Protected No Claims?

[daz1969]

Hello, My car insurance is up for renewal and would like to know about what to do with my protected no claims discount.
In January this year I had left my car in my locked garage overnight, over a few weeks I noticed a strong smell of fuel coming from the car, I took the car to the garage who told me that vermin had eaten through my petrol pipe and the pipe could not be replaced it had to be the whole tank and pipe as it only came as one unit, the garage told me to claim on the insurance, which I did because it was going to cost £1500.
My no claims discount was protected and they said I can make a further 2 claims under the protection in the next 3 years.
My issue is now its up for renewal I am using comparison websites which asked have a made a claim, do I put yes even though it has been protected?
Many thanks

[daz1969]

Forgot to say this is my only claim in all my 30 odd years of driving.

[diddlydo]

Yes you must declare the claim.

[Misky1]

You say yes, and give what info they ask for, but you will later be asked how many years No Claims Discount you have with your current insurers, and you tell them nine or whatever. Your current insurers will confirm this. This had me baffled a couple of years ago so I asked the insurers.

[davebro]

Oddly (or not) your premium may increase because you had a claim, so you are now a higher risk. The protected no-claims discount will apply to the new (higher) premium.

[daz1969]

Thanks for all your answers, I really appreciate it. Yes, my premium has doubled davebro, and I didn't really understand how the 'protected' no claims worked, I thought that it protected any claims that you made and when it came up for renewal this would be taken into account, especially with the incident not being my fault. I haven't had a quote from my current insurer as yet but I expect to receive it in this coming week.

[davebro]

PS - get the pest control people in!

[daz1969]

Well, my renewal quote has come through, and yes it has doubled but it does say 9 years no claims - protected and then underneath it says 1 claim.. Hmmm

[davebro]

They will tot up the number of claims you make & it may eventually affect the number of years no claims discount allowed.

Mine :

No Claims Discount at Next Renewal Date with NCD Protection (max 9yrs)
1 claim in any 3 year period 9 yrs
2 claims in any 3 year period 9 yrs
3 claims in any 3 year period 3 yrs
4 claims in any 3 year period 0 yrs

[TonyV]

get a new insurance quote, was your policy claims for fire and theft and windows? You need to see what policy what the policy says, doubt any will cover you for vermin damage.

[daz1969]

I rang up a new insurance company today, I explained the situation about what had happened and they managed to get my quote down to £285, so I am happy, better than the £500 that I had been quoted from my current insurer, I have checked all my details, especially regarding my claim, and its all there - so my old insurance was on continual renewal so I had to ring and cancel that today, they wanted to know how much I was quoted, I told them, they said the new quote they sent me was based on the 'value of my car last year'...

[davebro]

I always get a new quote even if it doesn't make it worth the trouble switching.
When mine comes up next year I will have a speeding fine drop off the radar (no pun!) & my annual mileage reduced, so worth shopping around.