No Claims Bonus about to run out, what to do?

daveyjoe

In mid-September it will be two years since I have had car insurance as the primary driver. My understanding is that this will cause my NCB to be reset for most insurers.

I have been sharing a car with my girlfriend for the past 2 years. She has been the primary driver on the insurance and I have been a named driver. I will be purchasing a car in late November or early December (I can't purchase it sooner for unrelated reasons). What's the best way to handle this while retaining my NCB?

Conveniently, my girlfriend's insurance expires in two weeks, so here is my current plan:

1. At renewal I become primary driver on the current car, GF becomes a named driver.
2. I purchase car in Nov/Dec.
3. At this point, I will move my insurance to the new car.
4. GF will purchase a new policy as the primary driver on the old car.

First question, does this make sense or is there a better way to do it?

Second question, if the insurer doesn't give me a good price for insurance on the new car and I decide to switch insurer then can I bring across my few months of active NCB or will it be considered over 2 years without an active NCB?

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058309002/no-claims-bonus-about-to-run-out-what-to-do

1) Unless you are the primary driver of your girldriends car, its fraud to declare yourself as the main driver. Its unlikely you would get caught, but just be aware it is fraud. Car is not in your name, so you dont have a genuine insurance interest on the property. I'm assuming that won't stop you, so......

2) if the insurer gives you a bad price for moving the policy, you could move it, but would be opening up a sh¹tstorm for yourself, a he NCD would still be expired room the old policy and you would need letters of proof of recent insurance. It would be a headache and th logistics would rule out lots of insurers, because you are dealing with often poorly trained sales people on the phone.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058309002/no-claims-bonus-about-to-run-out-what-to-do

It would be probably cheaper to buy a piece of crap of a car with a valid NCT insure it and just sell it on or scrap it when buying your car in November rather than lose your NCB. Over the next few years it would possibly work out cheaper than starting from scratch. I alternate my insurance with the wife's every 2 years to keep both NCB active and declare it to the insurers so they know we both use the car equally.

daveyjoe

1) Unless you are the primary driver of your girldriends car, its fraud to declare yourself as the main driver. Its unlikely you would get caught, but just be aware it is fraud. Car is not in your name, so you dont have a genuine insurance interest on the property. I'm assuming that won't stop you, so......

2) if the insurer gives you a bad price for moving the policy, you could move it, but would be opening up a sh¹tstorm for yourself, a he NCD would still be expired room the old policy and you would need letters of proof of recent insurance. It would be a headache and th logistics would rule out lots of insurers, because you are dealing with often poorly trained sales people on the phone.

1) We both drive it daily, take turns paying for fuel and live at the same address so I think I could make a reasonable case for rotating the insurance. Not too worried about that.

2) Interesting. Do you know if there are any documented policies on moving NCB mid-year (ie.. before end of annual policy). I’ve been googling but can’t find anything.

daveyjoe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120971568#Comment_120971568

Had a quick look at this. A few things make this unattractive:

1. Insuring an old car is expensive.
2. Old cars are actually pretty expensive to buy compared to a few years ago. With a valid NCT and recent tax then it looks like it’s going to cost me a couple of grand at least.
3. I have the hassle of needing to store it and sell it in a few months. Having sold an old car before, it’s a PITA having time wasters call around for test drives and haggling. Would prefer to avoid all that.
4. I still have the potential issue of needing to move my insurance mid-cycle and making sure that I don’t lose my NCD.

pat_sconce

Most insurers will allow the NCB once you can show you had named insurance and it's not an extended gap since you were the primary insured

The two most likely to allow it will be your previous insurer and your girlfriend's current insurer.

daveyjoe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120971851#Comment_120971851

Very helpful, thank you 🙏 . They are both the same insurer, Liberty. Is this documented somewhere? Do you have experience with it? Or is it just something that you’ve heard around. I’m paranoid about getting caught out and it costing me thousands extra because my NCD gets wiped out.

pat_sconce

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120972049#Comment_120972049

I experienced it with AXA. I had to give a written note that I was a named driver and had no accidents or incidents since the previous policy lapsed.

My wife also had similar issue, but about 20 years ago. It was allianz. We lived in the UK for a while and she didn't need her own car.

Easiest thing is to call them and ask.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120971793#Comment_120971793

You can only insure a vehicle you own or have an insurable interest in. You don't have any insurable interest in your partners vehicle so can't insure it, if you where married it wouldn't be an issue but you aren't.

If you cancel a policy mid year then you get an NCD from that policy. The NCD is for getting to the end of the policy without making a claim or cancelling it.