A car insurance expert has advised motorists to protect their no claims discount (NCD) to avoid serious hikes in their premium.
Research by moneysupermarket.com has shown that if a policy holder with a five-year NCD makes a claim, they would see their premiums rise by an average of 73 per cent. In contrast, anyone with a protected NCD would only have to pay 18 per cent more in premiums if they make a claim .
According to Steve Sweeney, head of motor insurance at moneysupermarket.com, paying on average £62 more a year for a protected NCD could save drivers money, although with a caveat.
He said: "Paying extra to protect your policy against this sharp hike might be worthwhile.
"But be warned, if you protect your policy but don't make a claim for a number of years, you could find that you are eroding any potential savings ."
AXA recently entered the car insurance market, rewarding drivers with experience and a history of no claims.
People who have not claimed for over eight years could be in line for a 90 per cent discount with the company.




