Car Insurance Renewals

CurlySue2017

I wasn't sure whether to post this here or in the insurance section so if it needs to be moved, please feel free.  It is also more of a WWYD type post than a specific question. Both mine and my OH's car insurances are due for renewal (at the same time which is a huge pain in itself) but we are both unsure what to do. 

My car is old.....very old! (over 20 years) so the value of it is pretty much nothing from an insurance POV and I am currently WFH so my mileage is virtually zero and I'm not sure how to answer the questions for my quotes.  So for example, it asks where the car is kept during the day so at the moment that is at home but if I am asked to go back to the office, then of course it won't be.  Then that brings another question - at the moment I am not commuting but of course I could be before the year is up, so again, I am unsure what to do.  Of course I need to be honest but my circumstances could change at very short notice and also change multiple times throughout the year depending on "lockdown status" and I don't want to be hit with fees for amending the policy part way through the year, possibly multiple times.

My OH is currently unemployed and so is not using his car at all and he is unlikely to be working again in the near future so we were thinking of simply letting his insurance lapse for now but are worried about him losing his NCD for not having continuous cover, does anyone know if this is the case?

We can get by at the moment with just the one car because we are only really going out to buy food shopping, but his insurance is always more expensive than mine (better car!!) and we are worried that if he lapses insurance for this year, it will take a huge jump next time and he willnot be able to afford it.

Any thoughts from more knowledgable people than ourselves please?

LeafGreen

Most insurance companies will accept No Claims Discount up to 2 years after expiry of the policy.

Car_54

I would go for commuting cover. It shouldn't cost much (if anything) and, as you say, there might be a fee to add it later.

If you don't insure the other car, the NCD should be good for two years. But the car needs to be SORNed and kept off the road.

CurlySue2017

Thanks for your replies, that's really helpful.

Yes, the un-used car would be SORNed and of course off the road.  I think we may take this route if the NCD will be ok and just utilise the one car for the moment. 

Car_54

Don't forget the risk of fire or theft.

It might make more sense to keep the newer car on the road and mothball the old one.

Sandtree

And if stolen, then what damage it may do to other property... thieves are not known to be the most careful drivers!

As others have said, most recognise NCD for 2 years whilst you hold no insurance to attach it to. For those couples who reduce the number of cars for a longer time they often switch who is the policyholder each year to ensure both NCD stays alive in case they go back to having a second car.

Having near zero mileage is likely to be more expensive than having a modest mileage so if you think its realistic that you will be commuting again this year etc then factor that into the mileage. Commuting does sometimes add a small amount to premiums but unless you have a very high premium to start with the admin fee to add it at later date is probably more than the cost of having commuting for the full year.

CurlySue2017

Car_54 said:

Don't forget the risk of fire or theft.

It might make more sense to keep the newer car on the road and mothball the old one.

The reasons for keepng the older car on the road rather than the new are down to cost - the older one is cheaper to tax and insure, it is more economical and also if any work needs to be done, the parts are also much cheaper.  The point about fire and theft is a good one, will have to give that a bit more thought.

Sandtree

CurlySue2017 said:
 The point about fire and theft is a good one, will have to give that a bit more thought.

You can get a laid up policy which covers AD, Fire and Theft (but no third party cover). As its not a mass market product its not necessarily cheaper despite the lower level of cover but worth double checking if you do decide to keep the vehicle insured.