Your rights

Belgium

Belgium tightened its payment regime in October 2024. If coverage is undisputed, the insurer must pay within 30 days of the amount being determined — late payments automatically attract interest at twice the legal rate plus a €300 lump sum.

Legal framework

Loi du 4 avril 2014 relative aux assurances (amended October 2024)

Your key rights

  • 30-day payment deadline (since Oct 2024)

    Where coverage is not in dispute and the insurer has all required information, settlement must be made within 30 days of the amount being established.

  • Automatic late-payment penalty

    Overdue amounts automatically bear interest at twice the legal rate, plus a lump-sum penalty of €300 (indexed annually) for each missed deadline.

  • Undisputed amount must be paid

    Even when the total is contested, the insurer must release the undisputed portion within 30 days.

  • Market evidence accepted

    Belgian courts routinely accept comparable listings from 2dehands.be / 2ememain.be, AutoScout24.be and dealer quotes alongside, or in place of, the insurer's expert valuation.

  • Free Insurance Ombudsman

    Ombudsman des Assurances / Ombudsman van de Verzekeringen handles complaints free of charge. Insurers must have a published code for handling complaints before escalation.

Time to act

3 years from the insured event

Article 88 of the Insurance Act sets a 3-year limitation, interrupted by a formal written notice or by acknowledgement from the insurer.

Ombudsman
Ombudsman des Assurances / Ombudsman van de Verzekeringen

Free, independent, bilingual. Recommendations are not legally binding but are widely followed.

Last reviewed: 2026-04

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Belgium — Your rights | Valofair