What happens to No Claims Discounts if you're between cars?

[blearyeyedboy]

So, it looks like my current car will get very little use for a few months and I'm thinking of selling it rather than leaving it unused for another few months, maybe a year. I've barely used it since January. I'm not sure yet but I can imagine I'll sell it soon.

I have use of my wife's car so I won't be without wheels for the few occasions I'll need one.

What happens to your No Claims Discount if you don't use it for another car for a while? Do you lose it?

The car is nice enough but nothing exotic (nice but older fast estate) so leaving it sat around doesn't make sense to me, but if I'm going to lose a lot through loss of no claims then I'm tempted to get the cheapest thing I can with an MOT and park it on the drive instead. Mirroring my wife's No Claims Discount could work but I'd lose a few years' worth. Or is there a more elegant solution?

[scorcher]

Valid for two years. You could alternate insurance policies on your wife’s car if it’s going to be longer than that

[blearyeyedboy]

^ Thanks. It's unlikely to be that long so it looks like I'm good. Cheers!

[mikey_b]

My wife and I only have one car, so we take it in turns to insure it each year. Works fine. If and when we get a second one again, the NCD is still valid.

[blearyeyedboy]

^ Again, thank you. Really good tip!

[anonymous-user]

scorcher said:

Valid for two years. You could alternate insurance policies on your wife’s car if it’s going to be longer than that

This

[timberman]

mikey_b said:

My wife and I only have one car, so we take it in turns to insure it each year. Works fine. If and when we get a second one again, the NCD is still valid.

exactly what we do

[ohidunno]

Why can’t the insurance company tell me what my NCB is? You’d think it was in everyone’s interest to record this centrally.

[Artsy]

When I asked the exact question after selling my motorbike I was told I'm good for 2 years. Don't know if I'd get a small bike just before the 2yrs end so I don't lose the no claims but I have effectively given up on biking.

[Ninja59]

ohidunno said:

Why can’t the insurance company tell me what my NCB is? You’d think it was in everyone’s interest to record this centrally.

MIB operate the NCD database....but not everyone uses it like not everyone uses CUE.

The NCD is relatively new though.