protected no claims discount

[simonruss]

my girlfriend has 4 years protected no claims discount, this evening some lowlife **** scraped down the rear quarter then drove off. now does anyone know how the 'protected' bit works if she were to claim for the repair on her insurance? would it count as a 'claim' if she were to change insurers next year on the renewal date? many thanks

[paraffin]

I stand corrected here but I believe that she would be allowed one or two claims per year without her NCD being affected (She should check her Policy documents to confirm this).

However, she would probably find that her next year's premium would increase as a result.

I think that by changing insurers is a sneaky way of trying to dodge this likely increase but it's unlikely to work because she'd still be lawfully bound to declare any claims as failure to do so can constitute a criminal offence.

[simonruss]

its not an attempt to dodge anything, just a case of 'shopping around' like Im sure we all do when its renewal time.

[paraffin]

Hi again:

Sorry, but that's the way you made it sound, i.e. "would it count as a claim" - of course it would. These insurance companies aren't daft, that's just a fact.

Anyway, has she considered reporting what happened to the Police? Because from what you say, it would amount to what is known as a "fail to stop road traffic collision", and there is just a chance that the culprit could be traced, albeit a long shot, worth a try.

Plus, she can also get a reference number to pass on to her insurance company.

[simonruss]

so how does the 'protected' bit benefit her then come renewal day? as if it is a claim then would the new insurer then regard her as having 0 ncb?

[paraffin]

It would mean that despite having made a claim during the last year, she would still be considered as being able to qualify for NCD because of the terms of her insurance policy. She would be able to carry over her NCD to a new insurer.

By the way, if she does want to report tonights incident to the Police she has 24 hours to do so.

[simonruss]

ok, many thanks for the help.