How to get a lifetime auto insurance bonus?

How to get a lifetime auto insurance bonus?
For several years now, some insurance companies have offered their policyholders a lifetime bonus on their auto insurance contract. How can the insured get it? What happens if there is a change of insurer? And in the event of a claim?
The auto bonus: what is the advantage?
The bonus allows a driver who does not make responsible claims for a certain period of time to obtain a reduction in his contributions. This rate therefore increases over the years if the policyholder is never affected by an accident.
According to the Insurance Code, the maximum bonus that an insured can obtain after 13 years of driving without a responsible loss is 50%. This maximum rate is accompanied by a deductible for the first responsible accident, it is only on the second loss committed in the last two years following the obtaining of the maximum bonus that it is lost.
Lifetime auto bonus, what is it?
In order to retain their customers, some insurers are currently going beyond this threshold defined by the Insurance Code. Indeed, they offer their model drivers a lifetime bonus: a 50% bonus that will no longer decrease, even in the event of several responsible claims.
To obtain it, the insured must have taken out his auto insurance contract for at least 16 years without any responsible loss. In other words, after 13 years of at-fault-free driving, the underwriter must still drive 3 more years without committing any accidents.
However, the lifetime bonus does not prevent the insurer from terminating the contract, for example if the client changes insurer, is responsible for an accident every three years or if his contract expires.
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What happens in the event of an accident if you have a lifetime bonus?
If you have a lifetime bonus, you will not lose it in the event of a responsible accident, and therefore your insurance premium will not be increased. In other words, you will keep a 50 bonus for life.
However, this remains an offer from your insurer. In fact, your bonus-malus will be impacted by all responsible claims except the first.
But beware, insurers always have the option of terminating your contract. Therefore, if you are regularly responsible for claims, your insurer can decide to terminate your contract.
Lifetime bonus and change of insurer
There are 2 possible situations for a change of car insurance if you benefit from a 50 bonus for life:
You have not had a responsible claim (or only one);
You are responsible for several claims.
If you want to change insurer and you have not had a claim
Your bonus-malus will always be 50%, so you can benefit from a contribution reduced by half in any case. And you can also keep your bonus for life, if your new insurer offers this formula.
If not, however, you will forfeit your lifetime bonus, while retaining your 50% bonus.