• A fault claim explained.
• A non-fault claim explained.
• Are you insured for a fault claim? 

Let’s take a look at what insurers mean when they use the terms of ‘fault’ and ‘non fault’ when referring to car insurance claims… 

To put it simply, a fault claim is when your insurer is unable to recover the costs of a claim from the other party involve in the incident. A fault claim may include something like a car fire or an accident with an animal on the road. In both these cases, no one is technically to blame, but this will still be considered a fault claim because your insurer cannot recover the costs of repairs or replacements.

A fault claim will impact your no claim discount, while a non – fault claim will leave it unaffected. 

A non-fault claim is when your insurer is able to recover costs from the other party involved in the incident. For example, if another driver collides with you, and their insurance company admits liability, your insurer will recover the costs of repair or replacement from them.

This will be recorded as a non-fault claim and your no claim discount (NCD) will remain unaffected. 

There are a lot of factors considered when calculating the cost of a premium. They include but are not limited to: 

• The driver’s history of claims and convictions.
• The availability and cost of replacement car components
• The age of the vehicle, its value, and performance
• Where the driver lives and where the vehicle is parked. 
• The age, experience and occupation of the driver
• Any extra security features that could prevent theft or damage.
• When and how far the driver travels in the car.
• Changes in legislation and the increasing cost of claims overall

Remember, you must always tell your insurer about an incident, even if it wasn’t your fault.