5 car insurance myths that could cost you!

False: your No Claims Bonus or Discount is simply a percentage reduction off your premium. If you make a claim, you’ll lose some or all of the discount at your renewal. But if you protect your NCB in your policy then you’ll retain your discount even if you make a claim.

However, that doesn’t mean your premium won’t change price. Let’s say your premium last year cost £400. With a 10% NCB it comes down to £360.

But then you make a claim and your new policy now costs £600. Then, insurers would apply your protected 10% NCB, taking your new premium price to £540. Your premium has still gone up, but you’ve likely saved money overall by protecting your NCB.

False: Not all insurers will let you drive other cars, even if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy. You should really only do it in an emergency, and you often need to be 25 or over to get ‘Driving Other Cars’ cover. Other requirements include:

• The other car must have insurance already
• Your car must be in a driveable state, and not written off
• Your occupation isn’t in the motor trade, where you often drive other cars
• You have the owner’s permission to drive the car

You’ll also only have third-party cover while driving someone else’s car, so if you’re involved in an accident, damage to the car you’re driving won’t be covered. It’s easy to find out whether you can drive other vehicles or not – simply give us a call and we can confirm.

True: Insurers calculate your premium based on how ‘risky’ you’re viewed to be. Things like what car you drive, where you park, increased crime rates in your area, your age and profession all play a part. So your premium can change, say, if there’s a spate of car theft in your area or criminals start targeting a particular vehicle make/model.

It can be frustrating, as it’s beyond your control but affects how much you end up paying!

False: Not necessarily! Even though third party is the lowest level of car insurance cover, under comprehensive and third party, fire and theft, it doesn’t always end up cheaper. In many cases, comprehensive cover could cost the same or even less than third party insurance, and has the benefit of covering damage to your own vehicle.

That’s why an insurance broker can be especially helpful, as they’ll be able to review all your options for you, to find the best cover and price.

True – so long as you follow the rules! You can leave a car untaxed and uninsured, but you must register it with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). You’ll need to keep it on private land, on a driveway or in a garage.

If you drive or park a vehicle with a SORN on a public road, you are liable to pay a hefty fine and are even at risk of being prosecuted!