Motorists urged to protect no claims discount

With a marked hike in motor claims during wintry March, esure.com urges motorists to protect themselves against losing their no claim discount - especially as cold spells are set to continue into April.

Bad weather is bad news for driving conditions and motorists. Following a rise in the number of motor claims last month, compared to March 2005, and the likelihood of wet conditions carrying on into April, esure.com urges motorists to protect themselves from losing one of the greatest potential savings in the household: their no claim discount (NCD).

esure's analysis of the UK car insurance market shows that safer drivers, with more than four years' no claim discount, save a total discount topping £10.5bn per year. With such a significant potential saving on offer, drivers who have built-up their NCD should protect it for total peace of mind if they are forced to make a claim.

If a motorist hadn't protected their NCD and was responsible for a crash in the current icy or wet conditions, it would have more of a negative knock-on effect on their future premiums - due to the immediate loss of two year's NCD - than if they had paid to protect it. esure's maximum NCD is 75% based on a 10 year scale where a further 1% every year is gained during years 6 to 10 of claim-free driving.

Mike Pickard, head of Risk and Underwriting at esure.com, said: "Opting for a protected no claim discount is well worth a relatively small addition to drivers' yearly premiums. The no claim discount is such a valuable potential saving for motorists and can lead to differences of more than £700 per year in the premiums for the same car, with the same driver in the same street.

It can be lost in an instant if a claim is made - which is more likely during periods of poor weather when driving conditions can be difficult. There is no quick fix or fast way to make it up again. It's slowly earned again by remaining claim-free over time. If the weather continues to be wintry in April as predicted, drivers should consider taking the opportunity to protect their no claim discount in case the unavoidable happened."