Other than being a legal obligation, buying car insurance is a sure way to guarantee financial compensation in the event of any accidents. However, many drivers feel that since they are safe drivers and rarely get into accidents, buying car insurance might not be financially worth it for them. But a little thing called NCB in car insurance can make it worthwhile and this article from Lookinsure mag will fully explain it.
If you’re a policyholder who hasn’t filed any claims during the last term of your policy, we have good news for you as you are entitled to up to a 50 percent discount the next time you buy insurance from Lookinsure. This discount comes in the form of NCB in motor insurance, or no claim bonus.
Frequently Answered Questions
1. Is NCB applicable to third-party insurance?
No, in motor insurance NCB only applies to comprehensive policies.
2. How to find the NCB of previous policy?
Depending on the method with which you have purchased your previous policy, you can either a) check your insurance document, b) directly call your insurer, or c) check your online account if you have one.
3. What is the maximum no claim bonus on car insurance?
The maximum NCB in car insurance is 50 percent which is rewarded to drivers after 5 consecutive claim-free years.
4. How long does no claim bonus last?
So long as you keep a claim-free record and manage to renew your insurance 90 days before it expires you can enjoy your bonus indefinitely.
5. How much is no claim bonus?
It depends on your driving history and the number of consecutive claim-free years. NCB is usually calculated following the model here: 1 year: 20 percent, 2 years: 25 percent, 3 years: 35 percent, 4 years: 45 percent, 5 years: 50 percent
What is No Claim Bonus in Car Insurance?
As the name suggests, in motor insurance, NCB is a bonus that is awarded to drivers who manage to spend the entire duration of their policy without filing any claims. Now, bear in mind that not filing a claim does not necessarily mean not having an accident; you could have an accident and decide against pursuing compensation through your insurer to save your no-claim streak.
The first year that you spend without filing any claims you become eligible for an NCB in car insurance, which in turn entitles you to a 20 percent discount for your next policy. Any subsequent claim-free year will bring about an additional 5 to 10 percent discount.
Benefits of No Claim Bonus in Car Insurance
In motor insurance, NCB has many benefits which include:
- Discount: NCB Provides safe drivers with the opportunity to enjoy up to 50 percent discount on their policy.
- Encouraging Safe Driving: such generous discounts can in turn act as a further motivation for drivers to drive safely.
- Transferable: NCB in car insurance is tied to the policyholder and not the vehicle. This enables drivers to transfer their no-claim bonus to a new car or different insurer.
- Protectable: some insurance companies offer NCB protection as an add-on which makes it possible, in certain circumstances, to file a claim for car insurance without losing your bonus.
How Does No Claim Bonus Work in Car Insurance
As we mentioned before, if you don’t file any insurance claim during your policy, you will be rewarded with no claim bonus. Depending on whether you want to renew your policy with your current insurer or are deciding to change your policy provider, there are different procedures through which you can avail yourself of this bonus.
Renewing Previous Policy
If you are renewing your current policy, using a claim bonus is quite straightforward. Since the insurer has direct access to your records, they can check your claim history and promptly find out if you are eligible for no claim bonus. In this process, pay extra attention to factors that affect car insurance premiums since they have considerable influence on cost of car insurance.
Changing Insurer
Since no claim bonus in motor insurance is tied to the drivers themselves instead of their cars, it is possible to transfer it to a new car or new policy. To do so you will need an NCB certificate which your previous insurer will provide for you upon request. This certificate will act as proof of your claim-free record and is accepted across the board by all other insurance providers. If you own more than one car, you’ll definitely benefit from multi car insurance with better deals. By the way, if you’re living in Dubai or go there a lot, try finding a quote from car insurance companies in Dubai to have an easier process.
NCB Protector
NCB protector is an add-on you can purchase that helps you keep your bonus even after filing a claim. Since filing a claim normally causes your no-claim bonus to reset back to zero, some drivers who like to keep using the discount even if they have to file a claim decide to pay a little extra for this add-on.
However, keep in mind that this add-on comes with the following limitations:
- It only protects your NCB against a limited number of claims, which vary between insurers.
- Claims for theft or severe damages caused by serious accidents are not covered with this add-on.
- In some instances, when transferring your motor insurance with no claim bonus, you might not be able to keep your NCB protector as well.
How to Calculate NCB for Vehicle Insurance
NCB in car insurance is calculated using a percentage-based approach. With your first claim-free year you will be able to enjoy a 20 percent discount on your policy. Each consecutive year you spend without filing any insurance claim will increase your no-claim bonus. This yearly increase typically follows the model below:
| Consecutive Claim-free Year | NCB Percentage |
| 2 years | 25 % (+ 5 %) |
| 3 years | 35 % (+ 10 %) |
| 4 years | 45 % (+ 10 %) |
| 5 years and more | 50 % (+ 5 %) |
There’s also the issue of deductible, for which we have a full guide called how does auto insurance deductible work to complete your information. Also consider checking the comprehensive vs third party insurance guide to get a detail of their differences in all processes and find lower car insurance prices.
How to Check No Claim Bonus For Car Insurance
Using the discount provided by the no-claim bonus in motor insurance is only possible upon renewal of your policy or when purchasing a new one. So even if you have just realized that you are eligible for NCB you must wait until your current term is over.
Checking Motor Insurance NCB
If you are not sure whether you are receiving the bonus or not, there are a few ways you can check your status:
1. Search Your Insurance Policy Document: If you have been using an NCB, you will most likely be able to find its details mentioned in your policy documents, usually under a section covering discounts or bonuses.
2. Contacting Your Insurer: Calling or emailing your insurance company’s customer service is another way to check your current NCB status. In this method, you will need to provide the agent with your policy number so make sure you have that ready before making the call.
3. Check Your Insurance Account Online: Buying car insurance online offers policyholders quite convenient access to their records. In this way, you can simply log into your account and check your account’s details.
4. Insurance Aggregator Websites: If you have purchased your insurance using an aggregator such as Lookinsure, you can easily find out everything you need to know about your policy simply by logging into your account.
Terms and Conditions of NCB Transfer
We mentioned transferability as one of the benefits of a claim bonus is motor insurance, which means that if you have a claim-free record, you’re eligible for a discount even if you change vehicle or insurer. However, there are a few things to consider when it comes to transferring to NCB.
Eligibility for Transfer
In motor insurance, NCB is awarded to the driver and not the vehicle, therefore it can be transferred to any other car that is registered under the driver’s name, so long as they meet all of the following criteria:
- The bonus can only be used for a single policy. This means that if you have more than one car registered under your name, the discount only applies to one of them.
- You can only transfer your bonus once during a policy year, so if you change policies or your vehicle more than once in a year, you won’t be eligible for a discount the second time.
- Your bonus remains valid if the insurance is renewed at least 90 days before your current policy expires, so if you are planning on transferring your NCB to a new policy or vehicle, make sure you do so before that.
