Does A Non Fault Accident Affect Your No Claims?

If you have ever been in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you might be wondering, “Will a non-fault accident affect my insurance in the UK? Or “How much does a non fault claim affect my insurance?” . You may also ask yourself, “Will my insurance go up even though it wasn’t my fault?”

Today, I am going to discuss whether your no claim still remains intact, or the premiums rise anyway if you are involved in a non fault accident. You will also get to know how non fault claims work, how they can impact your no claim bonus, and the steps you can take to protect your discount.

Does a Non Fault Accident Affect Your No Claims? Full UK Guide

At first, let’s be clear about what a non fault accident is.

What is a Non-fault claim?

A non-fault claim occurs when a third party is involved and is fully responsible for what happened. For example, someone might hit your car when pulling out at a junction or hit you from behind while your car is stopped at a red light or parked on the spot, or your vehicle is damaged by falling debris from another vehicle.

If you file a non-fault claim, your insurance company will try to get the other driver’s insurance company to pay for any repairs or replacements.

But, if your insurance company can’t get the money back from the at-fault party, like in the instance of vandalism, a hit-and-run accident, or if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, the claim may be seen as an at-fault claim, even though you weren’t to blame for the accident.

Now, we should have a solid idea of no claim bonus or NCB. Right?

What is a No Claim Bonus?

If you don’t make a car insurance claim for a whole year, you get a no claim bonus. It can go up to 65–75% in the UK after five or more years without a claim.

Typical NCB scale is 30% off for one year, 40% off for 2 years, 3 years: 50% off, 60% off for 4 years, 65–75% off for 5 years or more.

You can save hundreds of pounds on your annual car insurance with this no claim bonus. If you lose it, you may have to pay more each year.

Let’s get back to our main part now.

How Do I know if the Accident Was My Fault?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you were to blame for an accident. There are a few important things to think about:

• Were you obeying the rules of the road? You might be to blame if you were doing something illegal, such as running a red light, or being busy on your phone, and the accident happened.

• Did the other driver act carelessly? If someone hit you from behind, changed lanes without looking, or didn’t follow the laws of the road. In these kinds of situations, the other motorist is probably to blame.

• Was there any witness or proof? Dashcam videos, pictures of the incident, or comments from those who saw what happened can often help make things clearer.

It’s crucial to give these to your insurance company so they can make the right decision about who is at fault.

Do I Need to Report a Non-Fault Accident?

Do you have to tell insurance about an accident if not claiming?

Yes, you do need to tell your insurance company about all the incidents you have been in.

This is applicable even if you weren’t at fault and even if you had to make a claim. And also, notify your insurance provider of the accident even if you are not claiming.

If you don’t tell your insurance company about an accident, they can see it as a “non-disclosure.” This could therefore make your insurance policy invalid. To avoid problems like this, it’s best to just be honest with your provider.

How Does the Non-Fault Insurance Claim Process Work?

Insurance companies will look into the accident and determine who is at fault once you report it. You can talk to them about your auto insurance claim and decide if it is not your fault or if it is.

Remember that you have the right to challenge the decision if you don’t agree with it.

You can file a formal complaint through your insurance company’s complaints process. You should be able to find further information on how to do this on your provider’s website or in the wording of your insurance policy.

If you’re still not happy with the outcome after doing this, you can potentially take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). You don’t have to pay to use this service, but you will need an official decision letter from your provider for the FOS to look into it.

You can also fight a 50/50 insurance claim using this service, where both insurers decide that both drivers have equal responsibility for the accident. But before that, you have to gather evidence like photos, witness statements, and dashcam footage, and review your insurer’s reasoning.

Does a Non-Fault Accident Count as a Claim?

Yes, it will be recorded in your claims history.

Even if you weren’t at fault, your insurance company still needs to know about the accident, so it’s still a claim. They should be able to get the money back from the other person’s insurance company, and you shouldn’t have to pay anything for it.

Will a Non-Fault Accident Affect My Insurance in the UK?

Unfortunately, a non-fault claim will often raise the cost of your car insurance, but not as much as an at-fault claim would. You might be wondering about the degree of the impact.

How much does a non fault claim affect my insurance?

One non-fault claim can raise your premiums by up to 30%, and two non-fault claims can hike them by up to 50%.

How long does a non-fault claim stay on your record?

Most insurance companies have a rule that says you have to tell them about all the accidents you have been in in the last five years. However, you need to know that the time frame for this can be different for each provider. So, make sure to check your own.

Even when you switch insurance companies, your new one will likely ask for your claims history, which can go back as long as five years.

Do I Have to Pay Excess If the Accident Was Not My Fault?

If you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, you might have to initially pay the excess when you make a non-fault claim, even if you didn’t cause the accident. After your insurance company is sure you weren’t at fault, they will give you back the extra money.

If the other driver told their insurance company it was their fault, you might not have to, but this is unlikely.

Does a Non Fault Accident Affect Your No Claim Bonus?

You must be concerned about your NCB and may think, “Do I lose an NCB if not my fault?”

