Previous copmany lease car - not named individual - NCD?

patrick187

I have had a company lease car for the last 9 years or so. I have not had a privately owned car and neither has my partner.

I am no longer entitled to a lease car (work for large county council - cut to employment T&Cs). So, I am looking to buy a car and insure it.

I understand even though I had sole use of one car (it was not a shared fleet) our insuarance section did not name individuals on the policy from whoever provided it (proabably to save on administration and cost - block cover). However, they have sent me the following letter on headed paper:

Dear Patrick,

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Insurance Claims Involving Leased Vehicles[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial]

[/FONT]The Fleet Office has advised us that you have been supplied with a lease vehicle during the period 30 January 2004 to the present day.

During this time you had sole/exclusive use of the vehicle and were insured for social, domestic and pleasure purposes, as well as for business use.

According to our records the vehicle(s) supplied to you have been involved in the following incidents within the last five years:-

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Claim Number Incident Reg. No. Incident Total Claim [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]Date Cost [/FONT]

[/FONT]LMV/2011/0187 08/02/2012 EXXXXXX Damaged whilst parked £579.69*

LMV/2010/0047 26/09/2010 EXXXXXX Items stolen from vehicle £609.27

LMV/2009/0428 15/06/2010 EXXXXXX Damage noticed to vehicle £152.74

LMV/2009/0279 07/03/2010 EXXXXXX Hit a pothole £669.42

LMV/2009/0248 20/01/2010 EXXXXXX Hit immobile object £701.38

*Full recovery of costs received from the third party

We would advise that we are unable to provide a letter from our insurers and trust that this is sufficient for you to obtain the relevant insurance cover required.

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,
[FONT=Amienne,Amienne][FONT=Amienne,Amienne]Insurance Section [/FONT]

[/FONT]The Insurance Section


Couple of questions then:

1. Would any insurers provide me with a no claims discount on the basis of this letter which details claims?
2. If the answer to 1. is yes, would I count two years no claims on the basis that LMV/2011/0187 was fully recovered from third party?
3. If the answer to 1. is none or very few would you suggest I speak to a broker?
4. What sort of costs do you incur going to a broker?
5. Do you pay only after you take out the policy? I am not looking to buy and insure until August but am trying to get a feel for how much it will cost to insure a car to work out what I can afford.

Thanks as always in advance guys. Appreciate any time you spend answering my questions.:beer:

Patrick

Captain_Shambolic

patrick187 wrote: »

1. Would any insurers provide me with a no claims discount on the basis of this letter which details claims?

Some will some won't. I would remain sceptical but you appear to have been named as the sole user so it's definitely worth checking. I know previous companies I've worked for would give a discount (dependent on a few other things like claims/convictions and such)

patrick187 wrote: »

2. If the answer to 1. is yes, would I count two years no claims on the basis that LMV/2011/0187 was fully recovered from third party?

Again, that is down the to the insurer. Some may accept it, some will more likely give an introductory discount. I would avoid the comparison sites and merely call insurers direct.

patrick187 wrote: »

3. If the answer to 1. is none or very few would you suggest I speak to a broker?

Brokers can be useful if they'll identify specific underwriters that will accept the NCD

patrick187 wrote: »

4. What sort of costs do you incur going to a broker?

Some will charge a commission fee and most don't open weekends so it may be inconvenient if you have to make a charge urgently but many will rate in the same way an insurer will.

patrick187 wrote: »

5. Do you pay only after you take out the policy? I am not looking to buy and insure until August but am trying to get a feel for how much it will cost to insure a car to work out what I can afford.

You may struggle to find an insurer that will quote that far in advance, some will only quote for 30-60 days in advance. But a few quotes to get a feel for what the insurance would be may not hurt. You can also see what brokers will accept a discount.

patrick187

Captain Shambolic (hey, your answer was anything but shambolic..v consise!) - are you able to name any of the companies you think would and would not accept this as a NCB? Looking on the comparison websites, the difference between 1 year NCB and 0 for the car I am looking at is about an extra £1500!

With respect to the other requirements which they may take into account, neither my partner or I have any motoring offences, I'm 31, she is 28, she has not claimed for the time she has been an extra named driver on my lease car, I passed my advanced driving test and belong to the Institute of Advanced Motororing if any of that counts?

Captain_Shambolic

1.) Regarding companies that would accept it it's difficult as some will have different terms. I have a friend who works for Aviva and he's stated that it's something they would definitely look at but it's dependent on the circumstances. Your best bet is to simply call around, grueling but it's the best way of ensuring you get a good spread of quotes.

2.) The issue isn't so much the convictions but the claims, if you were named as the sole user and therefore driving when those incidents occured then it will most likely count as a claim against you. I count 5 claims and only 1 as a non-fault which is definitely going to impact what discount you get (if any)

Again regarding the extra driving qualifications, it depends on other insurers, some will give a discount for it, some won't and again your best bet is simply going to be to call around.

Whatever you do (and I can't stress this enough) do not use comparison websites. Many companies do not give proper NCD for company cars and that letter isn't proof of actual NCD, merely proof you had a company car, therefore you need to speak with each insurer/broker and see what they advise.

bouncydog1

To be honest you will struggle as you will have to disclose those incidents as even though you did not have your own policy they are seen as at fault claims. IMO your best bet is a good broker.

Quentin

With that claim history you won't find many off the peg insurers prepared to quote, so a local broker (not swinton) may be your best bet. Though little chance of any ncd!

patrick187

Thanks for all the advice. I will probably end up taking a day off work to ring round lots of companies to work out what it would realistically cost ot insure the car I would like to purchase. But before I do this, wouldn't the comparison websites be a good start i.e. no point ringing those who come up twice the price or more of others?

Once i decide what car i am looking for, closer the time I will approach a broker (not Swinton) to try and get the best price. Suggest local firm or are there good national firms?

Also, as to being at fault, can I clarify the defintion of fault? Presumably you are counting where my car got broken into and when someone crashed into me and none of the costs where recovered as my 'faults' because I made a claims and they were not receovered? (see below)

1. Damaged whilst parked - someone crashed into my parked vehicle. Cost fully recovered. Not at fault.

2. Items stolen from vehicle. Claimed but (obviously) no costs recovered. At fault?

3. Damage noticed to vehicle - someone crashed into my parked car. Claimed but no costs recovered. At fault?

4. Hit a pothole - claimed but no costs recovered. At fault.

5. Hit high kerb - at fault. At fault.

Finally, suppose my other half was driving when the 'at faults' incidents occured, I have been informed that technically I would have to record these incidents aginast my name and record the same incident against my other half. My insurance section also advised that there is no record of my other half being linked to the incidents, all the claims are recorded against me.

Captain_Shambolic

I don't think it's worth the time looking on comparison websites. Many insurers I know of/have worked for in the past won't give NCD for a company car driver but will give an introductory discount. The last thing you want to do is enter in the value as NCD and then find yourself in hot water because the insurer won't accept your proof.

As far as the claims go you are spot on. My personal definition of Non/At Fault is if the insurance company are able to recover losses, if they can't then it is the fault of the driver (whether there was any actual blame put on them or not). Not sure about having to record the claim against both people though as that would be penalising twice for the same claim. It's not an area I'm too knowledgeable on so someone will clear it up for me I'm sure but my knowledge what the the claim is only noted against the driver, if your insurer has no record of your other half driving at the time, then it is your claim and your claim only.

dacouch

1 = non fault
2 = fault
3 = fault
4 = fault
5 = fault

They all need to be declared to an Insurer.

As bouncy dog has mentioned with your claim history most companies won't be interested in quoting.

It might be possible to get 2 years ncd/intro.

You would be best speaking to a local broker who will know which companies to look at and often has contacts at Insurers they can ask for a favour from so you can let them do the leg work.

When you get the renewal through next year read it very carefully as many will issue proof of no claims bonus including any they allowed so it's a possibility you may get proof of three years. If it does not mention it's an includes an introductory discount you might be able to use it as normal no claims bonus with any Insurer

rs65

With a history like that I think you'll be lucky to get a quote, never mind an NCB.

Some insurers only ask for 3 years history so by August you'll only have 2 to declare.

bouncydog1

I think you are going to struggle to get an intro tbh, and insurers are also likely to load the premium for the at fault claims as by having had this many you will be seen as a much higher risk than somebody who has not had any.

Find a broker and go and have a chat to see what their views are and to see if they can provide a quote from any of their markets. This will then give you an indication of the level of premium that you are looking at. You may also have to lower your sights on your intended car for a couple of years until premiums reduce, although you haven' said what this is. IMO your best bet will be a small low rated vehicle.