Do you lose your no claims bonus if you don't drive for a year?
Asked by: Prof. Laurel Muller | Last update: December 12, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (58 votes)
How long does no claims bonus last if not driving?
A no claims bonus or no claims discount is usually valid for two years after a policy ends, but it varies between insurers.
How do I avoid losing my no claims bonus?
No-claims protection is an optional add-on to insurance premiums offered by some providers. It allows you to claim one or more times per year without impacting your no-claims bonus. You have to pay for it, and the cost and number of times you can claim varies significantly across providers.
Does car insurance no claim bonus expire?
No-Claim Bonus Expiry:
If the policyholder does not renew his or her insurance within 90 days from the expiry date, then the NCB also expires. This can cause a significant loss especially if one has earned huge discounts over several years.
Do I lose no claims if it wasn't my fault?
When you make a non-fault claim, your no-claims bonus could be affected while your insurance provider investigates who's at fault. However, if they confirm that you're not liable and they're able to fully recover their losses from the other provider, your full no-claims bonus should be reinstated.
No-Claims Bonus - Things to look out for
How much does car insurance go down after 1 year no claims?
In many cases, your insurance will go down by 5-20% in the first year of no claim, depending on your insurer. After the first year, this discount increases each year, usually by 5%, if you don't make a claim. But it only increases up to a maximum discount, usually 50-60%, and a number of years — usually 5-6 years.
Should I file an insurance claim if I am not at fault?
Always File a Claim, Regardless of Who Was At-Fault
One of the primary questions we receive from clients who have been in an accident is whether they should report the accident to their own auto insurance carrier, particularly when the accident was not their fault. And the answer to that question is: always.
Do insurers check no claims bonus?
When you renew your insurance and you want to move to a new motor insurance provider, the NCD database enables the new insurer to verify your no claims discount directly from the database. Details provided by the database include the number of discount years and whether these are protected, guaranteed or standard.
How long can you have a gap in car insurance?
What is a car insurance lapse grace period? Your car insurance policy won't be cancelled immediately because you miss a payment. Auto insurance companies are required by state law to provide notice before cancelling your policy. Depending on the state, you'll usually have between 10 and 20 days.
Can I use my no claims bonus twice?
Unfortunately, the answer is technically no. Because the discount applies to a particular car and its unique insurance policy, it can't be used on a different car or policy at the same time. If you own a second vehicle, you need to build up a separate no claims bonus for it from scratch.
How do I check my NCD online?
You can check your NCD rate easily online through a website called MyCarInfo. This site lets you check details, such as your next NCD percentage, NCD effective date, and policy cover period, among others for free.
Will I lose my no-claims bonus if I cancel my insurance?
Insurers usually include proof of your no-claims in your cancellation notice. If you can't find it, get in touch with your insurer for a copy. Your proof of no claims is usually only valid for two years After this time you'll lose the bonus and have to start again at zero.
How long can I freeze my car insurance?
You can't legally freeze your car insurance policy if you're still driving your car, but you may be able to cancel your coverage indefinitely if you're not driving your vehicle for a long period of time.
What is the maximum NCB limit?
What is the maximum percentage of NCB available under car insurance? The maximum percentage of NCB available is 50%. However, to qualify for this discount, you need to have had five consecutive claims-free years. The exact percentage of NCB depends on the number of consecutive years you have not claimed on your policy.
Can I transfer my NCD to my wife?
Yes, but this cannot be transferred back.
Do insurance claims expire?
Unfortunately, there isn't a car insurance claim time limit that a company must follow to settle a claim, whether it's home or auto-related. Certain states have concrete limits on how long an insurer can take, but it really varies on a case-by-case basis.
What happens to gap insurance if you don't use it?
You'll get a refund for the nine months of the year that you didn't use your GAP insurance coverage.
What happens if I don't renew my car insurance on time?
If your car insurance lapses, it means you don't have active coverage. If an insurance company sees that you had a period of time with no insurance, they might consider you a higher risk. Driving without insurance could also result in fines, tickets and a suspended license, depending on the rules in your state.
How late is too late for gap insurance?
According to Straughan, most insurance carriers won't allow you to get gap coverage after a car is two or three years old. Comprehensive and collision coverage.
Does no claims bonus expire?
Yes, unfortunately, it will reset if you decide to take time off driving. Your no-claims bonus expiry date is two years from the last time you had a valid insurance policy. If you don't want to lose it, you will need to take out a new policy within these two years.
How can I keep my no claims bonus without a car?
If you've stopped driving for a while or you no longer own your car, you should still be able to use your no-claims bonus – it will last for two years after you stop driving. After this, it will expire, and you have to start building it again.
Is it worth paying for no claims bonus?
No-claims bonus protection can offer peace of mind if you're worried about potential accidents or claims. This can be valuable when you've built up a healthy discount over the years. However, it's worth noting that no-claims bonus protection costs extra.
What happens if you don't tell your insurance about an accident?
There is no California law per se about notifying your insurance company after a collision, but your auto insurance policy is a contract. When you signed it, you agreed to the stipulations in the contract, which will almost certainly include the requirement to notify the insurance company promptly after an accident.
How do insurance companies go after uninsured drivers?
If the at-fault party is uninsured, the insurer may pursue subrogation against the driver personally.
What are the cons of no fault insurance?
CONS: Fewer legal options: In most states, drivers with no-fault policies are restricted from suing unless the injuries meet a certain severity threshold. Potentially higher premiums: Some say no-fault insurance may lead to higher premiums due to more claims being filed.