Car accident in the Netherlands: what to do in the first 24 hours
At the scene, at your insurer, and when the other driver is gone.
A collision in a country where you do not speak the language, with forms you have never seen, is stressful even when nobody is hurt. The Dutch process is orderly once you know it: a collision with only damage is usually settled between the drivers and their insurers, without the police.
This guide follows the steps the Dutch police recommend. If you are still choosing cover, start with our car insurance comparison, and see our legal insurance guide for help claiming damages.
Numbers to know
- 112: emergencies, when anyone is injured
- 0900-8844: police, non-urgent, for example to make an appointment to file a report
Table of contents
At the scene
- 1Is anyone hurt? Call 112. Give first aid if you can while you wait.
- 2Get to safety. Move to the hard shoulder or behind the crash barrier and put on a high-visibility vest.
- 3Photograph before you move anything. If the cars can still drive, take photos of the situation and the damage, then move them somewhere safe. If they cannot, place a warning triangle.
- 4Exchange details. Never leave without giving your details to the other party. Leaving the scene is a criminal offence, even after a minor collision.
- 5Fill in the damage form together. Use the European damage form, on paper or through mobielschademelden.nl and its app.
The European damage form
The Europees schadeformulier is the same form used across Europe, with numbered boxes and a sketch of the collision. Both drivers fill in one form together and both sign. Keep a blank one in your glove box.
The digital route is easier if you do not read Dutch well. With mobielschademelden.nl both drivers complete the form on their phones, and the report reaches the insurers directly.
Only sign what you agree with. If you and the other driver disagree about what happened, describe your own version in your section rather than accepting theirs.
In the next 24 hours
- Tell your insurer within 24 hours if you used a paper form. Reports through mobielschademelden.nl are passed on for you.
- See your doctor, even for minor complaints, and make sure the link to the accident is recorded.
- Keep every receipt: medical costs, transport, repairs and anything else the accident cost you. They are your evidence when claiming damages.
Who handles your claim
Every car registered in the Netherlands must carry third-party liability insurance (WA) under the Wam, so the at-fault driver's insurer normally pays for your damage. Under the Directe Schadeafhandeling (DSA) scheme, your own insurer often handles that claim for you.
| Situation | Who deals with it |
|---|---|
| Other driver at fault, both cars on Dutch plates, vehicle damage | Your own insurer, through DSA |
| Personal injury | Outside DSA: claim from the other driver's insurer |
| Accident with a cyclist | Outside DSA |
| Either car on foreign plates | Outside DSA |
| Other driver unknown or uninsured | Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer |
Damage to your own car in a collision you caused is covered by allrisk (volledig casco), not by WA or WA+ (beperkt casco). Our car insurance guide for expats explains the difference.
Hit-and-run or uninsured driver
When the driver cannot be traced, or turns out to be uninsured, the Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer can pay for damage caused by a motor vehicle. According to Rijksoverheid, it only pays if you made an effort to find the driver.
- Act within 14 days: file a police report, ask around in the neighbourhood, or place an advertisement.
- You must show the other driver, not you, was responsible.
- The fund also steps in when the vehicle was stolen or its insurer cannot pay.
Injury and disputes: legal cover
Car insurance pays for damage. It does not argue your case when the other driver denies fault, or when you need to claim lost income and medical costs after an injury. That is what the traffic module of a legal insurance policy is for. Unlike the other modules, most insurers cover traffic without a waiting period, so it works from day one.
Prices for one person, checked 3 October 2026. Affiliate links. No extra cost to you, keeps our expat guides free.
Still choosing car insurance? Get a quote from Allianz Direct and compare it with other insurers in our car insurance comparison, and if you drive on a foreign licence, check our guide on insuring a car with a foreign licence.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to call the police after a car accident?
Call 112 if anyone is injured. For damage only, you can settle it with the other driver using the European damage form or the mobielschademelden.nl app. If you want to file a police report later, call 0900-8844 for an appointment. Never leave without giving your details: that is a criminal offence, even after a minor bump.
How soon must I tell my insurer?
Within 24 hours if you used a paper European damage form, according to the police. If you filled it in through mobielschademelden.nl, the report reaches the insurers and you do not need to do anything else for that step.
Who handles my claim if the other driver was at fault?
Often your own insurer, under the Directe Schadeafhandeling (DSA) scheme. It applies to vehicle damage between Dutch-registered motor vehicles when the other party is known and at fault. It does not cover personal injury or accidents with cyclists, and it does not apply if either car has foreign plates.
What if the other driver drove off or had no insurance?
The Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer can pay for damage caused by an unknown or uninsured motor vehicle. You must show you tried to find the driver within 14 days, for example by filing a police report, asking around or placing an advertisement.
Does legal insurance help after an accident?
Yes, mainly for claiming damages after injury and for disputes over who was at fault. The traffic module is the one part of most legal insurance policies without a waiting period, and it costs €3.75 a month at InShared, €3.95 at Centraal Beheer and €7.94 at Univé for one person.
I drive on a foreign licence. Does anything change?
The accident steps are the same. What can differ is whether your licence is still valid for driving here, which affects your insurance. Our guide on insuring a car with a foreign driving licence covers the deadlines.
Official sources
- • Politie: what to do after a traffic accident
- • Verbond van Verzekeraars: how Directe Schadeafhandeling works
- • Rijksoverheid: damage by an unknown or uninsured driver