# The declaration of agreement and the settlement agreement explained

> What exactly are you signing when you agree to the loss figure? And can you still go back on it later?

*Gepubliceerd: 2026-06-08* · *Categorie: uitleg*

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At the end of a claims process, the insurer often asks you to sign your agreement. That document carries more legal weight than many people think.

## What is it?

A declaration of agreement is usually a **settlement agreement**: an arrangement in which you and the insurer definitively fix the amount of the loss (and sometimes the manner of settlement). Such an agreement is intended to end uncertainty — and binds both parties to what has been agreed.

## What does your signature mean?

- You consent to the assessed loss amount.
- It often contains a form of **final discharge**: you declare that this concludes the matter.
- Going back afterwards on the amount, or on forgotten items, is in principle no longer possible.

## Can you still go back on it?

Only in exceptional cases, and that is legally difficult — think of a defect of consent such as deception, or a fundamental inaccuracy you could not have known about. Do not count on this; assume that a signature is final.

## What to check before you sign

- Have all items been included, hidden and consequential damage too?
- Do you understand the term 'final discharge' and its scope?
- Do you feel under pressure? Then that is precisely a reason to wait a little.

> **Tip** — You are entitled to read the agreement through at leisure (or have it reviewed) before you sign. If in doubt, first have the assessment reviewed independently — afterwards it is no longer possible.