With personal liability insurance (AVP), the insured person covers the risk of damage to other people (or their property) caused by the insured person or persons themselves. A monthly premium has to be paid for this. The premium for personal liability insurance starts at just a few euros per month. This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.
No liability insurance can lead to high costs
Personal liability insurance is not a compulsory insurance in the Netherlands. A number of experts believe that this insurance should be made compulsory, because it protects Dutch residents against high, unexpected costs in the event of an accident.
An example: a child is learning to ride a bike. The child enjoys it so much that their attention sometimes wanders. As a result, they knock over a pedestrian. The pedestrian suffers a personal injury and has to go to hospital. The pedestrian claims the costs from the child's parents. Unfortunately, the parents have not taken out personal liability insurance. Now the parents face high costs, which they have to pay themselves. With personal injury in particular, the costs can quickly add up.
Personal liability insurance would have covered the costs. With personal liability insurance, family members can be included on the policy. Damage to others is then covered by the insurance. That is why such insurance can be a valid option.
Also read: Personal liability insurance for damage to someone else.
Factors in the costs of liability insurance
The costs of personal liability insurance depend on a number of factors. WA.nl lists the most important factors and explains each deciding factor. For some of these factors, it is possible to save on AVP insurance by making the right choices.
The family situation
Families can take out personal liability insurance for the whole family. The family situation is the most important factor in the costs of the insurance. If more family members are included on the policy, the premium of the insurance goes up. Single people therefore pay less than families with children. This is because the chance of a claim is greater for a family with children.
Relatively speaking, the premiums for personal liability insurance can be called reasonable. Example premiums for a family, with the date they were measured, are shown below under What does personal liability insurance cost?.
When setting the premium of the insurance, the insurer first looks at the family situation. As a rule, the insurer distinguishes between the following four family situations:
- A single person without children;
- A single person with children;
- A family without children;
- A family with children.
So which is better value? Taking out a policy per person, or insuring the whole family in one go? Comparisons show that taking out a family policy involves lower costs than taking out a policy per person.
Excess
With personal liability insurance, the insured person can choose to have an excess. Anyone who chooses a higher excess pays a lower monthly premium. Most insurers, for example third-party liability (WA) insurers, offer the option of having no excess or of carrying a limited excess. Personal liability insurance with a higher excess will generally cost less. However, the Dutch Consumers' Association (Consumentenbond) recommends always choosing a more expensive AVP insurance without an excess.
Insured persons who choose an excess of, for example, €100 have to pay €100 per claim when they claim for damage. This is different from, for example, health insurance (zorgverzekering), where the excess has to be paid only once. On the other hand, the insured person receives a discount on the premium if they choose an excess of €100.
Maximum insured amount
The maximum insured amount affects the eventual costs of personal liability insurance. It is a good idea to take this into account when comparing liability insurance policies. The conditions can differ from one provider to another. After all, insurers are free to set the conditions of an insurance themselves.
Personal liability insurance often has a maximum insured amount. This is the maximum amount the insurer pays out per claim. This information can often be found in the policy conditions. These conditions can often be viewed on the insurer's website. Most Dutch insurers offer their website and policy documents in Dutch only.
At the insurers WA.nl checked on 9 November 2026, the maximum insured amount was between €1.25 million and €2.5 million per event: Centraal Beheer €1.5 or €2.5 million, a.s.r. €1.25 or €2.5 million, FBTO €1.5 or €2.5 million, OHRA €1.25 or €2.5 million and InShared €1.5 million (source: the product pages of these insurers). Anyone whose damage exceeds the maximum amount pays the damage above the insured amount themselves.
Cover for children living at home and children who are studying
Personal liability insurance provides cover for damage that the insured person or their family members cause to others or to their property. It does have to involve an unfortunate event in which damage was caused by accident. So it concerns damage that was not caused intentionally. Children are often included on their parents' policy. This means that the liability of parents for damage caused by their children is also covered by the personal liability insurance. Which children are included differs per policy. Children living at home are covered by most family policies. For children who live in student accommodation, the conditions differ: Centraal Beheer also insures children who are studying and live away from home, FBTO children who live in student accommodation because they study full time, InShared children who live at home or are studying, and a.s.r. adult children living away from home for study or an internship within Europe (source: the insurers' product pages, checked on 9 November 2026). A child who no longer lives at home and is not studying usually needs their own personal liability insurance. It is therefore sensible to check in the policy conditions exactly who belongs to the insured family.
