Older drivers could be slapped with additional fees as car insurance companies cut no-claims discounts, even if they have gone decades without claiming.
Experts are warning that insurance firms are “arbitrarily” capping proof of no-claims discount, potentially leading to drivers paying more for their coverage.
It comes as a growing practice across the insurance industry that could result in a limit on the information provided in renewal documents.
Drivers are expected to provide evidence of their no-claims discount entitlement when taking out a new policy, with this typically coming from a letter from their previous insurer.
Despite this being a long-standing practice, insurance companies have started to limit the number of years’ entitlement shown on the letters provided.
Those with decades of no-claims could lose out if they cannot prove their history, which is being hampered by insurance companies changing their rules.
The majority of insurers limit the percentage discount to between five and nine years of no-claims.
However, older motorists who haven’t raised a claim for decades could find that their documentation cuts off several years of no-claims, potentially forcing their prices up.
Elderly drivers could lose years of no-claims history
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GETTY
Caps on no-claims evidence vary between insurers, meaning that some motorists could face further difficulties when switching providers.
This could cause further issues for older motorists, given the industry-wide advice that drivers should constantly be looking to switch insurers if they can get a better price.
Alex Kefford, head of editorial at loop, said: “We’ve seen cases where a driver correctly declared 10 years’ NCD to a new insurer, only to have it knocked down to five because that’s all their previous provider’s renewal letter showed.
“When the customer provided proof from the year before showing nine years’ NCD – which, combined with their renewal letter, was clear evidence of 10 years’ entitlement – the new insurer refused to accept it, saying it was ‘out of date’.
Drivers could be slapped with huge insurance costs
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GETTY“As a result, the customer was stung with a higher premium, despite a decade of claim-free driving.”
The Financial Ombudsman states that insurers are expected to provide proof of their no-claims history for the duration of time they were with the insurer.
This is the case, unless the insurer clarified that they had “always made it clear that you wouldn’t”.
Some of the largest insurers in the UK do not provide up-front warnings that they will refuse to accept a customer’s co-claims over and above their own maximum.
Elderly drivers with decades on the road could be more likely to have their discounts removed
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GETTYExperts have now called for the insurance industry to standardise practices around no-claims documentation to acknowledge long-term, claims-free drivers.
Mr Kefford added: “For older drivers, this practice can feel particularly unfair. Imagine having 30 years’ claim-free driving behind you, only to find it downgraded to nine years at the end of the policy.
“That might not affect next year’s premium, as even nine years is likely to attract the maximum saving, but some specialist and classic insurers do reward longer periods of claim-free driving.
“That makes the ability to transfer a driver’s full no-claims history when moving to a new provider critical.”