insurance from van to car issue

supermaiden

My Dad has 4 or 5 years no claims which was all built up on cars. He then got a van and tried to run his own business but it didnt go very far so he now has a car again and is wanting to change his insurance over. He is with Swinton. They have told him he will lose ALL of his no claims if he changes from a van to a car.. Has anyone heard of this? They did not tell him this before he changed over. They say you cannot go from having insurance on a van to having it on a car but he was fine having it on a car then van and they never told him this before he took out the policy. Is there anything he can do?

har0ld

I've a feeling nothing can be done, I lost 5 1/2 years no claims despite having another 5 1/2 years commercial trouble free motoring; so at 41 had to start all over again!! However I was under the impression that he should be able to return to his no claims discount, prior to having the van, if less than two years since he had it?!....

har0ld

yes, I'm pretty sure no claims discount has a 2 year shelf life.

Quentin

supermaiden wrote: »

Is there anything he can do?

NCD earned on van insurance isn't normally accepted by car insurers.

See a local broker (not swinton) who may be able to get him an introductory discount in recognition of his driving history.

supermaiden

He has only owned the van for around 6 months. The rest was built up on owning and insuring cars. They are telling him he loses the lot if he switches it back to cars. I dont think he would mind so much if it was just losing that 6 months of the van being insured as long as he didnt lose his full 4/5 years No Claims.

vaio

As he’s only been in a van for a few months I’d have thought his car NCB would still be valid assuming he cancels the van insurance.

If he doesn’t have a copy of his last car insurance NCB statement I’m sure his previous insurer would provide one.

dacouch

Quentins answer is the one you should follow

forgotmyname

Its probably not the issues its a van, But the issue it maybe have been a trade policy.

Mate had a similar issue, Transferred car insurance no claims to his mobile mechanic business
and when he gave it up he couldnt transfer it back.

But he has insured vans on his private policy before.