I'm currently in the process of renewing my car insurance and have just realised that my no claims discount may be one year lower than it should be. When I got my first car and insurance I was on one of these schemes that gives you a years no claims in only nine months. Hence, after three calendar years I had four years no claims. I stayed with the same insurers for one more year giving me four calendar/five nc years. When changing the following year it was put down as '4 years or more' rather than 5 as that was the highest level offered. I haven't noticed this until now but the following year (last year) only showed 5 (they now allow you to specify more than 4), and this year shows 6.

So, my questions are, should I really have 7 years now, and if so can I claim this missing one, or do these earn ncb quick schemes not apply when changing providers? The only thing is I had a clear out a while back and destroyed all but my newest policy documents so have no written proof from my old insurer now. I'll be on the phone to my current provider tomorrow but it would be good to get other peoples views first!

Thanks in advance.

Unfortunately the accelerator schemes only apply to that insurer (or another in the group of companies). I suspect it might be the Admiral group (Bell/Elephant/Diamond?)

As far as rival insurers are concerned, 12 months is a year. Your current insurer will provide details of how many "12 month years" NCB you have, to forward to a rival insurer. Understandably this will be less than the number of "9 month years" you have with your current insurer.

On a side note, those 9 month accelerator schemes usually work out more expensive given you are only paying for 9 months insurance not 12 before you have to renew it. Work it out per month what your premium is and decide if its worth it. Also, its a way of maintaining loyalty, since by inducing a greater number of NCB years if you stay in the group, they are essentially creating for you a Cost of Exit.

Smart thinking really on their part.

Thanks for the reply.

At the time it was Norwich Union (Aviva as they're now known), and from what I remember the equivalent monthly cost wasn't vastly different between the 9 and 12 month policies so given the big drop after each renewal I believe I benefited. However, I'm probably moving to Admiral now as their quote is £140 cheaper than my current one (and that's after haggling £60 off of it)!