The car changes, but your claims history stays: your bonus-malus class is tied to you as registered keeper, so a properly handled car change lets it transfer to the new vehicle. The key word is "properly": the transfer has conditions, and getting the order right is what decides whether the class actually carries over.
- The basis for transfer: the old policy ends through loss of interest (typically a sale) – a class can't be carried over from a live, parallel policy.
- Under the rules in force, transfer works within the same vehicle category (from car to car).
- The system works from the claims history register – what matters is entering the details accurately on the new policy.
The main rule: after loss of interest, within category
Under the rules in force on classes, a more favourable class can transfer to a new policy if the previous policy has ended – typically through loss of interest, because the vehicle was sold or permanently deregistered – and the new policy is taken out within 2 years of that termination, for a vehicle in the same vehicle category; a class cannot be transferred to another vehicle from a policy that ended through non-payment of premium. So in practice, changing cars is the typical case: the old car is sold, its policy ends, and the new car's policy can start with the class you'd already earned.
Category matters too: a class earned on a car transfers to a car; motorcycles and other categories build their own separate claims history – covered in the article on motorcycles.
When it doesn't work: parallel policies
A common question: "Can I carry my B10 over to my second car too?" Under the rules in force, the answer is no – a class can't be copied from a live policy, so the second vehicle starts its own, new claims history (typically from A00). For the details and sensible options for families, see the two cars, two policies article.
In the same way, a class can't be "gifted" to someone else either: a change of registered keeper means a new policy, and the new keeper's own claims history.
The process in practice
No separate application is needed for the transfer: you just need to enter the previous details accurately on the new policy's offer (previous insurer, reason cover ended, claims history ID) – the register takes care of the rest. The new policy can typically start with a provisional class first, which the insurer then finalises based on the register data, under the rules in force.
Two pitfalls: closing the old policy in a disorderly way (the notification never gets made), and a gap in cover between the two cars – the buying-and-selling schedule heads off both.
A gap between the two cars: how long does your history stay valid?
If a longer time passes between selling the old car and buying the new one, it's a fair question: how long does your earned class "keep"? The rules in force set a time limit for this – your claims history doesn't expire immediately, but it isn't eternal either. If the gap is something you can plan for (a posting abroad, for example), it's worth thinking through the timing and the documentation in advance.
In an uncertain situation, a 20-minute conversation can clear up the options – saving your claims history is typically just a matter of good timing.
FAQ: What if the new car is in a pricier category?
Transferring your class carries over the class, not the premium: B10 stays B10 on the new car, but depending on the new vehicle's power, age and the current tariff, the premium can end up noticeably different. So switching to a more powerful car can mean a higher premium even with a high bonus – that's not a flaw in the transfer, it's just how the formula works. The takeaway: when you change cars, don't just "carry the MTPL over without thinking" to your usual insurer – a new vehicle means a new formula, worth checking against the market again. The moment of changing cars is a natural point to compare offers anyway: a new policy is being set up regardless, so comparing offers only takes a few minutes.
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