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Original poster

To be shaking about car insurance

44 replies

Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 20:47

I'll try to keep it short, we have two cars and two insurance policies, because a few years ago we swapped cars, the car I mainly drive is insured with DH as the policy holder and me as the main driver and visa versa.

DH handles care insurance and took out a policy on the car he's the policy holder for which expires in three weeks, he's just come to do the renewal, the premium has increased so having shopped around he decided to go with another company.

It now turns out that the insurance company have used my no claims bonus on this policy instead of his, he's been with them for two years and so his own no claims bonus has now expired and is lost. His new policy will have to be done on 0 no claims, when it expires, but this company recognises the no claims and so there isn't a problem with them.

The reason I'm shaking is that I was told to contact my company to explain the situation, as you can only use a no claims bonus once, so both companies can't recognise it. I think I need to call my insurance company and explain that it's a genuine mistake and see what they do,

what do you think they'll do?

I can't really afford to pay additional premiums and the other policy expires in a couple of weeks any way after which I'm only using it once, but in the meantime I'm knowingly claiming it twice.

DH says don't bother it's only a few weeks.

But I'm physically shaking, as I really worry about this sort of thing. DH is
pissed off about the whole thing and not really in the mood to be symathetic.

No idea why I've name changed for this, just part of the general panic.

OP posts:
lifesalongsong · 24/01/2012 20:53

I'm not clear what's happened, do you mean that somehow the insurance company has applied the no claim discount of one driver to a policy in the name of the other driver?

If so I can't see how this can be your fault, how did you find out about the mistake?

Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 20:54

Not an exciting topic area I know, but I'm a poor sleeper at the best of times, I'm going to be up all night worrying about this.

OP posts:
rhondajean · 24/01/2012 20:55

I'm going to add to the panic.

Do you mean that ur a named driver on the policy? I don't think someone else can be the policy holder and you the main driver? Cos that's illegal I'm afraid.

suebfg · 24/01/2012 20:57

So are you saying that you've used the no claims bonus twice, but one of the policies expires in a few weeks, whereupon it will only be used once? Then your DH is right to tell you to stop worrying about it.

ginmakesitallok · 24/01/2012 20:58

It's not illegal rhondajean - I'm the policy holder for one of our cars and DP is down as main driver? Not illegal at all

Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 20:59

Apparently this insurance company always uses the no claims bonus of the main driver and not the policy holder, which is the exact opposite of every insurance company I've used for the last 21 years.

It's not my fault - however - after speaking to the company myself I don't think DH can have been concentrating when he took the policy out as they ask for the main drivers no claims entitlement - the fact that they use this rather than the policy holders seems to be implied rather than actually explained.

Nevertheless I now know I have a policy with a premium based on a no claims bonus it probably isn't entitled to. Where as yesterday I was in the same position but wasn't aware of it.

We found out when DH tried to take out a new policy and send them the doccuments from the current policy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 21:00

suebfg That's exactly it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 21:01

I'm happy that the insurance arrangements are fine, except for the no claims, we do need to swap them over at some point, but as they expire at different times it's tricky.

OP posts:
Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 21:06

Please talk to me.

I'm already quite stressed with work, studying and life in general.

OP posts:
fluffywhitekittens · 24/01/2012 21:07

So have you always had two cars and two insurance policies running, one in each of your names or has there been a gap where only one of you had a policy?

cece · 24/01/2012 21:07

We are in a simialr muddle with our cars.

I officially own DHs car on the owners documents.

DH owns my car acoording to the official documents.

Last year when we got ourselves into this situcation - not sure how? - DH took out the insurance on the car he drives (but that I own) in his own name as the main driver and me as the named extra driver.

However, he was told he shouldn't have the car he owns but that I drive insured as him as the main driver. As really I am the main driver.... Confused?!

Anyway I am now named as the main driver on the car he owns but DH actually owns the car!

