Lost 9 Years NCB!

oHUTCHYo · 19 Oct 2011 at 19:43

Im angry beyond words right now :mad:

3 years ago we hit some financial hard times and had to sell our car. Thankfully my Fiancees Father kindly allowed the use of his to us as a daily driver and even paid the insurance for us, he was the main named driver.

As times have got better, I've been fantasising of an Evo or Scoob. I was with Directline for 9 consecutive years. They told me when I called today, that as I had not had a policy of my own for 2 years+ that my NCB are completely null and void. Industry standard apparently.

9 *****g years NCB...lost... I may as well be 18 again!

Hopefully some of you may learn something from this. I certainly didnt know about this 'rule'. I can understand it one respect, from the point of the insurer, but still..... nearly 30 years old, owned performance cars all of my driving life and not one accident or claim.

Fully star out swearing.

Scotteh · 19 Oct 2011 at 19:51

Some insurers offer it for 3 years but most are 2 years.

Crimefighter · 19 Oct 2011 at 19:53

That is certainly interesting and Im going to remember that.....really sucks, I feel for you.

I do share a certain amount of your pain.....I had 10 years insured driving experience (and associated NCB)in New Zealand, and had it all count for nothing when I immigrated to the UK, had to start from scratch again.

Not as bad as your situation Ill admit, but I was still bitter....the driving rules are so similar I didnt even have to sit a test over here, it was just a straight license swap. Meant nothing to the insurance companies however.

In any event, you have my sympathy.

oHUTCHYo · 19 Oct 2011 at 19:54

Crimefighter said:
In any event, you have my sympathy.

Thank you

No wonder theres so many uninsured drivers on the roads, the honest ones get shafted more than the dishonest.

CaptainRAVE · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:01

I thought most people knew this, clearly not. You have my sympathies too though.

nikeair94 · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:04

This makes me angry, the government wants us all to take public transport which limits our freedom. We are going to be a nation of robots at this rate.

Emphacy · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:05

Isn't it in their Terms and Conditions, I.e. the contract?

Read it bro.

6thElement · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:07

I've always understood it lapses after 2 years.

Lummox · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:11

When buying something important like insurance - read the T & C's.

Dr Who · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:16

I thought the 2 year rule was common knowledge :confused:

Has happened to me many times with changes to company cars and private cars.

Could have even used my 2 years built up in Cyprus with most comapnies had I not taken another Co car.

flibbage0 · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:24

I did not know this, very useful information, sorry that it happened to you though.

Raymond Lin · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:25

I only been driving 4 months and I knew this, how can you been driving for 9 years and didn't?

Gutted for you though.

Dogbreath · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:28

G4ORCE said:
I may as well be 18 again!

Hardly. Loss of NCB will increase your premiums, but they will be nowhere near the amount you would pay at 18.

Glaucus · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:31

Is there no companies that take into account and give some sort of discount.
Even some bike company's will take car ncb into account and give a small discount. Surly there must be one more lenient than the average?

Also thought this was common knoledge and something I need to work out, as swapped to a bike but don't want to lose ncb.

lordrobs · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:31

6thElement said:
I've always understood it lapses after 2 years.

Yup. Shame though for the OP. Would have been much better to pick up a cheap to run banger at some point between not being able to afford a car at all and being able to afford an Evo or Subaru.

fadetoblack · 19 Oct 2011 at 20:43

Do you drive a pool car or company car? if so direct line let you use the number of years you been on your companys insurer to build up some ncb( providing you never crashed a company car and your work can provide proof?)

lookitsjonno · 19 Oct 2011 at 21:02

chin up dude, hopefully shoudn't make a policy too much more expensive - if you say that you have been driving 9 years and no claims then you should still get a good price, albeit not as good as 9 full years ncb. you certainly wont be paying through the nose like an 18 year old

koolpc · 19 Oct 2011 at 21:04

Always a good idea to keep your car insurance going!

TripleT · 19 Oct 2011 at 21:18

Harsh lesson for you indeed but I thought everyone knew this?

MrKeeno · 19 Oct 2011 at 21:39

Only reason I ever knew this existed is because my motorcycle insurance company told me. I was due for renewal so they phoned to remind me, I mentioned that I was thinking about selling the bike and getting another in a few years when the finances improved. His sugestion was to get a 50cc moped and insure so I kept my NCB, I hadnt a clue that I would lose it after the 2 years was up.