Drivers paying for car repairs themselves
New data has found that more than half of drivers have never made a claim on their motor insurance.
According to Quotezone, drivers are increasingly opting to pay for minor repairs themselves in order to protect their no claims bonus and keep premiums down.
Its analysis of 100,000 motor policies between January 2023 and 2024 found that motorists are making fewer than one claim per year on average, with nearly a quarter admitting to paying for minor repairs themselves.
No claims bonus
Quotezone CEO Greg Wilson said: “Drivers have always been keen to protect their no claims bonus – especially now when the average UK premium has risen to £956, so the low average claims rating is not surprising as people scramble to help keep premiums as low as possible.
“A recent Quotezone survey showed 53% of drivers have never claimed on their car insurance, with 23% saying they had paid for smaller incidents themselves to protect their no claims discount.”
Car insurance
He continued: “If you have been in an accident, settling outside of your insurance could seem like the cheaper, more efficient way to handle things. However, incidents that appear to be minor, may be more serious than you think, settling the claim yourself may seem to be protecting your no claims discount but it could put you at greater financial risk.
“Either way, drivers must report the incident to their insurer within 24 hours or risk invalidating their insurance – even if they don’t want to make a claim. The most important thing is to be completely transparent with your insurance provider.
