Do I lose my no claims if I stop driving?

Asked by: Ms. Kianna Blanda IV  |  Last update: April 26, 2023
Score: 5/5 (73 votes)

Can your No Claims Bonus expire? The expiry period for an unused no claims bonus is two years after you've cancelled your last policy. So if you have taken a break from driving but you don't want to lose your NCB, you'll have to take out a new policy within two years to carry on where you left off.

Do you lose your no claims if you don't drive?

There's also an NCB expiry, which happens if you stop driving for more than 2 years. After that you'll have to start again. Of course, if you've never driven you won't have an NCB, so insurers see you as a higher risk, which means more expensive insurance.

What happens to your no claims if you don't have a car?

Your no-claims bonus (usually) lasts for 2 years

If you haven't had your own car insurance for a little while (maybe you sold your car, stopped driving or moved overseas), most car insurance companies will honour your old no-claims discount when you take out new cover.

How long before I lose my no claims?

That depends on your insurance provider and how long it's been since you last had cover. Many insurance providers will say a no-claims discount is invalid if there's a break in your car insurance of two years or more. But other providers may go to three years.

How do you lose your no claims bonus?

Your no claims bonus won't last forever and it will usually expire two years after you end a policy. So, if you don't drive for two years and you're not insured, your bonus will usually disappear and if you do buy a new policy you'll need to start your bonus up again from scratch.

No-Claims Bonus - Things to look out for

21 related questions found

Is 9 years no claims the maximum?

Proof of no-claims when your no-claims bonus is higher than your new insurer's maximum. You may go to a new insurer with a higher amount of no-claims bonus than they will accept – for example, if you have 9 years no-claims bonus, but the maximum they apply is 4.

Is protecting your no claims worth it?

If you have five years' no claims discount, it will significantly cut the cost of your car insurance. You could lose all that for just one accident. You would also normally lose your discount for being in an accident with an uninsured driver, if you had to make a claim on your own insurance.

What happens if I cancel my car insurance?

You'll usually get a refund on your optional extras, minus a bit for the time you've been covered, and any cancellation fees you have to pay. But you won't get a refund if you've already used it. Like car insurance, optional extras tend to renew automatically.

Can I use my no claims on 2 cars?

Unfortunately, you can only use one set of no claim discount on one vehicle at any time. To earn multiple sets of no claim discount you need to insure multiple vehicles at the same time.

Can I transfer my NCD to another car?

To transfer the NCD from an old car to the new car, you will need to go to insurer's branch and request them to transfer NCD. You will have to pay prorated non-NCD value of the old car. That is OK because it will be lower than paying the full insurance price of the new car.

Can I split my no claims between 2 cars?

But, you can request proof at any time and the insurer will supply it. Can I split my accumulated NCB across two cars? No. You can only use your exisiting NCB in one policy for one car, but you can build up a separate NCB in another car insurance policy for a second car.

Do I lose my no claims bonus if someone hits me?

Even if someone hits your car and you make a claim for the damage on your insurance – it is likely that you will lose your no-claims bonus. Remember it is a 'no-claims bonus' and not a 'no-blame bonus'.

Can I keep my no claims bonus as a named driver?

Will my no claims keep running if I'm a named driver? The good news is, many insurance companies now offer named drivers their own no claims bonus – even if they're not the main driver or policyholder. As such, you'll often be able to keep your no claim's bonus running, even if you don't have your own policy.

How does a 50/50 Claim affect no claims?

As each party takes equal blame for the accident, both are entitled to claim compensation for any damages and personal injury they may have suffered. How a 50/50 claim works is that when any damages are awarded to either party, you will only receive 50% of the amount awarded as you will be liable for the other 50%.

Can I suspend my car insurance?

Because insurance is required in most states, you cannot legally put your insurance policy on hold. You are allowed to cancel your insurance policy at any time, but you should only do this if you no longer have a car, or if you have already purchased a policy somewhere else.

Will I be charged for Cancelling my car insurance?

You shouldn't have to pay a cancellation fee, although some companies may try to charge you. You do, however, have to pay for the days you've been insured. If you paid for the policy in one lump sum, you should get the rest of your money back. Your insurer might deduct the cost of the days you were insured.

Can you cancel car insurance at any time?

Fortunately, auto insurance companies generally give you the right to cancel your policy at any time as long as you provide proper notice. While most auto insurers will likely refund your unused premium, some may charge a fee if you choose to cancel in the middle of your policy term.

How many years is maximum no claims bonus?

In reality, most insurance providers cap the maximum no-claims discount at around five years. Some insurance companies do go beyond this - you might find an insurer willing to give you a discount on eight or nine years' worth of no-claims. And having those extra years could come in handy.

How much does car insurance go down after 2 years no claims?

All insurance companies have their own no claims discount scale, but a typical example might be: 30% discount after 1 year's claim-free insurance. 40% discount after 2 years.

Does 1 year no claims make a difference?

The amount of discount earned increases with each year of claim-free driving. So after one year you might get 30%, with the percentage increasing each year until you get 70% NCD after five years. Most firms offer a maximum NCD of 70%, although some offer 75% or 80%.

Will NCD expire?

If you own multiple private cars, you can have multiple NCD. If you sell your old vehicle and decide to purchase a new one, the NCD from the old vehicle can be transferred to the new vehicle. If, however, you do not acquire a new vehicle and your NCD remains unused after one year, it will be reversed .

Do insurance companies check NCB?

Do insurance companies ask for proof of no-claims bonus? Yes. If you're switching to a new car insurance provider and tell them you have an existing no-claims bonus in your application, they'll probably need to see some proof.

Can you be the main driver on 2 cars?

The main and named driver have the same level of cover on the car. But a named driver could be the main driver on another vehicle. You can be the main driver of more than one car. But insurance companies will often question it... to check for fronting.

Can I mirror my no claims discount?

Car insurance: Mirror NCB

If you've earned NCB on one vehicle you may be able to mirror it on a second vehicle. Admiral can sometimes mirror NCB from the first car onto the second vehicle on a MultiCar policy.

Can I insure 3 cars in my name?

Yes, you can have multiple named drivers as well as multiple cars on your policy – though check with your insurer to see how this would impact your cover or premiums.