Renewal declaration of accident yes or no?

Strawberryjam

I am about to renew my car insurance and the sites are asking if I have claimed in the last 5 years. I did have an accident 2 years ago which was my fault. I have always had protection on my policies so do I declare this claim or not?

withabix

You must declare EVERY claim in the last 5 years (in this case) irrespective of having NCD Protection.

You can also declare the number of years of No Claims Bonus as well, which will be the protected figure.

olly300

You declare it.

The rate of your protected NCD takes account of the fact you have had a fault accident.

dunstonh

Is your current insurer aware of this or not?

Strawberryjam

I looked back to last year and realised I didn't declare the accident. I think because I found it all so confusing. What do I do now? Especially if I want to continue with the same insurer?

vax2002

A Claim is a legal term.
It means that your contract held by you was claimed from, that your policy was the one that paid out.
You can not claim on anyone else's insurance contract, they make the claim and pay your "losses"
So if the CLAIM was made and paid by your insurance company which you held a contract with then this is legally a claim.

dunstonh

What do I do now? Especially if I want to continue with the same insurer?

If you wish to renew with the same insurer, you need to tell them about the claim. They will increase their price for the renewal and they will charge you for the premium you should have paid last year.

It may well be better to move to a new insurer now (at renewal) and declare the claim. You will avoid having to pay last years premium.

And keep your fingers crossed that you do not have a claim in the interim period. It would be difficult to prove that your non-disclosure was inadvertent.

Strawberryjam

Yes I understand the last reply. I didn't declare I had made a claim on last year's insurance because I was confused about the protected no claims. I realise now that I have to declare but I want to stay with the same insurer. I will have to tell them that I made a mistake on last year's policy. Will I be prosecuted?

Quentin

Strawberryjam wrote: »

Yes I understand the last reply. I didn't declare I had made a claim on last year's insurance because I was confused about the protected no claims. I realise now that I have to declare but I want to stay with the same insurer. I will have to tell them that I made a mistake on last year's policy. Will I be prosecuted?

Just explain your mistake.

You won't be prosecuted, but could end up paying extra premium.

forgotmyname

They could say they want double the premium for last year and then your in a situation where they may not release
your no claims until its paid.

Then you wont be able to get insurance cheap anywhere.

I would think again about moving to another insurer.

withabix

Change insurer.

It is rarely competitive to stay with the same one and definitely won't be when you tell them about the previously undisclosed accident.