Exclusions in AVP insurance
It is important to realise that there can be differences between the personal liability insurance policies of various insurers. For example, the exclusions and limitations can differ per insurer. Some insurers limit the cover for borrowed items or for damage to electronic devices, for example. There can also be differences in the cover for specific situations, such as damage caused by pets or damage during sport and play. The exclusions and limitations of personal liability insurance can affect the price of this insurance. Insurers simply set the premium based on the risk they run of having to pay out claims. The greater the risk, the higher the premium to be paid.
Does the premium go up after a claim?
With car insurance, making a claim can cost no-claims years. With personal liability insurance for private individuals, it usually works differently. OHRA states on its product page that making a claim does not affect the level of the premium. The product pages of Centraal Beheer, a.s.r., FBTO and InShared do not mention a no-claims discount or the build-up of no-claims years (checked on 9 November 2026). There, the premium depends on other factors: a.s.r., for example, mentions the family composition, the chosen insured amount and the chosen excess. A change in the family situation can therefore change the premium. Anyone who wants to know whether a claim affects their premium or policy is best advised to check with their own insurer.
Compare insurers
8.7
8.0
8.5WA.nl may receive a commission if a policy is taken out via one of these buttons.
Frequently asked questions about the cost of AVP insurance
Taking out personal liability insurance can provide protection against high, unexpected costs. It is an important insurance and there may well be questions about it, for example about the costs of AVP insurance. This FAQ answers some frequently asked questions about the costs of personal liability insurance for private individuals.
Which factors affect the premium of personal liability insurance?
There are various factors that affect the premium of AVP insurance. Examples are the family situation, the excess and the insured amount. The choice of a particular insurer and the conditions it applies can also affect the premium. Some insurers, for example, offer package discounts if several insurance policies are taken out with that insurer.
Can choosing a higher excess lower the premium of personal liability insurance?
Yes, with a higher excess the insured person usually pays a lower monthly premium. The excess is the amount the insured person has to pay themselves when claiming for damage. It is therefore important to weigh up whether one is willing to pay more in the event of damage in exchange for a lower premium.
I have AVP insurance through work. Is my family covered too?
It is possible that the AVP insurance provides family cover, so that the family is automatically included. However, this differs per insurer and depends on the policy conditions. It is therefore advisable to check the conditions of the AVP insurance or to contact the insurer. If the family is not automatically included, it is often possible to add the family to the insurance on request and in exchange for a limited premium. This is a good idea.
Why do I have to report a change in my family composition to the AVP insurer?
It is important to report changes in the family composition to the AVP insurer, because these changes can affect the cover and the costs of the personal liability insurance for private individuals. For example, when moving in together or getting married, the partner may not be automatically included and this person may have to be added to the policy separately. It is also sensible to inform the insurer when a child is born. Failing to pass on changes in the family composition can have consequences for the cover and the premium.
Does the premium of personal liability insurance go up after a claim?
Usually not because of the claim itself. Personal liability insurance for private individuals generally has no no-claims years like car insurance does. OHRA, for example, states that making a claim does not affect the premium, and Centraal Beheer, a.s.r., FBTO and InShared do not mention a no-claims discount (checked on 9 November 2026). The premium can, however, change because of a different family situation, a different insured amount or a different excess. More explanation is given under Does the premium go up after a claim?
How can I save on the costs of AVP insurance?
There are various ways to save on the costs of personal liability insurance. One of the most important ways is to compare different providers. There are various comparison websites on which the premiums and conditions of AVP insurers can be compared. That way, it is possible to find the insurance that best suits one's own wishes and needs, at a competitive rate. Another way to save on the costs of AVP insurance is to choose a higher excess. In addition, taking out a family policy can be better value. Finally, it is advisable to compare the policy conditions of different insurers carefully and to understand clearly what is and is not covered. So it is sensible not to simply choose the cheapest AVP insurance, but to take other factors into account as well. Anyone who finds a better value policy can switch to another personal liability insurance.