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Original poster

Car insurance - two bumps not my fault, premium rocketed HELP!

32 replies

Wheresmyguavagone · 20/10/2023 10:32

In Jan 2022 a driver bumped my car (I was standing in the road at the time). Insurance company sorted it and I was told I was not at fault and my NC bonus would not be affected. I got insurance for following year no problems.

In Feb 2023 whilst I was in my stationary car, the car in front rolled into me. Insurance company said again it was not my fault and NC would not be affected.

Ive just tried to renew my insurance policy and did not mention either of the above incidents. I accepted insurance quote but have now been told that because of the above incidents, my monthly premiums will rise by £13!

I’ve cancelled this insurance (policy not due to start til next week). Am I going to have to pay
more this year through no fault of my own? Any advice please?

OP posts:
Clutterbugsmum · 20/10/2023 10:35

Most insurances have risen by at least 50%.

Cricketbelle · 20/10/2023 10:37

Yep,car insurance has gone up for all.

Original poster
Wheresmyguavagone · 20/10/2023 10:38

Yes I expected to pay more and that was fine. It’s AFTER the quote was accepted and deposit paid, that they wrote saying that my premiums would go up as a direct result of the two incidents. I’m just wondering if there’s anything I can do as it seems unfair that I’m being penalised in this way when neither incident was my fault?

OP posts:
blobby10 · 20/10/2023 10:38

I got hit by another car whilst parked in a car park last year - not my fault at all but because they couldn't claim the repair bill back from anywhere its down on my 'record' as a no fault claim! So thats another reason my premium when up massively this year. Robbing bastards!! I've been years without any claim at all.

Original poster
Wheresmyguavagone · 20/10/2023 10:41

Oh that’s harsh! I can understand how you feel you’ve been punished twice for something that wasn’t your fault.

in both my two incidents I had the drivers’ details and the insurance companies got settlement for the repairs from the third parties…. I don’t get why I’m being penalised .

OP posts:
DappledOliveGroves · 20/10/2023 10:41

You need to declare the incidents in respect of any renewal, whether with existing or new insurer. They were not your fault, but they must still be declared, otherwise there's a risk that the insurer can void cover and cancel your policy.

McPancreas · 20/10/2023 10:42

My insurance renewal went up by 35%! No accidents or claims.

I think we can look forward to even more uninsured drivers on the roads because of costs.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 20/10/2023 10:43

Premiums have risen by a great deal, across the board. It is the rise in costs and issues with parts, labour costing more. I also wonder what the fire at Luton will do to some premiums in the future.

Original poster
Wheresmyguavagone · 20/10/2023 10:45

When I did that after the first incident, my premiums increased… so I removed it and it went through at a lower rate. So from what you’re saying, I’m going to have to pay more despite having 23 no claims bonus and never having asked any insurance company for money for repairs….? I’m wondering what the point is for paying extra to protect my no claims bonus… eeek! This isn’t good news

OP posts:
Cannas · 20/10/2023 10:45

This is why many people settle small bumps without involving insurers. Not saying that's right but the fact is that even if not your fault ANY incident bumps up your preminum.
FWIW my premium has just gone up by 50% and that's with 10 years NCD and no incidents. Car insurance has gone through the roof.

Original poster
Wheresmyguavagone · 20/10/2023 10:49

Cannas · 20/10/2023 10:45

This is why many people settle small bumps without involving insurers. Not saying that's right but the fact is that even if not your fault ANY incident bumps up your preminum.
FWIW my premium has just gone up by 50% and that's with 10 years NCD and no incidents. Car insurance has gone through the roof.

Oh I see. I’ll just have to get on with it then. Ok thanks everyone. At least now I know!

OP posts:
Lizzt2007 · 20/10/2023 10:49

Wheresmyguavagone · 20/10/2023 10:45

When I did that after the first incident, my premiums increased… so I removed it and it went through at a lower rate. So from what you’re saying, I’m going to have to pay more despite having 23 no claims bonus and never having asked any insurance company for money for repairs….? I’m wondering what the point is for paying extra to protect my no claims bonus… eeek! This isn’t good news

You've been quite lucky tbh. When you completed your details for the quote last year it asks for details of any accidents etc regardless of fault. By not declaring them you're actually making a false declaration and would have been uninsured.

