- Not protecting a car insurance no claims discount (NCD) could lead to premiums rising by 30% in the event of a claim
- Protecting a five year NCD will add just £23 on average to annual premiums
- Costs will vary greatly between providers, warns MoneySupermarket
Drivers making a claim on their motor insurance policy, with an 'unprotected' no claims discount (NCD), could see the cost of their premiums increase by as much as 30% if they make a claim, according to research by MoneySupermarket.com.
The research reveals if a motorist who had five years 'unprotected' NCD and made a claim, they would see premiums hiked from £322 to £417, an increase of £95, or 30%.
However, motorists with five years protected NCD making a claim would only see an 8%increase, or £28 - from £345 to £373 - to the cost of their annual premium.
Furthermore, the average premium for motorists with zero years NCD stands at an expensive £700 a year.
Peter Harrison, car insurance expert at MoneySupermarket, said:
"Having reached the "Holy Grail" of five years no claims discount, many motorists will be reluctant to run the risk of losing it and may consider paying extra to protect it.
Building up your no claims discount over a number of years can be a valuable commodity and can help reduce the cost of your premiums.
"With premiums on average rising by almost a third (30 per cent) if you make a claim, paying extra to protect your policy against this hike might be worthwhile.
"But be warned, if you protect your policy but don't make a claim for a number of years, you could find that you are eroding any potential savings."
TIPPING POINT: PROTECTED NCD vs UNPROTECTED NCD
Motorists looking to 'protect' a five year no claims discount (NCD) will pay an extra £23 on average on top of the cost of their annual car cover, however this can vary widely between providers ranging from around £4 to over £34.1
The longer a motorist protects their NCD and doesn't make a claim, the less cost-effective it becomes.
In the first year, for example, a motorist who protects their five years NCD, and makes a claim, will be £21 better off on average, compared with a motorist who made a claim on an unprotected policy.
However, the tipping point comes in the second year when a motorist would be £2 worse off. Looking forward into the third year, motorists protecting their NCD would be almost £25 worse off.
Pete Harrison said: "If you are looking to protect your no claims discount, shop around for the best deal available for your circumstances and if you do find a better deal with another provider, you can take your no claims bonus with you.
"It's crucial for motorists to understand the costs involved with premiums; additional fees for protecting a no claims discount entirely depends on your personal circumstances and motoring history, as well as the provider.
"Furthermore, in the event of a claim, many insurers will take to a sliding scale when it comes to reducing your no claims discount.
How much of this you will lose is down to your insurer so read through policy wordings first so you know where your no claims discount will stand.
"Finally, motorists should remember it is the discount they are paying to protect, not the premium amount- so if you do make a claim, it is likely premiums will rise as a result anyway."
