When do claim-free years expire?
Claim-free years are fixed in a car insurance policy. As soon as the insurance policy is terminated, the claim-free years are released. From that moment on you can use them for a new insurance policy. Claim-free years are not unlimited. After the termination of an insurance contract the claim-free years are valid for 3 years with most insurers. Within those three years you have to take out a new insurance policy where you can use them, otherwise the claim-free years will expire. Once the claim-free years have expired, you can no longer use them and you have to start all over again. This affects the premium of your car insurance.
After how many years do claim-free years expire?
Damage-free years with most insurers expire after 3 years. However, this differs per insurer. With some insurers they expire after 2 years and with others only after 4 or even 5 years. In the policy conditions of your car insurance you can check how your insurer handles this. If you do not use the claim-free years for a new insurance within the set period, they will expire. This is a shame, because if you ever do take out a new car insurance policy, you will have to start all over again.
Claim-free years expired: what now?
If your claim-free years have expired, you start all over again. However, this takes time. For every year that you do not make a claim with the insurer, you gain one claim-free year. However, if you make a claim, you immediately lose 5 claim-free years. After a relapse it therefore takes 5 years before you are back on the same number of years. Are you in the process of building up again, but do you have a claim? Then it is wise to first look at the consequences of claiming the damage. Because you immediately lose 5 claim-free years, the premium goes up again considerably. If the damage is relatively small and the repair costs not too high, you can consider paying for the damage yourself instead of claiming. You will then retain your claim-free years and no-claim discount.
Taking out a car insurance without claim-free years
You can also take out a car insurance when your claim-free years have expired. Each insurer can differ in which step of the bonus malus ladder you start on. If you have no claim-free years, an insurer often looks at your age to classify you on the ladder. With many insurers you start without claim-free years on step 6 or 7, depending on your age. This can differ per insurer, so always check the bonus malus ladder of your insurer in the policy conditions.
Claim-free years transferable since 1-1-2022
Since 1 January 2022, claim-free years are transferable in certain situations. In case of death for example, they can be transferred to the surviving partner. Also for lease drivers and drivers who have lived abroad for years, it is now possible to transfer the claim-free years. This way, they do not lose their accumulated claim-free years. In our blogpost you can read more about this new regulation.
Related pages about claim-free years
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