Two cars, one owner - how much no-claims discount?

QuinceTree

Throughout our married lives, my husband owned a car registered in his name (Car 'A'), I owned a car registered in my name (Car 'B'). Each of us was named as a driver on the other's car. We had the cars insured by separate companies so that we each built up our own NCD. 

Five years ago, my husband died. I registered Car 'A' in my name and contacted insurer, who said it was no problem to change the policy over to my name. I have continued to own and insure Car 'B'. For the past 5 years I have renewed Car 'A' insurance and accrued NCD. I sold Car 'A' a month ago, and the insurer sent me proof of 20 years' NCD.

Now I have bought Car 'C', which I will collect this week. I got an online quote from insurer of Car 'A' but it was expensive. I rang the insurer of Car 'B' for a quote and was told that I couldn't use NCD on the new car, because it was already used on Car 'B'.

This has made me feel confused, and I now wonder: when getting a quote for Car 'C' is it legitimate to state to any other (new) insurer that I have 20 years' NCD from insuring Car 'A' (and while Car 'B' is still insured)? In other words, is one person allowed to accrue no-claims discount on two separate vehicles with two separate insurers?

And, because Car 'C' is new to me, must I start the NCD from scratch (i.e. state that I have 0 years NCD) when insuring it?


I am worried about unwittingly making a false statement. Have looked everywhere for an answer!

Aretnap

Yes. NCD generally applies to a policy. You have sold car A, bought car C and can now use your NCD from car A  on a policy for car C, just as you can transfer it from your old car to your new car when you change car if you only own one car.

Your NCD on car B is completely separate and you're still using it on car B. If you ever replace car B with car D, you can transfer your NCD from B to that one.

If you ever get a third car (don't know why anyone would need three cars, but hypothetically if you did) then you would have to start from scratch on that one, as you cannot use the NCD from either A or B on two policies at once.

Similarly if you ever decide that you only need one car you can only use the NCD from one policy in that one - you can't add together 20 years from A and (say) 10 years from B and say you have 30 years. That doesn't matter though as there will be little or no difference in price above about 9 years anyway.

QuinceTree

Thank, you Aretnap, for such a clear and comprehensive answer. It now makes perfect sense to me.
On reflection, when I asked for a quote for Car C from the insurer of Car B, that's when my confusion began. B's insurer assumed that B was my only other car. They didn't ask if I had accrued any NCD from a previously owned vehicle, and I didn't think to mention it because I wasn't sure that it was valid. 

DullGreyGuy

Yes, most insurers accept a proof of NCD for up to 2 years so seeing as its only been off policy for a month or so then the 20 years NCD originally form Car A can be used on C