ToWonderWhyIBother · 20/10/2023 10:53

I understand why you have cancelled the policy, but to be honest you haven't done yourself any favours, as you will now need to get cover to start next week this will probably give you a higher quote than you had originally even with the £13 increase.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 20/10/2023 10:55

I recently tried renewing my car insurance. I paid £380 last year, I was getting quotes of £1,200 and that’s with 9 years no claims protected. I managed to get multi car/house cover in the end. Still more than I wanted to pay though 😏

FallingAutumnLeaf · 20/10/2023 11:13

You need to declare the non fault accidents.
You can't just miss them off a renewal quote!

Original poster
Wheresmyguavagone · 20/10/2023 11:54

Ive done this now and it’s cheaper than the quote I was complaining about… it’s £6 a month cheaper. All sorted! Thanks everyone

OP posts:
Nothingoriginalhere · 20/10/2023 13:53

I’ve literally just renewed mine this morning, old company whom I have had 2 claims with. 2020 ( husband driving ) and 2021 ( me
in snow) wanted £150 more than last year
ive done a comparison site and have picked and paid for a well known company at £200 less. Pretty chuffed to be honest
took me 20 mins in total including ringing old company to stop auto renewal.

ChessieFL · 20/10/2023 15:08

Having a protected no claims discount doesn’t mean that your premium can never increase. A no claims discount just means that you get a % discount on your premium. However the premium can still change based on the insurer’s assessment of your risk. Once you’ve made a claim (even if it wasn’t your fault), you’re a bigger risk and your premium goes up. You might still be getting your full no claims discount (because you protected it) but it’s being deducted from a higher starting figure. Your premiums would be even higher if you didn’t have the protected NCD.

triggeringnometry · 20/10/2023 15:11

Sorry to jump on this thread, but our car was written off in the Luton Airport car park fire. We've received a settlement and most of us owners have been told by our respective insurance companies that all excess has been waived and it won't affect our no claims bonus, as agreed by the Motor Insurance Bureau, but does this mean that isn't true? Sorry, never had to claim before.

Cannas · 20/10/2023 16:16

@triggeringnometry That's an unusual case so normal rules don't apply. However what we are saying on here is that while you don't lose your NCD when it's not your fault the premium will still go up on renewal because of it.
It's as though the algorithms assume you are more likely to have a future no fault claim.

BungleandGeorge · 20/10/2023 16:23

If you don’t declare all accidents whether fault or not it’s considered fraud and your insurance company can stop your insurance without refund/ refuse to pay out if you claim. All claims affect your risk assessment as do many other things such as profession, home address regardless of whether you’ve claimed or not.
fwiw My insurance went up over 50% this year with no new claims

Badbadbunny · 21/10/2023 12:10

@ChessieFL

Once you’ve made a claim (even if it wasn’t your fault), you’re a bigger risk and your premium goes up.

This is what people don't understand. Most people won't have had two "no fault" accidents in just 13 months, so the OP is, statistically, doing "something" that increases the risk, even if it's not her fault, there are external factors increasing the risk, whether it's the area she lives or works, her shopping habits, her hobby/lifestyle habits, etc - which have put her in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just because it's not her fault doesn't mean the insurers can't hike the premiums as premiums are always based on statistics and probability which drives decisions on risk and therefore premiums.

BouncyBallBall · 21/10/2023 21:13

Someone crashed into the back of me when I was stopped- Police involved as major road blocked. Not my fault they were prosecuted I believe .

My insurance went up by £200 as the algorithm said that as a person who had been involved in an accident (albeit not my fault) I was more likely to be involved in an accident again.

ReturnOfTheRainMac · 21/10/2023 21:20

In the nicest possible way, why did you not declare the accidents? This is very basic motoring and not declaring is fraud. It's scary that you are in charge of a vehicle and do not know this.

£13 is quite lucky. It will increase for the next 5 years - that's why they ask if you have had an accident in the last 5 years.

@Badbadbunny is spot on.

AnitaDeepali · 21/10/2023 21:25

Yes they do this. You get a sort of black mark on you if there's an accident. It raises your premium because you're marked as more of a risk. I had a few people crash into my parked car (different car parks, it wasn't me, I was just unlucky) when I wasn't even in it, I still got raised premiums even though I didn't lose my no claims discount because it was the other drivers fault.