Swapping cars and insurance

[Didge3]

I'm selling my car very soon and buying another.
My insurance is due for renewal mid May.
I need to sell my car whilst it's still insured so people can test drive it as I'm selling it privately. (Few people will drive a car without being able to drive it first)

When the car sells I need to as soon as possible get the new car (deposit is already down on it, the car is mine) problem is, current insurance provider won't insure the new car because its modified. So I'll need to take out a new policy with another insurer (already checked this, quotes are cheap).
In order to get the new insurance cheap on the new car I need my NCB from my current insurer but they obviously won't give me that until the insurance is officially due for renewal on my current car. But providing I sell my current car say a week or two before the insurance is due I need to get the new car asap (so I can get to school and work).

How can I make this change? I'm not going to insure the new car without my NCB because the price goes much higher. If I sell my car and pick up/insure the new car within a few days of the sale of my car how will I be able to prove my NCB to the new insurer when I haven't got it back from my current insurer?
Can I get my NCB off my current insurer early? Can I put off sending proof to the new insurer until my current insurer sends me it at renewal?

Sorry this was longer than I expected . Thanks for any help in advance though

 

[homeward]

I was in a similar situation when I bought the Punto (as my previous insurance was through a club scheme for a large 4x4; and they thus quoted me outrageously for the Punto...).

I took out my new insurance, quoting what I knew was the NCB; and then waited (it was only a fortnight or so: as renewal notices are sent out a few weeks in advance, usually...) until I actually received the renewal, as proof, to post this off to the new insurers to confirm it, as requested....

Does this make any sense? (And do the timescales work...?)

 

[Didge3]

I was in a similar situation when I bought the Punto (as my previous insurance was through a club scheme for a large 4x4; and they thus quoted me outrageously for the Punto...).

I took out my new insurance, quoting what I knew was the NCB; and then waited (it was only a fortnight or so: as renewal notices are sent out a few weeks in advance, usually...) until I actually received the renewal, as proof, to post this off to the new insurers to confirm it, as requested....

Does this make any sense? (And do the timescales work...?)

Thanks for the reply. I knew somebody must've been in the position before!
Do you think it'd be a good idea to ring the new insurers first to check that it'd be alright if I sent them the NCB a few week after the policy start date? Or should I just leave it?
It's over a month till my insurance is due for renewal. Its the 14th of May (iirc). I'm hoping to put my car up for sale about mid April (~15th) giving it around a month to sell before the insurance is due. If it were to be sold almost immediately, for example the 20th of April I'd still have 24 days before the insurance expires. Lets assume I then get the new car and insure it a few days later, the 25th. I would then have a wait of at the most around 2.5 weeks before I received my NCB from current insurer. I guess it could work I just don't want to upset the new insurers when they ask for my NCB and I don't have it yet.

 

[turbo_pib]

Just sell your old car and arrange some different way of transport for those 2.5 weeks, and then when you have the paperwork stating that you have matured the NCB get new policy and drive your new car
If you get a new policy without actually having matured your NCB (even if is only 2.5 weeks from it) and saying that you have and something happens in those 2.5 weeks you will find yourself in a hip of trouble
Phone your new insurance and explain this and im pretty sure they will tell you to wait

 

[homeward]

turbo_pib makes a valid point.... I hadn't factored in the age difference (I'm what Kirstie93 refers to as a 'gizzard'...); and the fact that my NCB is maxed out, and therefore has remained the same for years....

Best course of action is therefore to be honest with your new insurers (although, if you ring them, to make a 'hypothetical' enquiry, don't give them your name -- just in case...); take out temporary cover until your old policy renewal appears (which I know can be expensive... -- therefore negating the move to cheaper long-term insurance...); or arrange alternate transport, as suggested.... (Is there anyone that can act as taxi driver for you for that period...?)

My gut feeling is that your renewal will arrive in time, and that your new insurers will accept it as proof... -- but I may be wrong (and am obviously not having a good night for perspicacity...).

PS: Someone please tell me I'm wrong: but isn't insurance info now shared amongst all the companies, etc. electronically. Can't the new company therefore contact the old one to get your NCB; and quote accordingly...? Would going through a broker help/make any difference...? (My brain hurts.) Ahhhh

 

[Didge3]

Hmm. It may be best to do as suggested. I hadn't thought of the fact that technically my insurance would be invalid for those few weeks before I got my NCB.
The family have a crappy 1998 Corsa that is nobodies car, we all just drive it as and when we need too (its an awful car in awful condition). I think I'll just add myself to the insurance on it temporarily until I officially get my NCB.

