Car Insurance and the Incredible Shrinking No Claims Bonus!

vixmix

I have just discovered a potential problem with NCB and switching car insurance.

I was with Admiral Insurance many years because they were on the money year after year. However in June 2008 I was offered extra points and a free pressure washer if I moved to Tesco. I duly did and carried with me 11 years NCB from Admiral.

After 1 year with Tesco I purchased a new MINI and was given a special offer with MINI insurance. I transferred to MINI and carried over 9 years NCB. At the time I didn't realise the difference.

This year, I sold the mini and purchased an old campervan. Budget offered the cheapest quote so I went with them. I had to insure it in a hurry and claimed 9 years on the online form.

Imagine my shock when MINI sent me a proof of NCB of 6 years!

Budget are now threatening to cancel my insurance unless I pay an extra £200 or prove the 9 years that I claimed.

Now Admiral have been great, they said they would still insure me with 11 years but sadly it is an import and they can't insure me on that vehicle. They also tell me that some insurers only recognise up to their own maximum NCB, and will 'strangle' what I produce down to their maximum. So Tesco reduced me to 9 years when I started with them and MINI to 5 years (!) when I moved to them.

MINI are brutally unhelpful, by telling me that I 'ONLY' had 5 years when I moved to them. But that is only because they only recognise 5 years and no more.

This is proving a nightmare. I now have to prove to Budget that I deserve the 9 years I have claimed. Unfortunately they are not being very helpful and insist that they can only accept the NCB that I have from MINI. What chances do I have of getting MINI to change my Proof of NCB do you think?

deutsch

Will mini accept proof of NCD from Admiral? I know some insurance companies except proof as long as it is not over 2 years old and not being used currently (as in on another car).

keith1950

Hi, I have never had a problem with this and I change insurers every year. Each time I recieve a renewal notice I photocopy it so that I have a 'paper trail' showing my proof of no claims and that I haven't had any accidents in the previous year. I have kept copies of these going back over the last 20 years or so. It seems to be accepted that some insurers will only state a maximum of 5+, however by sending in the lastest few copies of my 'paper trail' insurers have always accepted my NCB without question. And I point out this includes Budget.

vixmix

Tesco and admiral are going to send me Proof of NCB so that takes me back 3 1/2 years. Budget are saying that they may or may not accept this as they only accept NCB from the immediate previous insurance. So I'll just have to send off the info and keep fingers crossed that it is acceptable to them.

Just a trying to make others aware of the disparity between insurers so others can keep a paper trail too.

adamc260

Want to know something more annoying... Mini insurance is owned by the same company as Tesco UK Insurance Limited (Aka Direct Line)

"MINI Car Insurance is underwritten by UK Insurance Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. UK Insurance Limited is part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
FSA register number: 202810."

dunstonh

6 years NCB is the typical maximum. However, some companies choose internally to go beyond that. Some up to 12 year or more. However, that doesnt mean that other companies you move to have to offer a similar number of years. It is something you have to be careful of when shopping around.

adamc260

I find it strange they offer £200 discount between 6 years and 9 years NCB anyway...

Whats your premium like if they can knock £200 off for what is effectively... above the maximum discount given.

FiFi_Mad_Mum

I am in a similar predicament although not as expensive. I have 9 years no claims but the Co-op have said I only have 6 years, therefore Admiral now want another £29 because of the difference. The annoying thing is that it is only recently I found my previous expired policy and shredded it, I have paper work in this house going back 20 years and from now on I shall be keeping insurance policies as well. Going to look through bank/credit card statements and see if they give me the details of previous insurers.

FiFi

dunstonh

I am in a similar predicament although not as expensive. I have 9 years no claims but the Co-op have said I only have 6 years, therefore Admiral now want another £29 because of the difference. The annoying thing is that it is only recently I found my previous expired policy and shredded it, I have paper work in this house going back 20 years and from now on I shall be keeping insurance policies as well. Going to look through bank/credit card statements and see if they give me the details of previous insurers.

6 is the typical maximum if you move around. Whilst some insurers will internally go up to a higher amount, there is no requirement for any other insurer to offer any more than the typical maxium. It is something you have to be wary of when you shop around.

fred7777

I had a similar problem when Aviva where Norwich Union, the 9 years NCB I had when I joined them shrank to 5 years when I left 2 years later.
My next insurance company accepted the proof of no claims I have when I went to NU and a letter from NU stating I had not made a claim as proof of NCB.