car insurance with no driving history

nhoneymonster

I passed my test in 1992 and drove regularly for a couple of years but haven't driven much since. I'm now trying to get insured again and am getting really expensive quotes as I have no driving history.

If I was somehow able to find who I was insured with previously with this count as driving history or would it be too far back now? Not sure if I would be able to find out anyway, just looking for a way of making it cheaper!

The kind of quotes I'm getting it's like I'm a teenager that's just passed my test!

kingstreet

What questions are you being asked which identify this problem?

Normally, you're asked "how long have you held a UK licence?" and you have a nice answer of 19 years.

Most aggregator sites appear to default to "9 years +" and don't want anything longer than that.

Any previous No Claims Discount lapsed years ago, so no help there...

Who asks you when you last drove a vehicle?

nhoneymonster

No one has actually asked when I last drove, I think it's the lack of no claims bonus which is causing the expense. When I said no driving history I was really meaning with regards to evidence of no claims, but if that would have lapsed now anyway that wouldn't make any difference.

I know the no claims bonus reduces the premium a fair amount but I still wouldn't expect the quotes to be as high as I'm getting considering my age and when I passed my test.

I have been insured on a car as a second driver for a while, would this count towards no claims bonus or does that only apply to the main driver?

ACG

Call them up. They might be able to offer you something out of the ordinary over the phone

Caz3121

with 19 years driving and no no claims they maybe are assuming the absence of no claims is due to you having lost it - what type of car and what quotes, teenagers currently get quotes of £3k+

nhoneymonster

I may have been exaggerating when I said quotes like teenagers get as it's no where near that much really! Was just very surprised at how high they were (had one for around £1400.00). The car is insurance group 11. Having not insured for a while I have no idea what the average is without a no claims bonus. There have been some quotes cheaper than that, just more than I expected. I didn't realise how much difference the no claims bonus could make.

Do you get any for being insured as a secondary driver on a car?

property.advert

Me, middle aged, no no claims, could insure a Merc 500 for around £600 a year fully comp.

I guess it may have more to do with the risk of theft where you live and no you. Where I lived before, the same car would cost £1800+.

InsideInsurance

Caz3121 wrote: »

with 19 years driving and no no claims they maybe are assuming the absence of no claims is due to you having lost it - what type of car and what quotes, teenagers currently get quotes of £3k+

Especially if you're female, not that I am suggesting the industry is sexist, it will be more likely assumed you've been a Named Driver for the time and now either just got a second car or split up or partner died etc etc hence no ncd.

Many insurers will be giving you an introductory discount but inevitably if your not getting the up to 70% discount that the vast majority of people get with 5 years+ NCD then your premium will be higher than average.

Plus teenagers are more commonly around £3-5,000 rather than £1,400

nhoneymonster

It is a second car and I have been a named driver without actually driving, so I suppose that won't count for anything with the insurance company as being insured doesn't prove that you have been driving (which I haven't!)

There have been some lower quotes than the £1400.00, that was the highest one but there were ones for around £700.00 as well.

I think I may be out of touch with what insurance costs these days as I know what my husband pays but he has the no claims which seems to make a big difference.

More shopping around required I think.

rs65

nhoneymonster wrote: »

There have been some lower quotes than the £1400.00, that was the highest one but there were ones for around £700.00 as well.

£700 with zero NCB sounds ok. If you had 60% NCB it would have been £280 so it is the lack of NCB that is your issue.

No point in dwelling on the £1400.

nhoneymonster

Found a quote for £4000.00 too now!!

The £700.00 is looking pretty good, although there is also a multi car policy to cover both cars which might work out cheaper.