Preserving My Motoring No Claims Discount

gazmomay

Around 18 months ago I sold my car and just allowed the insurance to lapse, i.e. I didn't cancel it. I still drive a company van and am a named driver on my wife's policy.
Over many years I had accumulated my NCD but I understand there is a 'lifespan' on previously accrued NCDs - generally two years.
An associate of mine had a similar situation a few months ago when he tried to get car insurance again after many years but was told his NCD had 'expired' and he would have to start from scratch again unless he had 'preserved' his NCD.
Can anyone tell me how to do that, I can't find anything on the Internet but if it is possible to do I would like to do so as I anticipate driving a car again in the next 12 months or so and would hate to have wasted all those years of safe driving....
Grateful thanks
Gary

rs65

NCD is usually valid for 2 years, 3 with one or two insurers.

You and your wife could insure her car alternate years to keep both alive.

thefatcontroller

Hi Folks,

I'm in a similar situation in that my insurance was discontinued in January 2011 (when I stopped having a car). Am now going back on the road so just over the 2 years.

Is there any give with the usual 2 year rule or are there particular companies to hit who will accept 3 years?

Many thanks
TFC

forgotmyname

Co-op was mentioned but not sure if that changed?

Wig

Yellow pages, lots of phone calls, lots of quotes, eventually you might get lucky.

marlot

It may not be worth the hassle.

When I opted out of the company car scheme, I found that Aviva (who insured my wife's car at the time) were happy to give me max no claims discount as long as I promised to stay with them for two years.

If I left after a year, I'd still get the max discount for that year, but the NCD letter they would give to other companies would state '1 year NCD'.

Sounded very fair to me.

thefatcontroller

Well I dropped Direct Line a call this morning, as it was with them whom I had my last policy (Cancelled 17 January 2011). After a quick check with a colleague the CSA informed me they would be happy to honour the NCD in this instance - likely due myself not having had *any* policy in te interviewing period.

Possibly a way in for some people - to approach previous insurers. Hopefully they will offer a decent price to avoid having to scramble around for an alternative - and I guess at worst it's only for a year.

Thanks folks!

TFC

thenudeone

18 months should be fine. Most companies accept NCD up to 2 years. The easiest way to keep NCD is for you and a spouse/partner to alternate insurance each year.

BTW you shouldn't have allowed the policy to continue after you sold the car. Your insurer would still have been liable if there was an accident and the driver wasn't insured; and then they would have come after you for payment.