you make the right choice and to give you a better understanding of what you can expect from this important insurance.
Is the legal assistance provided by the legal expenses insurer really independent?
Yes. An insurer that offers other types of insurance alongside legal expenses insurance must entrust the handling of legal expenses cases to a legally independent claims settlement office, or provide in the policy that the insured may immediately hand their case to a lawyer or other expert of their choice (Article 4:65(2) of the Financial Supervision Act, Wet op het financieel toezicht). In practice, these are legal assistance providers such as ARAG, DAS and SAR. In this way, independent legal assistance is safeguarded.
What can I do if I have a dispute with my legal expenses insurer?
In the event of a disagreement with the legal expenses insurer, you can invoke the so-called disputes arrangement (geschillenregeling). Under this arrangement, an independent third party, often another lawyer, is called in for a second opinion. If this independent third party agrees with the policyholder, the case can be handled after all.
Can I use my legal expenses insurance against my insurer?
With most insurers, this is not possible. The policy terms and conditions often state that the legal expenses insurance cannot be used in a legal dispute with the legal expenses insurer. Much does depend on the wording. For example, it may be possible to use the insurance if the dispute relates to another insurance policy with the same insurer.
Is there always a waiting period?
No. This depends on the insurer. With most insurers, a waiting period does apply in some cases. For unexpected, future situations, such as an accident resulting in personal injury, there is usually no waiting period.
Does private legal expenses insurance also cover disputes I have as a self-employed person (zzp'er)?
No. There are special legal expenses insurance policies for businesses. These are often more expensive because businesses also run a higher risk of becoming involved in a legal dispute. The insurer will be happy to make a detailed calculation.