How long can you keep no claims bonus?

Asked by: Brenda Larkin  |  Last update: October 31, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (28 votes)

Your no claims bonus (usually) lasts for 2 years
Unfortunately, this grace period only tends to last for two years. If you go longer than that without having insurance, you won't get any discount on your new policy. And that (usually) means you'll have to build up your no claims bonus from scratch.

Does your no claims bonus expire?

Can my no-claims bonus expire? Your no-claims bonus is only usually valid for two years after your policy comes to an end. So, if you don't drive for a few years, you will have to build up a new no claims bonus from scratch.

How do I avoid losing my no claims bonus?

If you're in an accident that you can prove is not your fault, you usually won't lose your discount, as the other driver's insurance company will be the one to pay out. Some small repairs are also sometimes exempt from impacting your no-claims bonus, such as fixing cracks in windows – though this varies by provider.

Can you have 20 years no claims bonus?

If there are still no claims on your policy, you keep getting a discount. You can build up this bonus for a maximum of 15 years.

Do I lose all my no claims after an accident?

If a fault claim is recorded, it's likely to reduce your no-claims bonus if you haven't protected it. This is normally reduced by 2 years, but insurers should explain in their policy how any reduction in no-claims bonus would be applied.

No-Claims Bonus - Things to look out for

23 related questions found

What happens if I don't claim insurance?

Generally, if you have not claimed your car insurance in the previous year, you'll get a discount of 20% on your next year's premium. This discount is known as 'no claim bonus' or NCB. Every car insurance premium has two primary portions: a) own damage premium and b) third party premium.

How does no claims protection work?

No claim discount (NCD) protection is an optional cover which protects your NCD from one "at fault" claim every year. It does not protect the overall price of your insurance policy, but does guarantee that your premium won't increase next year as a result of a claim.

How do you preserve a no claims bonus?

How do I protect my no-claims bonus? You can safeguard your no-claims bonus by paying an additional amount on top of your car insurance to protect it. This means that even if you were to make a claim, your bonus would stay intact.

How much is 5 years no claims bonus worth?

Maximum No Claims Discount

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%.

Is a no claims bonus consecutive?

A No Claims Bonus (NCB) or No Claims Discount (NCD) is a discount that you may receive on your car insurance premium for each consecutive full year that you have not made a claim, starting from one year.

Do I keep my no claims bonus if I cancel my insurance?

If you cancel car insurance, you will only be able to keep your no claims bonus for any full years you have built up. If you cancel mid-way through a policy, for example, this won't be counted.

Can insurance companies 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 many no claims will I lose?

If you make one claim on your insurance and your insurance provider pays out, your no claims discount is typically reduced by two or three years. It could be further reduced if you make two or more claims. So, if you have eight years of NCD and make a claim, in theory you'll be left with five or six years' NCD.

How do I find out my year's no claims bonus?

Your previous insurer would have sent details of your no claims bonus to you with your renewal offer. If you do not have this you will need to contact your previous insurer and request another copy of it. Your no claims bonus shows the number of years you have claims free driving on a policy in your own name.

How much is full no claims bonus?

No claims discounts vary from insurer to insurer, but they can be as much as 30% for one claim-free year and 60% for five claim-free years. Some insurers offer protected discount policies which allow customers to make a certain number of claims over a specified period of time without affecting their no claims discount.

Can you keep your no claims?

You can usually transfer your no-claims bonus to another car and keep the same policy. But if you switch insurers before the year is up, you don't get the NCB for that year. Insurers should provide proof of your bonus at the end of your policy term. You can pass this on to your next provider when you switch.

What is the point of no claims?

If you do not make a claim on your car insurance, then your insurer is not required to pay out. By default, this implies you are a safer driver and therefore cheaper to cover.

What does full no claims protection mean?

Full Protection - this usually means you do not lose any of your no claims bonus even if a single claim is made.

Why does insurance get rejected?

Car insurance companies are more likely to deny insurance to people they believe are more likely to file a claim. Insurance companies frequently deny coverage if the applicant has a recent history of accidents, a series of minor traffic tickets or a serious infraction such as a DUI.

How much difference does 1 years no claims make?

What do I need to know about my no claim discount? It can save you money. Even after just one year of claim-free driving, you can earn a discount of up to 30 per cent on next year's car insurance costs. After five years this could be as much as 60 per cent.

How do I calculate my no claims?

The amount of discount is calculated by reference to the number of years that you have driven a vehicle without making a claim on your car insurance. For example, if you have been driving for four years and have not made a claim on your car insurance during that time, you will have accrued four years' worth of NCB.

What does no claim bonus mean?

What is No Claim Bonus. Definition: No-claim bonus (NCB) is a discount in premium offered by insurance companies if a vehicle owner has not made a single claim during the term of the motor insurance policy. Description: The no-claim bonus is a reward to the vehicle owner for prudent use of the vehicle.

How important is no claims bonus?

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.

Does cancelling insurance hurt credit?

No, canceling your car insurance policy won't affect your credit score. Credit reports don't include information about when you purchase or cancel car insurance policies, which means there is no impact on your credit score.

Will my credit go up if my car is totaled?

The short answer is no, totaling your car does not your credit score directly. People often make payments on their cars because it's a great way to build good credit. If the auto loan makes up a large portion of your debt and you pay it off, that will look good on your credit report.