Protected NCB and a crash

lolly5648

I have a protected ncb (9 years). My partner damaged his own car a few weeks ago and claimed on his insurance. He is listed as a second driver on my insurance as we often swap cars.

My renewal letter has just come through and when I rang my insurance co to tell them about his claim they put up my quote by over £100. I don't really understand this. What does a protected ncb mean? I assumed it meant that if either of us had an accident I wouldn't lose my no claims bonus.

Can anybody help please

Steve1981

lolly5648 wrote: »

I have a protected ncb (9 years). My partner damaged his own car a few weeks ago and claimed on his insurance. He is listed as a second driver on my insurance as we often swap cars.

My renewal letter has just come through and when I rang my insurance co to tell them about his claim they put up my quote by over £100. I don't really understand this. What does a protected ncb mean? I assumed it meant that if either of us had an accident I wouldn't lose my no claims bonus.

Can anybody help please

I sell insurance and i must speak to 10 people everyday who think that if they protect their NCD that a claim will have no effect on their policy, so you are not alone.

Situation 1

You have 5 or more years ncd but its not protected and you have a fault claim (either you or a driver named on your policy - driving under your cover) with most insurers you would lose 2 years from the 5 or more ncd leaving you on 3 years. You would also have a loading made to the policy from renewal for making the claim (basically being a larger risk) - so in actuallity you get hit in the pocket twice, once for having less discount and secondly for the loading.

Situation 2

As above you have 5 or more years ncd and either your or an named driver having a fault claim, but your ncd is protected. This time you dont lose any ncd BUT you do still get the loading for the claim being made, so you only get hit in the pocket once.

No insurer is going to allow you to make a fault claim and not have it affect premiums, customers get all to caught up in the 'protected for life' rubbish. one insurer might only cover 2 fault claims in 3 years but add 10% per claim, another might 'protect for life' but apply a 25% loading per claim, companies wont disclose this as its business sensitive information, but protection for life for non-habitual claimers is not really a must at all.

sorry to go off on one.

in response to the OP the reason that it put your policy up when your husband made a claim on a different pol is the question for accidents/claims/losses relates to the persons driving history not an individual policy - therefore having had a claim on any policy means your husband is now viewed as a higher risk and that in turn means an increase to the premium.

I must admit though £100 does sound a bit steep

Horace

My advice for what its worth is to shop around for a different insurer. Failing that, take your OH off your insurance for a while.

Steve1981

Horace wrote: »

My advice for what its worth is to shop around for a different insurer. Failing that, take your OH off your insurance for a while.

definatly worth shopping around, must take in to consideration that by removing the OH the insured and spouse discount will go as well, that can be up to 30% so with some insurers a spouse with a claim named on the policy would still be cheaper than without them on.

Crazy i know but sometimes that the way it works

lolly5648

Thanks guys for your replies. Steve: you explained it very well, I now understand and I know I get a discount for having a named spouse.

I am now doing all the price comparison sites.