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Will You Lose Your No Claims Bonus for Reporting an Accident That Wasn't Your Doing? 

<p>If someone else crashes into your car, one of the first worries that pops up is whether just picking up the phone to your insurer could cost you your no claims bonus. It's a really common concern and a fair one, since most of us don't read the fine print until something actually happens. Here's what's really going on.&nbsp;</p><h2>What is a no claims bonus, exactly?&nbsp;</h2><p>A no claims bonus (also called a no claims discount) is the reward your insurer gives you for every year you go without making a claim. Each year you hold comprehensive car insurance without claiming, your discount can grow, which may make your premiums cheaper. In New Zealand, this is generally built up over five years or more, though the exact structure varies a lot between insurers.&nbsp;</p><h2>Does reporting a crash affect it?&nbsp;</h2><p>Here's the part that catches a lot of people out: in New Zealand, an accident that wasn't your doing doesn't automatically mean your bonus is safe. Some insurers will keep your bonus intact if you can show the other driver was clearly responsible, usually with a police report, photos or witness details. But others may still reduce it, particularly if it comes down to your word against the other driver's, or if the costs can't be recovered from them.&nbsp;<br><br>Because the rules aren't standard across insurers, the safest move is always to check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or ask your insurer directly how they treat this type of claim before you report it.&nbsp;</p><h2>What if there's a dispute?&nbsp;</h2><p>Sometimes it isn't obvious who caused the crash, for example, if both cars merge into the same lane at once. In these cases, insurers may go back and forth to work out how responsibility is shared. If it's not clear-cut, your insurer might treat the claim more cautiously while it's investigated, which can affect how your bonus is handled in the meantime.&nbsp;</p><h2>How to protect your no claims bonus&nbsp;</h2><ul><li><p>Get the other driver's details on the spot: name, contact info, registration and insurer (if they have one)&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Take photos of the damage, the scene and any relevant signs or signals&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Grab contact details from any witnesses nearby&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Report the crash to your insurer even if you’re expecting the at-fault to claim so that you don’t have to.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Ask your insurer directly, before you report it, whether your bonus is protected in this situation&nbsp;</p></li></ul><h2>What if my bonus does get knocked?&nbsp;</h2><p>If your bonus was reduced even though the crash wasn't your doing, you don't have to just accept it. Raise it with your insurer's internal complaints team first. If you're not happy with their response, you can escalate it to the <a href="https://www.ifso.nz/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Insurance &amp; Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO)</a> or <a href="https://fscl.org.nz/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL)</a>, whichever scheme your insurer belongs to, both are free services that can look into it on your behalf.&nbsp;</p><h2>Does using Right2Drive affect my no claim bonus?&nbsp;</h2><p>No. Right2Drive isn't your insurer, so arranging a replacement vehicle through us has nothing to do with your own policy or your no claim bonus. We provide a like-for-like replacement car while yours is off the road and the cost is recovered from the other driver's insurer, not yours. That means you can get back on the road straight away without worrying that it'll show up as a claim against your own record.&nbsp;<br><br>If you're still unsure how your insurer will treat the accident itself, it's always worth asking them directly but choosing Right2Drive for your replacement vehicle is a separate step that keeps your bonus out of the equation entirely.&nbsp;</p><h2>What about getting back on the road?&nbsp;</h2><p>While all of this is being sorted, you shouldn't be left without a car. If the crash wasn't your doing, you may be entitled to a replacement vehicle at no cost to you while yours is being repaired, so you're not stuck paying for a rental on top of everything else. </p><p>Not sure if you're covered? Give us a call on <a href="tel:0800004203" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">0800 004 203</a><strong> </strong>or <a href="https://www.right2drive.co.nz/application-your-details" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">apply here</a> and we'll take it from there.&nbsp;</p>

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Will You Lose Your No Claims Bonus for Reporting an Accident That Wasn't Your Doing?

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