Is it worth protecting no claims?

Asked by: Rosa Lind  |  Last update: November 9, 2022
Score: 4.7/5 (49 votes)

A no claims discount (NCD) can play an important part in lowering your annual insurance premium. 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 happens if I don't protect my no claims bonus?

If you buy protection for your no claims discount, this will add an extra cost to your premium. But if you have an accident without no claims protection in place, you will lose your discount and end up paying more in future anyway.

What is the advantage of protecting no claims bonus?

Frequently referred to as no-claims discount protection, protecting your NCB allows you to have a certain amount of 'at fault' accidents without affecting the bonus. This means that your no-claims bonus remains intact even if your insurer can't claim their costs back.

Will my insurance go up if I have protected no claims?

If you've protected your no claims discount, then making a claim shouldn't affect the number of years that contribute to your NCD. But if you've had an accident, the basic cost of your premium is likely to go up.

Does no claims bonus make a difference?

You could save up to 75% on your premium, but this will depend on what your insurer offers. To get the highest discount you need a no claims bonus of at least five years. Building a no claims discount is one of the best ways to save on your car insurance, but you can also try these ten ways to cut your costs.

Do This to PROTECT Your No Claims Bonus!

26 related questions found

Is it worth protecting 4 years no claims?

As a driver with four or five years of claim-free driving behind you, you may be tempted to pay an extra fee to keep your history clean. This protection typically adds 5%-10% to your annual premium. Whether it's worth the price is debatable, especially if you don't make a claim for a number of 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%.

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.

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'.

How many years NCB Do you need to protect it?

Normally you need to have at least five years No Claims Discount to qualify for No Claims Protection, however we have three insurers who do offer this benefit on a lower amount of No Claims Discount.

How much no claims bonus Do you lose after an accident?

If you make one claim during your insurance period, you'll lose two years of the bonus. So, if you have five or more years NCB, it will reduce to three years at renewal. You'd still get a discount off your premium, and it wouldn't take so long to build it back up.

Will I lose my no claims bonus if I sell my car?

Although your bonus is attributed to a specific policy, it can be transferred to another car if you change vehicles. If you switch insurers before the year is up, however, you won't get the NCB for that year. The same is also true if you sell your car and wait for a period of time before finding a replacement.

Can I Protect 2 years no claims?

Your proof of NCB will usually only be valid for two years, although this will depend on the insurer. So if you are planning on taking a break from driving for more than two years, you might have to start from scratch with your next car insurance.

Will I lose my no claims if an accident wasn't my fault?

A no claims bonus (NCB), or more correctly a no claims discount, is awarded if you don't claim in the latest policy year. Even if you have an accident that wasn't your fault – you're hit by an uninsured driver, or your car gets stolen – you could lose your NCB, and your premium could even go up at renewal.

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.

How does protected no claims 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.

Do I lose my no claims bonus for windscreen replacement?

No, your NCD is not affected for any windscreen claims.

Will my insurance go down after 1 year?

How much will my car insurance go down after 1 year? That depends entirely on you and your driving. If you've banked one year of no claims, its likely your insurance premium will be lower after twelve months, provided no other circumstances have changed.

Should my car insurance go down each year?

When do car insurance premiums go down? From ages 16 to 25, your car insurance rates will steadily go down for every year that you keep your driving record clean. Car insurance rates go down at age 25 by a large margin. Rates then decrease slowly but surely until age 65, before increase again.

How long does proof of no claims last?

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.

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.

What counts as proof of no claims?

There are three main forms of proof: The renewal invite from your current or previous insurer will state the number of years you've enjoyed a no claims bonus. A cancellation letter from your previous insurer, as long as it states your no claim bonus. A letter from your previous insurer confirming your no claims bonus.

Do named drivers get no claims?

Can named drivers build up their own NCD? No, unfortunately named drivers can't build up their own no claim discount (NCD). You can only earn NCD if you're the policyholder or the NCD holder on a multi car policy.

At what age does car insurance go down?

Age and car insurance

The price usually declines gradually between the ages of 25 and 60. For most, car insurance is more expensive the younger you are, with the price going down as you enter a new decade. People in their 30s often pay more than those in their 40s, who in turn fork out more than those in their 50s.

Is it better to pay car insurance monthly or every 6 months?

Answer provided by. “Paying your car insurance premium in full every six months will save you money. Depending on the insurance carrier, this could reduce your premium substantially compared to monthly payments.