Confused about 'no claims bonus'

puddy

I passed in August 07 and in September 08 someone drove into the back of me. Their insurances admitted liability, I didnt have to pay any excess (or I might have done but got it back), I am still waiting the outcome of an injury claim which has taken forever. However, I think last year when I renewed, I just went with my own insurer aviva without doing any price checks.

This year, Im doing some price checks and dont really know how the no claims thing works. Although the other driver was at fault and my insurer doesnt have to pay anything, I still made a claim, so do I lose the no claims bonus? Also, the questions on comparison sites seem to still ask, how many years no claims do you have, so I then put in 2 as 07-08 and then 09-10 I havent claimed, is that right or do they have to be consecutive years?

dogbot

You will need to go with what is on your renewal notice.

Sounds like you will have 2 years but that will only be the case if Aviva have closed their file. Otherwise you can record that the claim is not your fault but on going.

Your own insurers won't be paying for your injury claim so they should have been able to close the motor claim file - if your renewal notice shows 0 call their claims department and ask them if they can close the file, then ask their customer service department to re-issue the renewal.

You still need to declare the accident but will be given the option to put in the applicable description.

puddy

you're right, ive just noticed on the renewal notice that they consider me with 3 years, the entire time ive been driving. now i also know that im a named driver on my partners car with a different insurer, does that count as another year or is it still just the 3?

dogbot

Ah yes, it has been 3 years not 2, sorry my head didn't read it correctly!!

No, you don't get NCD as a named driver. Some insurers (for example Direct Line) do say that named drivers "earn NCD" but only they will recognise this NCD.

NCD's from different policies are always seperate. You can build up 2 sets of NCD if you are the policyholder on another policy, but these always remain independent.

NCD is a marketing tool not an "underwriting" one. Each insurer decides what to do and what to recognise for themselves, but most are very similar.

Remember, if you take out a new policy with another provider (or, to be honest, even a different Aviva policy) you will need to send them proof of NCD - this will be a copy of your renewal notice. Once you have your new policy and they send you the docs they will ask you to send it in. Suggest you also send a covering note giving your name, address, vehicle reg, policy number with the new insurer and stating that the note is proof of NCD.