How long does a No Claims Bonus last for?

[Chris S]

I'm thinking off getting rid of my car when the insurance runs out at the beginning of November.
I currently have the maximum '9 years or more' no claims bonus. Does anybody know how long it will be before I lose it if I don't renew my insurance?
I've been told my no claims bonus will go down to zero in one go after two years.

 

[PeteXXX]

I heard that it is 18 months, but the safest way to find out for certain is to ring your insurer and ask the question.

 

[vickster]

2 years seems to be typical from Google
Eg
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....ms-discount-still-valid-after-a-gap-in-cover/

 

[Cycleops]

This is the problem, people think no claims is important, it's not. I stuck with an insurer for ages and all they did was hike my premiums. I later could have saved much more by swapping providers every year and shopping around.

 

[NorthernDave]

Depends on the insurance company.
Some will only you to allow you to carry it forward a year, others more.

Most are sensible if you can prove you've remainded incident and claim free and will offer some discount based on that.

 

[cyberknight]

I inherited no claims from my wife via the same company when she stopped driving last year after her stroke as i was a named driver on the policy , although i got the same level of no claims its unprotected for the 1st year.

 

[vickster]

This is the problem, people think no claims is important, it's not. I stuck with an insurer for ages and all they did was hike my premiums. I later could have saved much more by swapping providers every year and shopping around.

Yes but you’ll get an even better price from other providers with NCB ime

 

[Cycleops]

Yes but you’ll get an even better price from other providers with NCB ime

True, but I was just pointing out it's not the be all and end all.

 

[aferris2]

Direct Line say 2 years if we stay with them or 1 year if we move to someone else. I'll find out in a year when I try to restart my insurance.

 

[Drago]

2 years is the norm, some 3. If you carry on driving - say in a company or Motability car - with no claims then some insurers will reinstate 4 or 5 years if you start with a policy of your own again.

Some insurers - Saga and Halifax to name but two - count years beyond 9. I'm up to 33 years NCB and always shop about for insurers that do that, hence only paying £102 full comp. It would be even less but I paid for the NCB protection.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

This is the problem, people think no claims is important, it's not. I stuck with an insurer for ages and all they did was hike my premiums. I later could have saved much more by swapping providers every year and shopping around.

I swap providers every year and my NCD comes with me, is that not what you experienced?

 

[Drago]

I'm with the man from Glasgow - I shop around every year, and then go back to my insurer to see they'll better it. Sometimes they do and I stay, sometimes they don't and I walk.

It does annoy me that I have to threaten to leave to get the best quote, but that is sadly how the game is played. The whole industry is crooked, make estate agents look pious.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

This is the problem, people think no claims is important, it's not. I stuck with an insurer for ages and all they did was hike my premiums. I later could have saved much more by swapping providers every year and shopping around.

I came back to driving after a thirty year break and with no checkable history had to build up my no claims from scratch, made my insurance expensive for a few years.

 

[Milkfloat]

Every year I swap the policy holder between my wife and myself so we can both keep our no claims. I would be interested to know if I could do this every 2 years or even more as it is a bit of extra work. It seems that there is no fixed rule, so I have to keep doing what I am doing to be safe.

 

[Drago]

...made my insurance expensive for a few years.

Well, that and inadvertantly reversing your car through the brokers front window.