Car to Van to Car NCB

Norman_Castle

Currently got an old car with 20+ years ncb. The car needs to be replaced and there's a possibility of replacing it with a cheap small van. Its unlikely I'd be keeping the van for more than a year, most likely going back to a car. Firstly could I use my ncb on the van and secondly could it then be used when I return to a car either using it directly from the van insurer or if within two years could its use on the van be ignored and the ncb be used as its within the two years most insurers accept? Private use only.

Norman_Castle

Anyone know?

Sandtree

They are different products and so down to insurer discretion is they allow you to transfer it and if they do if its a straight swap or something else. 

A few Car insurers do allow you to transfer van insurance across but certainly when DL introduced this (cannot say if its still the same) you did not get a normal NCD but something else which had a slightly lower discount and instantly went to 0 following a fault claim rather than stepping down to 3 years as Max normal NCD would.

Never materially worked on Van insurance nor have I ever had to buy it but as more of a niche product (outside of Fleet) I'd be surprised if there are many offering similar sweetners as Car.

If you did use it on your Van then you'd need to find someone that accepts you to transfer it back to the Car (assuming no claims) in a years time. If you didn't transfer it then the original would be valid for up to two years.

What sort of van is it? Some very small car based vans can be insured as a car which would then avoid the issue. 

Norman_Castle

Citroen Berlingo, private use only. Would be good to insure it as a car as there's no business use, its just easier to sleep in the back and fit my bike in. I was looking for a Berlingo Multispace which is insured as a car. I called my current insurer today to ask who said they would allow ncb to be used on a car then a van then back on a car but the policies would have to be ended for each vehicle change unlike swapping cars where the policy remains but the details change.

Interesting to hear the differences in ncb claims for van insurance, certainly something to ask about.