It is still the case that you lose your claim-free years if you switch from a lease car to a purchase car. But from 1 January that will finally change. You can then take the discount on your premium that you have accrued with a lease car. This also applies if you have lived abroad for a while, if you get a divorce or if your partner dies.
From 1 January 2022, there are four situations in which you can transfer accrued claim-free years:
- You switch from a lease car to a car that you have bought yourself
- You come (back) from abroad and have built up claim-free years there
- You and your partner are getting a divorce
- Your partner dies
Now claim-free years are still personal
At the time of writing, the claim-free years of a deceased person are not transferred to the surviving partner. This also applies in the event of a divorce. The policyholder accrues a premium discount and this remains with the policyholder.
From 2022 you can transfer the accrued premium discount
That will be different from 2022. If your partner dies, the accrued claim-free years will go to you. And if you get a divorce, the years are divided between you and your partner. Lease drivers can have their claim-free years entered by the insurer in a central database with a statement from the lease company.
Change is victory for the Consumers’ Association
The change in the rules is a success for the Consumers’ Association, which has fought for years for fair registration and retention of claim-free years. “We are pleased that the most pressing drawbacks of the system are being repaired,” says director Sandra Molenaar.