UK No Claims Bonus Question

Ruatha

Hi Folks,

I have 6 years protected NCB in the UK. I'm moving back over here and will want to apply this to my Irish policy.
The problem is, I made a claim last May, so I rang my insurer (Direct Line) to double check I still have my full NCB - and I do. Does anyone know if I need to declare this claim when I apply for Irish insurance? Will it appear on the NCB letter I get sent from Direct Line???

Any help appreciated!

R

Random

If they ask you to declare your accident then you have to. They will probably still accept the NCB though provided you have proof from your current insurers.

*assuming UK / IE NCB are interchangeable, not sure ..

Anan1

This is the thing about a protected NCB - it leaves you stuck with the same insurer for the next five years. You paid Direct Line not to remove your NCB if you claimed, but as far as any other ins co is concerned you had a claim only last year. Your certificate of NCB will say that you have full bonus, but will give the years of claim-free driving as either 0 or 1.

Random

I've checked out the T&C for my insurer and it states

No claims discount is the annual entitlement awarded for making no claims against your policy. We can only accept your no claims discount earned with another insurer if it has been earned on a private motor or commercial vehicle policy, within Ireland, UK, all EU countries, America, Canada, Australia or New Zealand in the past two years. You will be required to submit proof of your previous no claims discount e.g. the renewal notice from your previous insurer. Each year of the discount must be a full year. Please note that your no claims discount can only be used on one policy at any one time.
Note: If this is your second vehicle and you don't hold a no claims discount for it we may be able to offer you a discount if you have another policy with QUINN-direct - Please phone us for details.

This suggests the claim will be irrelevant in relation to your NCB. It would suggest to me that your full NCB will be accepted.

Your premium may be loaded though because of having had an accident I guess.

Ruatha

I suppose what I'm asking is - if I'm very naughty and don't tell them about the claim, but only say I have 6 years NCB - would they find out??

Random

They may decline future claims if they find out at a later date. You'll be screwed then.

As for how they could find out if you're in an accident an assessor may have to look at your car and may notice previous damage.
You might let it slip at some stage.

I'm sure there's a couple of other ways. Personally I wouldn't lie .. I'd rather not have a future claim potentially declined.

Ruatha

Yeah, I would be screwed in that scenario for sure. Honesty definitely the best policy.

Anan1

There's no point in paying for insurance if you're going to give them an excuse not to provide you with the insurance. Was it a big claim? If not then they mightn't be so bothered. On another note, I wonder do Direct Line do business in Ireland, perhaps under a different name?

Ruatha

No it wasn't a big claim, a couple of grand maybe - I don't know the exact value actually.
Good point though, I'll ask them if they have an Irish office

klaus23

Ruatha wrote: »

Will it appear on the NCB letter I get sent from Direct Line???

UK/Irish NCBs are transferable, at least they were when I moved home.

However, with your NCB letter what it will probably say is Discount - 50% (for maximum NCB) and No Claims - 0 Years (because you claimed). My gf is about to change insurance companies and that's what her cert said.

The other thing is that telling porkie pies to insurance companies might save you a few quid on purchase of the policy, and then work out mad expensive in the event of a claim.