Donating claim-free years to your children: is this possible?
Claim-free years accrue when you have a vehicle insured in your name. Young drivers already pay more for car insurance than experienced drivers, and on top of that, they have no accumulated claim-free years. Is it possible to gift your children accrued claim-free years?
What are claim-free years?
Damage-free years are accrued based on the damage-free insurance years of motorized vehicles. Every year of damage-free driving earns you an additional discount on your insurance premium. The higher the number of claim-free years, the more discount you will receive. Do you make a claim on your insurance other than windshield, fire, theft or storm damage? Then you will lose claim-free years. How many claim-free years you lose depends on the bonus/malus table used by the company. Damage-free years can only be used for discount on one policy at a time and are released again when the insurance is terminated. Damage-free years accumulated on scooter insurance cannot be used as a discount on your car insurance or motorcycle insurance.
Claim-free years are personal
It is not common for accrued claim-free to be transferred to someone else, but it is possible in the following cases:
- From partner to (ex-)partner.
- Company with the same owner or employee listed on the policy as a regular driver.
- Parents to son/daughter, if they are already registered on the policy as a regular driver.
Claim-free years transferable since 1-1-2022
Since Jan. 1, 2022, claim-free years are transferable in some situations. Upon 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 claim-free years. This way they do not lose their accumulated claim-free years. You can read more about this new regulation in our blog post.
When is a regular driver?
Insurers ask about the regular driver when insuring a car. This is the person who drives the car most often. The premium is based on the regular driver. That's usually the owner, but it doesn't have to be. For example, if your 18-year-old son or daughter uses your car most often, this is the regular driver. Because the regular driver in this case is a novice driver, the premium will be higher than if an experienced driver is specified as the regular driver. Some people therefore choose to list an older person as a regular driver, but this can have major consequences. It may result in lower compensation or even no compensation at all if it turns out that the application was not filled out truthfully.
High premiums for inexperienced drivers
Even though young people generally pay more for their car insurance premiums, there are big differences between insurance companies' premiums. That's why we allow you to compare premiums from multiple insurance companies, so you can be sure you are not paying too much. Only a few details are required to make a comparison. Make a quick comparison.
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