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Take out new policy with no ncd until you can then transfer the NCD, an it'll then be applied to the remaining term of the insurance.

Or wait until old policy is cancelled and then take out new, normally get up to 6 weeks from start date to send in proof, and even then it might not be requested.

 

[sludgeguts]

I need to sell my car whilst it's still insured so people can test drive it

If someone wishes to test drive YOUR car, they will have to provide evidence that THEIR own insurance covers them to drive other vehicles - otherwise, the best they can hope for is to fire up the engine to have a listen & kick a few tyres.
Unless you've got some sort of special addition to your insurance which will allow anyone to take the car for a quick spin?

 

[Didge3]

If someone wishes to test drive YOUR car, they will have to provide evidence that THEIR own insurance covers them to drive other vehicles - otherwise, the best they can hope for is to fire up the engine to have a listen & kick a few tyres.
Unless you've got some sort of special addition to your insurance which will allow anyone to take the car for a quick spin?

Its my understanding that providing anyone wanting to buy has insurance that covers them to drive other cars third party. However my car needs to be insured itself for that to work, I'm fully aware that they need their own insurance and will be asking for proof before anyone test drives.

 

[Didge3]

Take out new policy with no ncd until you can then transfer the NCD, an it'll then be applied to the remaining term of the insurance.

Or wait until old policy is cancelled and then take out new, normally get up to 6 weeks from start date to send in proof, and even then it might not be requested.

But as mentioned above surely for those few weeks from the start of the new policy and my current policy ending my NCB won't yet be valid, meaning if I were to have an accident in those few weeks my insurance would be invalid?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

But as mentioned above surely for those few weeks from the start of the new policy and my current policy ending my NCB won't yet be valid, meaning if I were to have an accident in those few weeks my insurance would be invalid?

No, not if you can send in proof upon request. Just because you can't prove it at that time doesn't mean its not valid.

I can't prove at this exact moment in time that I've 4 Classic Panda's in total, doesn't mean its not fact and that I can't prove it should it be required (crap example I know ).

Insurance works on utmost good faith

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

If someone wishes to test drive YOUR car, they will have to provide evidence that THEIR own insurance covers them to drive other vehicles - otherwise, the best they can hope for is to fire up the engine to have a listen & kick a few tyres.
Unless you've got some sort of special addition to your insurance which will allow anyone to take the car for a quick spin?

Good point, I wouldn't want anyone driving my car 3rd party when I'm the one without a car should they smash it up.

 

[Didge3]

No, not if you can send in proof upon request. Just because you can't prove it at that time doesn't mean its not valid.

Yes but if I insure new car before I get my NCB from current insurer and they ask for proof of it, I won't have it yet, making my insurance invalid

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Yes but if I insure new car before I get my NCB from current insurer and they ask for proof of it, I won't have it yet, making my insurance invalid

Which is why I said start on 0, and then when NCD becomes available in 3-4 weeks get it added from the date it is no longer in use on the GP

 

[Didge3]

Which is why I said start on 0, and then when NCD becomes available in 3-4 weeks get it added from the date it is no longer in use on the GP

:doh: Missed that. Skim reading...

Will have to check with the new insurers if they charge to make that change, just in case first. But good idea

 

[sludgeguts]

Its my understanding that providing anyone wanting to buy has insurance that covers them to drive other cars third party. However my car needs to be insured itself for that to work, I'm fully aware that they need their own insurance and will be asking for proof before anyone test drives.

Just wanted to give you the heads up.
Over the years I've only taken a few private cars out for a test drive & no-one has ever asked to see my insurance.
Just after I wrote the above, I did wonder, even if they have DOC on their policy, as MEP says, it only gives them 3rd party cover - so still doesn't pay for your car to be fixed.
Also, my insurance docs were all sent by email - it wouldn't be too difficult for me to alter all the details & print a copy to take along.
Either way, it still makes the test drive a minefield.

Edit: Just a thought, as you're speaking to your insurance company anyway, why not ask their advice on what ifs? For a couple of quid, they might offer you a fully comp any driver policy for a few days (long weekend)?

 

[Didge3]

Edit: Just a thought, as you're speaking to your insurance company anyway, why not ask their advice on what ifs? For a couple of quid, they might offer you a fully comp any driver policy for a few days (long weekend)?

I could try, not a bad idea
I'm dreading phoning them already, if my previous experiences with them are anything to go by. It's literally like smacking my head against a brick wall :bang: