Car Insurance - no longer driving

Colin_Grant

I have a policy upon which my wife is the named driver. I have now named her as the main driver as it is likely a recent eye problem will mean I cannot drive anymore. I am not driving at present and we have 8 years no claims bonus. I am awaiting the final diagnosis but it is very likely that my driving days are over and that I will have to take out a policy in my wifes name - she has held a license for 30 years with no offences and is 65 years old. What are my options? I know I cannot transfer the existing policy into her name and it is likely that we will therefore lose the no claims discount. I have tried to get a price from our current insurers but they are not being helpful. As our current policy does not run out until Aug - they will not quote in advance.

All help appreciated.

Thanks
Colin

Quentin

In circs like these most insurers give the NCD to the named driver spouse


If your insurer won't see if a local broker (not Swinton) can help

Colin_Grant

Thank you. From what I have been told it is all down to the underwriters who can say no, but that of course does not mean they will say that. Hopefully my insurers will be sympathetic in this case, or at least I will be able to find one that will help. Are then any known insurers that will "play ball"?

Many thanks
Colin

Quentin

Most do .

mattk_180

Yep, it's common for most insurers to transfer NCB to a spouse with written consent from the original policyholder. I imagine these days it would probably be more difficult to find one that won't.


Your current insurer should quote as you would need to cancel the existing policy and take a new one in your wife's name, making the renewal date irrelevant.


If they don't start being more helpful then it's time to look around for alternatives.

Colin_Grant

Thank you :-)

EdGasket

mattk_180 wrote: »

Yep, it's common for most insurers to transfer NCB to a spouse with written consent from the original policyholder. I imagine these days it would probably be more difficult to find one that won't.

Does that apply just because I feel like it, even if I don't have a medical issue? Can I do this when I get renewal quotes or do I have to do it before and pay my insurance company £££'s for admin and faff?

This article says most insurers won't swap NCB:
http://www.independent.co.uk/money/insurance/married-drivers-are-risking-their-no-claims-discount-1920608.html

unless the husband dies; a pretty drastic solution to lower your insurance cost!

Quentin

EdGasket wrote: »

This article says most insurers won't swap NCB:
http://www.independent.co.uk/money/insurance/married-drivers-are-risking-their-no-claims-discount-1920608.html

The driver in that article wanted to swap his NCD to his wife to save on the premium, the OP here is in a different category altogether.

EdGasket

Quentin wrote: »

The driver in that article wanted to swap his NCD to his wife to save on the premium, the OP here is in a different category altogether.

So does that mean you can only swap NCB for a medical reason?

Colin_Grant

Interesting stuff for the end of the day it could be argued that I am trying to reduce my wife's potential premium rather than my own which will run out anyway(if that makes sense). The difference as you quite rightly say is the medical issue so presumably the insurers take account of this and the fact that I won't be driving?

Quentin

Yes. If you are ruled unfit to drive you must contact your insurer and inform them when they will cancel your policy and make arrangements for your named driver spouse to become the policy holder with NCD!


Speak to them rather than rely on forum posts if you are concerned, and if their policy is not to allow the NCD transfer then you can look elsewhere