Dutch teen scooter insurance costs surge toward €1,200 a year amid sharp premium rise
Scooter insurance in the Netherlands has surged sharply in recent years, pushing annual costs for minors close to 1,200 euros and significantly widening the gap with adult premiums.
The cost of mandatory third-party liability (WA) scooter insurance has risen by nearly 70 percent over the past 4 years. Teenagers aged 17 now pay an average of 1,170 euros per year, according to data from comparison site Independer, requested by RTL. Adults pay an average of 310 euros annually, up from 187 euros four years ago.
Insurance expert Michel Ypma from Independer said the difference reflects risk tied to experience. “On the face of it, it may seem unfair,” he said. “But the reason for this discrepancy is simple. Young people simply have less driving experience and therefore cause more damage more often. That is why the premium for young people is also higher.”
Regional pricing differences further widen the cost burden. Noord-Holland is the most expensive province, with average premiums near 570 euros per year, about 300 euros higher than in Friesland, the cheapest region. In Amsterdam, average scooter insurance exceeds 730 euros per year, with minors often paying far more, in part due to a higher theft risk in urban areas.
Some households attempt to reduce costs by registering scooters under parents’ names, since adult premiums are significantly lower. Insurers warn that such practices can leave riders uninsured in practice.
Univé has previously said it is losing millions of euros in premium income because scooters and mopeds are being insured under parents instead of their actual users.
Ypma warned against the practice. “On average, a scooter with WA insurance is about 700 euros cheaper when you take it out as a parent for your child. From a financial perspective, I can understand why you would do that. But it is a terrible idea,” he told the newspaper. “Concealing who most frequently uses the scooter can have far-reaching consequences. In the event of an accident, you are not insured, meaning you have to cover all costs yourself. Spare yourself a lot of misery and simply don’t do it.”
The price increases are also contributing to a sharp decline in scooter and moped sales. Sales of low-speed mopeds, limited to 25 kilometers per hour, fell from nearly 30,000 units in 2022 to fewer than 6,000 in 2025. Competition from e-bikes and fatbikes, which can reach similar speeds without requiring insurance or a license, along with a 2023 helmet requirement for low-speed mopeds, has further reduced demand. Sales of speed mopeds, including electric speed pedelecs, have also declined, though less sharply.
The news comes as these rising costs intersect with growing concerns about youth financial pressure. In Rotterdam, students at the Scheepvaart en Transport College (STC) recently received warnings about drug crime recruitment. The school trains students for the port and transport sectors, which authorities say are targeted by criminal networks due to the specialized knowledge students gain.
