Dutch teens increasingly commit insurance fraud to avoid high moped premiums
A growing number of Dutch teenagers are committing insurance fraud by omitting their names from moped and scooter policies to avoid high premiums, according to a press release issued Monday by insurance cooperative Univé.
The company reported a sharp increase in “fronting,” a practice in which someone other than the actual rider—often a parent—registers as the primary policyholder. The insurer is now tightening its policies in response to what it describes as a market-wide problem.
“Fronting occurs when the actual driver of a moped or scooter is not listed as the insured party,” said Monique Anbergen, director of Univé Schade, in the press release. “If this is done knowingly, it is technically a form of insurance fraud.”
Internal data shows the percentage of suspected fronting cases among applicants aged 16 to 22 rose from 12 percent in 2023 to more than 15 percent in 2024. In the first months of 2025, that figure has climbed to 20%, or one in five applications.
The trend is most severe among 16-year-olds. In 2024, 40 percent of applicants who initially requested a quote as a 16-year-old ultimately bought a policy using an older age. That was up from 32 percent in 2023. Based on current trends, Univé expects more than half of 16-year-olds to engage in fronting by the end of this year.
Univé said fronting is especially common among owners of Vespa and Piaggio scooters. In 2024, 22 percent of Vespa riders aged 16 to 22 were not listed as the actual driver on the policy. Among 16-year-old Vespa owners, the rate reached 52 percent. Piaggio riders showed similar figures, with 21 percent of young owners unregistered, including 44 percent of 16-year-olds.
The insurer attributes the trend to high premiums for young, inexperienced riders, who pose greater accident risks. To lower their costs, teenagers often use quote tools to test different ages or ask a parent or older sibling to insure the vehicle in their name.
Univé previously introduced a 1,000 euros deductible for confirmed fronting cases but now says that measure is not enough. The company will begin denying coverage altogether if an unregistered young driver causes an accident.
“We advise all customers to review their policies and update them if younger drivers are using the vehicle,” Anbergen said in the release. “If a claim is submitted and the driver isn’t listed, the damage will not be reimbursed. The financial consequences could far exceed any premium savings.” She added that Univé is not the only insurer facing this issue. “It’s a broader problem across the insurance market,” she said.
