Protected no claims

I have this cover on mine at the moment, touch wood have never had to use it, was either €25 extra or included in comprehensive, can't remember which.

Out of interest is there any restriction getting insured with another company the following year? Does current insurer provide full no claims discount document because claim was protected? How would you handle the question have you had a claim etc from the other insurer?

There's no "in theory", you have a claim which you must disclose to any other insurer who will not then give you a NCD.

As most only ask about 5 years you are likely to be stuck with the same insurer for that long.

You are also completely at the mercy of the insurer, SOME will honour the spirit of the NCB protection and keep your premiums low but others will just ramp up and claim they are still giving you the discount, as the entire insurance pricing structure is opaque there is no way bar taking them to court to prove otherwise and they know it.

I think these sorts of insurance for your insurance are probably bad value for money in general. As said it's very difficult to switch insurer if you claim and it's hard to verify they are not screwing you on renewal each year. I prefer to look where I am going, take the risk, and gave emergency savings in case I need to buy a banger to keep me on the road. I don't trust insurers and quotes are all over the place and you can haggle and the quote drops.