How to protect no claims without a car

rjgb

Hi all,

Until nearly two years ago we were a two car family and my wife and I each had an insurance policy in our own names. We sold my car, and the remaining car is insured under a policy in my wife's name, as she is probably the main driver (she commutes daily in it). I am a named driver and had a 5 years no claims bonus when I terminated my insurance.

I have heard that some insurers might not recognise my no claims discount if it is more than 2 years since I had an insurance policy in my own name.

The question is, is there any way I can protect my no claims discount, since to lose it all would add c. £1k to a future policy premium?

I would prefer not to buy another car now, and wondered if it was possible to take out a second policy on my wife's car in my name?

Thanks for your input!

Quentin

At renewal swap over policyholder, then repeat this every 2 years.

rjgb

But my wife is the primary user of our car. Is a policy not meant to be in the name of the main driver?

Quentin

No. You can nominate any driver as the "main" one.

(There is a related problem with RAC insurance, so avoid them for this "scheme". Although RAC insurance do let you nominate any named driver as the main one, they only accept NCD from the main driver (and only award it to the main driver too!)

rjgb

Quentin wrote: »

No. You can nominate any driver as the "main" one.

That sounds like a fine solution! :beer:

Do most insurers offer this option?

Does anyone have experience of doing this, before I go about contacting a few insurers for quotes? (Might have to ring them, as many of their websites say they can't process an online application if I won't be the main driver).

Quentin

You should find no problem with this - a broker will help out, but there are online companies who will allow you to nominate a named driver to be the main driver (eg morethan)

gillhammer

a friend of mine has been alternating every 2 years with his wife in exactly this scenario for at least 6 years with both their no claims bonuses being preserved.

MarkyMarkD

If you use confused.com, or similar, then they will clearly ask you whether the car is registered in the name of the proposer, or their spouse, or someone else.

If it is the proposer, 100% of companies will insure you; if it their spouse, 50% of them will; if it is "someone else", hardly anyone will.

So, swapping over every year is fine (or every 2 years) if you are married, but likely to be hard work if you are not, I'd guess.

I am about to swap over with my wife as we no longer have 2 cars.

rjgb

Quentin wrote: »

You should find no problem with this - a broker will help out, but there are online companies who will allow you to nominate a named driver to be the main driver (eg morethan)

Just tried MoreThan online, but the result was that they were "unable to offer me a quotation for MORE TH>N Car Insurance".

Have run a comparison search on Confused.com, and it returns several half-decent results. Will ring around them shortly to check they appreciate my wife will be the main driver...

If you use confused.com, or similar, then they will clearly ask you whether the car is registered in the name of the proposer, or their spouse, or someone else.

If it is the proposer, 100% of companies will insure you; if it their spouse, 50% of them will; if it is "someone else", hardly anyone will.

The question isn't really whose name the car is registered under though, is it? Surely it's more of a concern who will be the main driver.

Quentin

rjgb wrote: »

Just tried MoreThan online, but the result was that they were "unable to offer me a quotation for MORE TH>N Car Insurance".

That won't be specifically because the main driver is not the policyholder. When you add a driver to the quote it offers you a button to select who will be the main driver.

Maybe they had a glitch, or there is something else they "don't like" about your details. (Morethan aren't the only online company that accept named drivers as the main driver, it was just an example - but give them a ring to see if they are competitive.)

But as previously posted, you won't have a major problem having your wife as a named main driver, and this will solve your problem over keeping two lots of NCD on the go.