Should I switch car insurer after an accident?

mspoppins

Hi,

I was involved in a minor accident. Went into the back of somebody and although she had no obvious reason for braking, I'm automatically guilty.

My insurance renewal has increased 3-fold. It was a big an powerful car, so there's no way I would be able to afford insurance on that.

I'm thinking about getting a smaller, less powerful car. What's the best way to insure it? Is my name on some sort of a blacklist now or can I simply go to a comparison site, get a quote and start from scratch with a 0 no-claims bonus?

keith1950

Hi, yes you can start again with 0 no claims but your accident will be on the motor insurance database so you will have to declare this accident for, in some cases, up to 5 years.

rs65

mspoppins wrote: »

can I simply go to a comparison site, get a quote and start from scratch with a 0 no-claims bonus?

Yes go to a comparison site.

How many years NCB did you have at last renewal?

mspoppins

keith1950, d'oh!!!

rs65, I had 4 years NCB

rs65

mspoppins wrote: »

rs65, I had 4 years NCB

You will probably have 2 years now. What did your renewal notice say?

keith1950

keith1950, d'oh!!!

Nice reply......hope it made you feel better.... you can't be that clever , because as said above you would still have two years so it sounds as if by putting zero and changing your reg. you thought you could get away with not declaring the accident.

Is my name on some sort of a blacklist

D'oh!!!

mspoppins

oi, no need to get angry. It's my first accident and I had no idea I had to declare something, all right?

and d'oh was an expression of disappointment, not a response

couponosaurus

I doubt your name is on a blacklist, though changing insurance provider might be smart, as they are pretty sly...

vaio

Your name is very likely to be on the CUE database to which most insurers have access so you need to declare it when asked as part of the proposal.

Changing insurer every year, accident or not, is often a good idea, that way you avoid the loyal customer tax that most seem to apply

mspoppins

Thank you guys, that sounds like a good advice. I'll let you know how I'm getting on.