No, a claim that isn’t your fault shouldn’t affect your NCB or no claims bonus!

You might find that your no claims bonus is compromised when you first make the no-fault claim, though. This is normally only for a short time, and it can happen while your insurance company looks into who is to blame.

Your no claims bonus should be reinstated if your provider confirms that you are not responsible and that they can get their money back from the other party’s provider. But, to be sure, review the terms and conditions of your insurance again.

However, in reality, some insurance companies still lower your no claim bonus if the claim isn’t fully paid when your policy renews. It may even go down until the issue is settled if there is a disagreement or partial recovery.

Will Your Premium Go Up After a Non-Fault Accident?

Even if your no claim bonus stays the same, insurance companies often raise rates following a no fault claim. Here are the reasons behind it.

They might think you’re more likely to make another claim based on the numbers.

Even if you weren’t at fault, being in an accident can change how risky you seem to be.

This means that the base premium that your no claims discount is applied to could go up, even though your no claims discount stays the same.

Can I Claim Compensation for a Non-Fault Accident?

If you weren’t at fault, you might be able to make a car insurance non fault claim, especially when you have comprehensive car insurance. In the UK, the type of insurance you got can affect how your non-fault claim process works.

If you have comprehensive car insurance, you usually have to file a claim with your insurer. One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to pay your insurance excess up front as part of the process. Don’t worry, though; your insurance company will try to get the money back for you, including the extra money you’ve already paid.

Third-party insurance only pays for damage you do to someone else’s car, property, or injuries. Sadly, this means you won’t be able to get any money for your own injuries or losses, even if the accident wasn’t your fault.

If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you might be eligible to get money from the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB). You may learn more on their website.

How Can I Protect My No Claim Bonus?

Here are some ways by which you can protect your no claim bonus while going for an auto insurance accident claim.

Consider NCB Protection

Many insurance companies offer this as an extra. You have to pay more, but it lets you make one or more claims in a policy year without losing your discount.

Report Accidents Right Away

Even if you are involved in a non fault accident, reporting an accident soon can help your insurance company get their money back swiftly and keep your NCB.

Look at Your Excess and Cover

Make sure you can afford your voluntary and mandatory excess in case you need to make a claim in the future.

How to Save on Your Car Insurance in a Non-Fault Claim?

There are some things you can do to reduce your auto insurance costs when it’s time to renew your coverage if you have made a previous non fault claim.

Raise Your Voluntary Excess

You have to pay both the mandatory and voluntary excesses if you ever have to make a claim. The voluntary excess is in addition to the mandatory excess established by your insurance company.

If you increase your voluntary excess, your monthly premiums will go down. However, before you get car insurance, make sure you can afford the full excess.

Get Some Experience

Adding an older and experienced driver to your car insurance policy can help you save money on your premiums if you are not an experienced driver.

If you are a new driver, you might be able to lower your premiums by taking a Pass Plus course, but you should check with your insurance company first.

Pay in Advance

If you can, pay for your insurance all at once. Spreading the cost over 12 monthly payments means you have to pay interest on the whole amount.

Don’t Drive as Much

You are less likely to have an accident if you limit your mileage, which makes you less of a risk for insurance.

When you get car insurance, the company will want to know how many miles you drive each year. But always tell the truth because lying to get lower premiums is against the law.

Set up Extra Security

Having an alarm or immobilizer is thought to keep criminals away. So, things that keep thieves away can lower your car insurance premiums. But not all insurance companies will offer this, so make sure to verify first.

Think About Getting Black Box or Telematics Insurance

Black box (or telematics) insurance can help you save money on your car insurance.

It includes a little box that is installed in your vehicle. And it measures how fast you drive, when you stop, when you use your car, how fast you accelerate, and how you drive around turns.

You need to pay a lower insurance premium if you drive safely.

I have nothing more to inform. Let’s wrap it up here.

Final Thoughts

So, does a non fault accident affect your no claims bonus? I hope you know all the ins and outs related to this question by now.

A non fault accident in the UK doesn’t usually reduce your no claims bonus if your insurer recovers all costs from the at-fault driver’s insurer. But the incident will still be on your record for 3 to 5 years, and your insurance rate may go up because of your revised risk profile.

Always report incidents right away, gather as much evidence as you can, and think about getting no claims bonus protection. It will help you protect your discount. Even with a non fault claim, it’s important to compare quotations at renewal time because some insurance companies are much less rigorous about prices after a non-fault accident.

FAQ

Will I lose my no claims bonus if someone hits my parked car?

You won’t lose your no claims bonus if the driver is identified and their insurer pays for all the damage. If the driver isn’t found (such in a hit-and-run) and your insurance company has to pay, it’s a fault claim. This means your NCB could drop without protection. Your insurance premium may rise after both accidents, which will stay on your record for 3 to 5 years.

Will my insurance go up if someone hits me in the UK?

Yes, your insurance will most likely increase even if you are making a no fault accident claim. Insurance companies consider all claims as a sign of higher risk for further claims in the future. Insurers may raise your premium because the accident is listed on your record for 3 to 5 years and can affect your risk profile.