Next time we get rid of/buy a new car we will have to start sorting it out! LOL

rhondajean · 24/01/2012 21:11

Right I'm going to apologise, I'm thinking of people fronting policies for other people eg children and I thought the policy holder had to be the main driver but it's actually the registered keeper isn't it?

See, one less thing to panic about already Grin

QuietNinjaLamp · 24/01/2012 21:11

Ok don't stress. A phone call to the insurance company should sort it out. And if the premium does go up then can you pay by installments to spread the cost?

fluffywhitekittens · 24/01/2012 21:11

It's generally not a problem who is the registered keeper& owner and who is the main driver if you are married.
It's more in cases where a parent is trying to get cheap insurance for a their child by owning and insuring a car in their name that will mainly be riven by a young, inexperienced driver.
Op are you and dh married, which may sound obvious if he is you dh :)

Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 21:12

We've always had two cars and two policies.

I am entitled to a no claims bonus, and dh would certainly claim that the error is on the part of his insurance company who should have been using his no claims bonus (which has not expired).

The problem is that I now know there's a problem and feel I should be honest with them, but I'm not sure what the consequences will be.

OP posts:
suebfg · 24/01/2012 21:13

Panicsalot - calm down. If your car arrangements are anything like ours, there isn't such a thing as my car and DH's car. They are cars used by the family in pretty much equal measure.

So in a few weeks the situation will right itself - end of. Don't worry, don't contact your insurer. When you come to renew the policy, go elsewhere and start with a clean slate.

The thing with stress and anxiety is that you can let things get out of proportion. Your DH isn't worried so don't carry it all on your shoulders.

Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 21:13

fluffy we are married.

OP posts:
BreadCrumbsandButterBeans · 24/01/2012 21:14

Something similar happened a few years back when I was Angry to find out my 9+ years NCB had been transferred to DH's name and I had his 0 years.

I think suebfg might be right and you don't need to worry too much as the other policy expires in a couple of weeks. But if it is worrying you unduly, to the point you can't sleep, could you ask your DH to start his new policy a couple of weeks early and to cancel the old one, so that you're only using the NCB once?

pinkhebe · 24/01/2012 21:15

We have the same issue re main drivers and car ownership! DH drives my car and I drive his (both named drivers on each others policy) We are now with admiral on their multicar, and have the same renewal time which stops a lot of confusion.

Admiral's policy was much clearer, re main drivers and car ownership

Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 21:19

I know logically that my insurance company has no reason to question anything, and that DHs insurance company isn't concerned.

We can straighten things out when his policy expires, but him starting again from 0 no claims, expensive mistake on his part but easy to sort out.

I do worry more than is probably normal.

So the consensus seems to be to let it lie?

OP posts:
Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 21:24

Bread I've just mentioned that to him, he didn't seem keen, but he's pretty annoyed with the whole thing tonight so he'll probably give it some thought when he's calmed down a bit.

We're thinking of trying admiral multi car probably when my policy is up for renewal.

OP posts:
fluffywhitekittens · 24/01/2012 21:28

So basically both insurance policies have been using your NBC for the last two years. So you have one policy with full NBC and one policy with two years NBC and your husband last had a policy using his NBC two years ago?
Is that right?

pinkhebe · 24/01/2012 21:29

The multicar was good because we renewed 1 car for 12 months, and then when the 2nd car was up for renewal (2 months later) it just joined the policy and we payed for 10 months, meaning that both policies expire at the same time. Makes it expensive one month but much easier to keep track of.

suebfg · 24/01/2012 21:29

Yes, let it lie and have a good night's sleep

Original poster
Panicsatlot · 24/01/2012 21:32

fluffy

It appears that dhs insurance company used my no claims from when the policy started and i've been earning no claims with them during the policy, DH's no claims hasn't been used or added to since his previous insurance, so it's expired.

In the meantime my insurance had also used my no claims, because we though DH's policy was using his own.

OP posts:
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