5 essential guarantees in car insurance

Can you imagine it? You are sitting behind the wheel of your new car, ready to hit the road. Before you start the engine, you want to be sure that you are properly insured. Good car insurance is essential for peace of mind on the road. It protects you against the financial risks of damage and offers you peace of mind, so you can get behind the wheel with confidence.

There are various types of cover to ensure that your car is properly insured. Below, we discuss the five most important types of cover that should be considered essential in any car insurance policy. Each type of cover offers different levels of protection, depending on your specific situation and needs and those of your car.

1 Civil liability (BA)

If you own a car, you are required by law in Belgium to take out car insurance.

The so-called CL (civil liability) car insurance forms the basis on which additional cover can be applied. This CL insurance covers physical injury and material damage to third parties in a traffic accident that you have caused and for which you are therefore liable. However, this basic insurance does not cover damage to your own vehicle or to you as the driver of this car in the event of an accident for which you are at fault. For this, you need to take out additional driver insurance and/or comprehensive cover. We will come back to this later. However, it is important to take out good insurance that suits your situation and offers you sufficient cover in the event of damage.

The principle of third-party motor insurance is simple. If you are involved in a traffic accident and you are at fault, your third-party insurance will compensate the other party for the damage. If you are in the right, the other party's third-party insurance will compensate you for your damage.

In addition, it is important to always have your white card or insurance certificate with you in your car, either in paper or digital form. This document, formerly known as the “green card”, proves that you comply with the legal requirement to have car insurance. This white card is automatically renewed for the next insurance period after payment of the annual premium.

2 Comprehensive insurance

As a car owner, it is important to insure your car properly to avoid unpleasant financial surprises in the event of damage. In addition to compulsory third-party liability insurance, comprehensive insurance offers extra peace of mind in such cases. There are two types of comprehensive insurance: limited and full comprehensive.

Limited comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle as a result of fire, natural disasters, glass breakage, theft or collisions with animals. Full comprehensive insurance also covers damage to your own vehicle, damage caused by an unknown or uninsured party and vandalism.

When taking out comprehensive insurance, you can choose between a fixed or English excess. This excess is the amount you have to pay from your own pocket in the event of damage before your insurer will pay out. With an English excess, this does not apply if the damage suffered exceeds the excess amount.

Another important factor in comprehensive insurance is the depreciation percentage. This is the percentage by which the value of your car decreases during the term of the insurance contract. When taking out insurance, you have several options. For example, you can opt for a fixed depreciation, whereby a fixed percentage of depreciation is applied during the term of the contract. The alternative is progressive depreciation, where the depreciation percentage can vary based on the age of your vehicle. The latter offers you the flexibility to tailor your insurance contract to your specific needs.

3 Legal assistance

Legal assistance insurance is a smart investment to protect yourself financially in the event of potential disputes and legal conflicts in the context of a traffic accident, traffic violation or warranty issues after repairs. With legal assistance insurance, your interests are defended by experts in the field.

An important advantage of legal assistance insurance is that you do not have to pay the costs of a lawyer or expert yourself, which can often be considerable in the event of a dispute relating to your car. You are free to choose your own lawyer or expert.

By taking out legal assistance insurance, you can rest assured that you are protected in all kinds of legal conflicts and disputes relating to your car, which can give you great peace of mind. It is an investment that you will hopefully never need, but in the event of a legal conflict, it can make a world of difference.

4 Driver insurance

If you are responsible for a traffic accident as a driver, you are not insured for any injuries you sustain yourself. Civil liability insurance (BA) only covers damage you cause to others, and comprehensive insurance for your car does not cover physical injuries.

Fortunately, driver insurance offers a solution. If you are involved in a car accident and are injured, your insurer will reimburse your medical expenses. This ensures that you do not have to pay for the costs of your own injuries.

It is important to remember that driver insurance is optional and must be taken out separately on top of your regular car insurance. However, it can be a valuable addition to protect yourself against financial burdens resulting from injuries in a car accident for which you are responsible.

5 Breakdown assistance

If your car breaks down or you are involved in a traffic accident, you want to be back on the road as quickly as possible and continue with your plans. Fortunately, you can count on various types of insurance for this, such as the additional breakdown assistance cover in your car insurance or, if you are travelling for a longer period of time, a general travel insurance policy that already includes breakdown assistance.

If you need assistance after a traffic accident with damage in Belgium, you can always call on the legally required BA cover. You will find the telephone number on your vehicle's white card. Please note that this cover does not provide assistance in the event of breakdowns.

To ensure that you are back on the road quickly after a traffic accident with damage or a breakdown, additional breakdown assistance cover is not an unnecessary luxury. This insurance provides assistance in finding a repairer and/or replacement car and can tow your car to a garage if necessary. What's more, you can count on this assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Transported goods insurance

As an extra, there is additional mobility insurance for entrepreneurs.

Does your company transport goods or do you often have valuable items in your car? Then goods in transit insurance is not an unnecessary luxury. With goods in transit insurance, you are protected against damage to the goods being transported in the event of a traffic accident, fire, vandalism, natural disasters or theft during transport.

The costs of such damage can be considerable and cause major financial losses for your company. With goods in transit insurance, you and your company are protected against these risks and you can transport your goods or valuable items in your vehicle with peace of mind.

