If you’ve just bought a Marshmallow car insurance policy and need to send in proof of your claim-free driving history, please visit our how to prove my no claims discount help page.

When you buy car insurance in the UK, you can often reduce the cost with a No Claims Discount (NCD).

This discount rewards safe drivers who haven’t made a claim. It grows every year, so the more claim-free years you have, the lower your price will be.

Before your discount can be applied, insurers will ask for proof of your claim-free driving. Here we take a look at what proof is accepted and how you prepare yours.

Read our blog to learn more about how No Claims Discount works.

What counts as proof of No Claims Discount?

Proof of your No Claims Discount (NCD) must come from your previous insurer.

Most insurers only count years you’ve been insured in the UK. But Marshmallow is different. We also accept proof of your claim-free driving from insurers outside the UK.

Different countries provide different documents as proof of claim-free driving, so we accept many formats. It can also be called a No Claims Bonus (NCB) Certificate or Bonus Malus.

What we accept as proof of an NCD:

• Proof of No Claims Discount letter (sometimes called a No Claims Bonus Certificate)
• Closing statement showing your time on cover and any claims
• Email from your previous insurer confirming your No Claims Discount years
• Renewal Invitation from your previous insurer
• Schedule of insurance showing your No Claims Discount percentage

Your No Claims Discount proof must include:

• Number of No Claims Discount years
• Details of any claims
• Policy start and expiry date
• The insurer’s contact details (phone, email and postal address)

We cannot accept the following as proof of a NCD:

• Motor Proposal Confirmations
• A driving licence or licence summary
• Learner NCD
• NCD for a motorbike
• NCD for fleet insurance
• NCD with a gap in cover of more than 3 years (We do accept combined foreign NCD provided that there is no gap of more than 3 years.)

Can I get NCD if I was not the main policy holder?

This depends on the insurer. Typically in the UK, only the main driver on a policy qualifies for No Claims Discount.

However, at Marshmallow, we take a different approach. If you earned NCD while you were insured as an additional driver on someone else's car, we can still use this to apply NCD to your policy.

In this case, we would need to see:

• Proof of NCD in the main policy holder's name
• Proof that you were insured as the additional driver for the number of years NCD was earned. For example, if you are declaring 5 years NCD and earned this as an additional driver on your partner's car, we would need to see your partner's proof of 5 years NCD and then proof that you were insured as the additional driver on that policy for 5 years.

Learn how download your NCD as a PDF

Can you contact my previous insurer and get my proof of NCD?

No, it’s up to individuals to speak to their previous insurers and get the required proof. .Please contact your previous insurer yourself and they can assist you.

How to send your No Claims Discount proof

Once you have your NCD proof, you need to send it to whoever you are getting your quote from. With Marshmallow, it's quick and easy to send to us:

• Log into the Marshmallow app
• Find your policy and tap Documents
• Select Upload a document
• Follow the instructions to upload your file

We prefer a PDF, but you can also upload a clear photo or scan of a paper document. Please upload your proof within seven days of getting your policy.

Our team will check your proof to confirm your driving history. If we need anything else, we’ll let you know. Once accepted, your discount will be applied to your policy automatically.

Get more help with uploading your documents.

What if I don’t have No Claims Discount proof?

There are different options depending on why you don’t have proof of your No Claims Discount:

If your previous policy has not ended If you need more time because your old policy is still active, notify your new insurer and they’ll explain if and when your discount can be applied.

If you can’t find your proof Ask your previous insurer to send a letter or email confirming your No Claims Discount or claims-free history.

If you can’t provide proof If you cannot provide acceptable proof, the discount may have to be removed. This could increase your premium.

If you later find valid proof, contact your insurer and they could reduce your premium again.

What if I can prove more No Claims Discount years than originally quoted?

That’s great news. If you can show more years than you declared when signing up, contact your insurer to see if they can increase your discount.

NCD Proof: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the most common questions we get asked, and how NCD works at Marshmallow.

What if I haven’t been insured for a while?

That’s okay. As long as your document shows that your most recent car insurance ended within the last three years, we can still apply a discount.

Can you accept NCD documents from a broker?

No. We need proof from the insurer, not from a broker or a friend who took out the policy for you. If you bought insurance through an agent, contact them directly.

Do I need to get my NCD documents translated?

No. Send us your original documents, even if they are in another language, and we’ll handle it.

Why was my NCD document rejected?

We can’t accept proof if it’s outdated, missing key details, or doesn’t match your policy. If you think we made a mistake, contact us via Live Chat in the Marshmallow App or on our Help page.

Can you provide me with No Claims Discount proof for my new insurer?

Yes. When you leave, you can request a No Claims Discount certificate from us.

I didn’t need car insurance in my country. Can I get a NCD discount?

Unfortunately, no. You must have had car insurance in the past to build a No Claims Discount.

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