Denied car insurance due to drink behind the wheel, now what?

Have you been caught driving while intoxicated? If so, this can have major consequences on your car insurance. Your insurer may not pay any damages or may even cancel your insurance immediately. You may also be denied new car insurance. We explain the consequences of drunk driving on your car insurance.

Effects of drinking behind the wheel on your auto insurance policy

Did you cause an accident after getting into your car under the influence of alcohol? With a WA insurance, damage you cause to another is compensated. It is a legal requirement in the Netherlands to have third-party insurance, and the insurer is therefore obliged to pay out in the event of damage. In some cases, however, car insurance companies have an alcohol clause. An alcohol clause means that the insurer pays for the damage for the other party, but you must then pay these costs back to your insurer. Not every insurer has an alcohol clause, so it is important that you look carefully at the policy terms when purchasing car insurance.

With only third-party insurance, damage to your own car is not covered anyway. Do you have a third-party liability insurance or an all-risk insurance? Normally, damage to your own car is (partially) covered. However, when this damage occurs because you have been drinking and driving, the insurer will not reimburse damage to your own car. The cost of repairing a car can be considerable, even if you only hit a pole.

If you are arrested with a blood alcohol level that is much too high, you may also be issued a driving ban. You will not be allowed to drive a motor vehicle for some time. Even when your driving disqualification is lifted, you will have difficulty obtaining auto insurance. This is because a driving ban means you are registered with Stichting CIS. Stichting CIS keeps all important insurance data in their database. All member insurers and agents have access to this database and check it with every insurance application. Do you have a CIS registration? Then few regular insurance companies are willing to insure you.

Insurer may cancel insurance after alcohol abuse

If you get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol and cause an accident, your insurer may terminate your car insurance. Similarly, if you receive a driving disqualification from the Justice Department, the insurer has good reason to cancel the insurance. Once the policy is terminated, you will no longer be insured in case of damage or accident. You will then have to insure your car with another company. However, this can be quite difficult while you still have a CIS registration.