Goods in transit insurance is therefore essential when the continuity of your business depends on the transport of goods. It protects your business against financial losses resulting from damage, theft or liability during the transport of these goods. Choose the right own transport insurance that meets the needs and risks of your company and ensure the safe and carefree transport of your goods.

1 Civil liability (BA)

If you own a car, you are required by law in Belgium to take out car insurance. The so-called BA (civil liability) car insurance forms the basis on which additional cover can be applied. This BA insurance covers physical injury and material damage to third parties during a traffic accident that you have caused and for which you are therefore liable. However, this basic insurance does not cover damage to your own vehicle or to you as the driver of this car in the event of an accident for which you are at fault. For this, you need to take out additional driver insurance and/or comprehensive cover. We will come back to this later. However, it is important to take out good insurance that suits your situation and offers you sufficient cover in the event of damage.

The principle of third-party motor insurance is simple. If you are involved in a traffic accident and you are at fault, your third-party insurance will compensate the other party for the damage. If you are in the right, the other party's third-party insurance will compensate you for your damage.

In addition, it is important to always have your white card or insurance certificate with you in your car, either in paper or digital form. This document, formerly known as the “green card”, proves that you comply with the legal requirement to have car insurance. This white card is automatically renewed for the next insurance period after payment of the annual premium.

2 Comprehensive

As a car owner, it is important to insure your vehicle properly to avoid unpleasant financial surprises in the event of damage. In addition to compulsory third-party liability insurance, comprehensive insurance offers extra peace of mind in such cases. There are two types of comprehensive insurance: limited and full comprehensive.

Limited comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle as a result of fire, natural disasters, glass breakage, theft or collisions with animals. Full comprehensive insurance also covers damage you cause, damage caused by an unknown or uninsured party and vandalism.

When taking out comprehensive insurance, you can choose between a fixed or English excess. This excess is the amount you have to pay from your own pocket in the event of damage before your insurer will pay out. With an English excess, this does not apply if the damage suffered exceeds the excess amount.

Another important factor in comprehensive insurance is the depreciation percentage. This is the percentage by which the value of your car decreases during the term of the insurance contract. When taking out insurance, you have several options. For example, you can opt for a fixed depreciation, whereby a fixed percentage of depreciation is applied during the term of the contract. The alternative is progressive depreciation, whereby the depreciation percentage can vary based on the age of your vehicle. The latter offers you the flexibility to tailor your insurance contract to your specific needs.

3 Legal assistance

Legal assistance insurance is a smart investment to protect yourself financially in the event of potential disputes and legal conflicts arising from a traffic accident, traffic violation or warranty issues after repairs. With legal assistance insurance, your interests are defended by experts in the field.

An important advantage of legal assistance insurance is that you do not have to pay the costs of a lawyer or expert yourself, which can often be considerable in the event of a dispute relating to your car. You are free to choose your own lawyer or expert.

By taking out legal assistance insurance, you can rest assured that you are protected in all kinds of legal conflicts and disputes relating to your car, which can give you great peace of mind. It is an investment that you will hopefully never need, but in the event of a legal conflict, it can make a world of difference.

4 Driver insurance

If you are responsible for a traffic accident as a driver, you are not insured for any injuries you sustain yourself. Civil liability insurance (BA) only covers damage you cause to others, and comprehensive insurance for your car does not cover physical injuries.

Fortunately, driver insurance offers a solution. If you are involved in a car accident and are injured, your insurer will reimburse your medical expenses. This ensures that you do not have to pay for the costs of your own injuries.

It is important to remember that driver insurance is optional and must be taken out separately on top of your regular car insurance. However, it can be a valuable addition to protect yourself against financial burdens resulting from injuries in a car accident for which you are responsible.

5 Breakdown assistance

If your car breaks down or you are involved in a traffic accident, you want to get back on the road as quickly as possible and continue with your plans. Fortunately, you can count on various types of insurance, such as the additional breakdown assistance cover in your car insurance or, if you are travelling for a longer period of time, a general travel insurance policy that already includes breakdown assistance.

If you need assistance after a traffic accident with damage in Belgium, you can always call on the legally required third-party liability insurance. You will find the telephone number on your vehicle's white card. Please note that this insurance does not provide assistance in the event of a breakdown.

To ensure that you are back on the road quickly after a traffic accident with damage or a breakdown, additional breakdown assistance cover is not a luxury. This insurance offers assistance in finding a repairer and/or replacement car and can tow your car to a garage if necessary. What's more, you can count on this assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Let's now focus on insurance for entrepreneurs. Running a business involves specific risks that differ from those of an individual. To protect your business properly, it is crucial to understand the different types of insurance available. Below, we discuss the most important insurance for entrepreneurs and the benefits it offers your business.

Transported goods insurance

And as an added bonus, extra mobility insurance for entrepreneurs.

Does your company transport goods or do you often have valuable items in your vehicle? Then goods in transit insurance is not an unnecessary luxury. With goods in transit insurance, you are protected against damage to the goods being transported in the event of a traffic accident, fire, vandalism, natural disasters or theft during transport.

The costs of such damage can be considerable and cause major financial losses for your company. With goods in transit insurance, you and your company are protected against these risks and you can transport your goods or valuable items in your vehicle with peace of mind.

Transport insurance is therefore essential if the continuity of your business depends on the transport of goods. It protects your business against financial losses resulting from damage, theft or liability during the transport of these goods. Choose the right own transport insurance that meets the needs and risks of your company and ensure the safe and carefree transport of your goods.