Car Insurance post Divorce - no claims problem

Gailymac

I've been married for 28 years and have always been a named driver on our AA  Car Insurance Policy and we had 27 years full no claims. My (now ex) husband was the main driver. I have recently divorced and am struggling to get insurance (at a fair cost) as I've never been the main named driver. Our policy cost about £600 per year and I am being quoted £1200/£1300 even though I always drove the car and handled the insurance. Is there any way around this? I am being quoted more than my 23 year old daughter who has never driven

DullGreyGuy

Have you telephoned the AA?  Insurers, and most brokers, have fairly free reign what they do with NCD and its not uncommon for them to allow an NCD to be mirrored or transferred etc. More commonly this is in the case where a spouse has died and now the ND becomes PH for the first time but have heard of it being done on divorce too. Just remember you are asking them for goodwill and its not something you have a right to.

Outside of that its just a case of shopping around, historically people would be given an introductory NCD bonus if they were mature, clean history etc but with the new rules around not allowing to discount new customers below existing ones I am not sure if thats allowed any more. 

Gailymac

Thanks for response Dull Grey Guy! Yes I did call AA who Ive insured with for 18+ years and there was absolutly no option - I was taken aback. Interesting point about mirroring the NCD after the death of a spouse and Id have hoped it would be the same upon Divorce. I'll perservere as I have a very clean history and have been driving for 42 years, ironically as the main driver, even though his name was the lead on the paperwork. The things you learn in hindsight!! 

400ixl

Best you don't mention that you have been the main driver, but your ex has been the main driver on the policy to any insurers you are now speaking to.

Speak to some general brokers to see if they can help, you may even have some locally you can go in and see, that way its a bit more personal than over a phone.

DullGreyGuy

Gailymac said:

Thanks for response Dull Grey Guy! Yes I did call AA who Ive insured with for 18+ years and there was absolutly no option - I was taken aback. Interesting point about mirroring the NCD after the death of a spouse and Id have hoped it would be the same upon Divorce. 

The AA are a broker rather than an insurer and this can limit what they are allowed to do... you'd hope with their size they'd be reasonable at calling the shots compared to some small local broker but they'll never have the level of discretion that a direct insurer would have. 

Unfortunately more people have sympathy for a widow(er) to a divorcee, even if you are the "innocent party" some will think there may have been contributing factors... few blame a widow(er) for the death of their spouse.