Keeping NCB active 17 August 2022 at 2:19PM in Motoring 5 replies 61 views

ccfcforever1987

Hi, I need some advise / help.

We ordered a new car for my wife back in April last year with delivery due around now.  The dealer offered us crazy money for her old car if we let them have it within a few months of the order, which we did.  It now turns out that the new car may not be delivered until the summer next year which will be 2 years since we cancelled my wifes insurance and I am told the NCB with have expired by then.

Can anyone advise the best way to keep my wifes NCB going?  The ideas I have come up with are (and I don't know which is best or even feasable)

1. (double) insure my car.  i.e. have 2 policies running.  One in my name and the other in my wifes
2. Cancel my current insurance and insure it in my wifes name and alternate until my wifes car arrives.  Problem there would be I am the main driver, so would that be looked upon as 'fronting'?
3. As above but with my step-daughters car.
4. Buy an old banger and insure that.

Flight3287462

First thing to do would be talk to her last insurer and see what they say.  (You'll want it in writing)

Ebe_Scrooge

ccfcforever1987 said:

1. (double) insure my car.  i.e. have 2 policies running.  One in my name and the other in my wifes.  Possible, but can get messy in the event of a claim.
   
2. Cancel my current insurance and insure it in my wifes name and alternate until my wifes car arrives.  Problem there would be I am the main driver, so would that be looked upon as 'fronting'?  This is the usual way for couples to do it, but you're correct to be wary of fronting.  Would your situation allow you to genuinely split the use of the car 50/50, or near enough?  If you can do this, better to let your own policy expire rather than cancelling it if possible, as most insurers will charge an admin fee to cancel it mid-term.
   
3. As above but with my step-daughters car.  Same as above - possible, but don't do it if it could be classed as fronting.
   
4. Buy an old banger and insure that.  Might be the simplest option.  Does your wife actually need a car?  If so, this might be the best way forward.
   

My thoughts in bold above.

The only other thing to ask - how much NCB does your wife have?  If it's 9 years or so then it's worth trying to retain it.  But if it's only a year or two then it may be easier to let it lapse and start again when the new car arrives.

ccfcforever1987

It was with Admiral.  Their website confirms the 2 year period and I have downloaded the most recent insurance policy schedule that confirmed her NCB entitlement.  Having done some other research the validity period depends upon the new insurers policies and not the prevoius insurer.  If we were to go back to Admiral they said they would honour the NCB as long as the policy was started before the end of July next year.

Herzlos

It's not really fronting when it's a partners car and you both use it. So it's pretty common when a couple own a single car to alternate the insurance year to year to keep the NCD.

Can you let your insurance expire naturally and then have your wife insure it after that? Given she's been without insurance for 5 months she's presumably got 17 months left before her NCD expires and your insurance will be up in under 12.

Aretnap

(2) is absolutely fine so long as you are upfront (if you are asked) about the fact that you, not your wife, usually drive the car. Where spouses are concerned most insurers will not mind if the policyholder is not the main driver, and some will actively not care which of you is the main driver. (Direct Line for example simply ask you to tick a box which says "you or your spouse are the main driver" - you can tick that with no problems at all)