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The short answer
Write to your Nigerian motor insurer's customer service or underwriting team, quote your policy number and ask for a no-claims letter on headed paper, in English, in your name as main driver, showing the vehicle, each policy's start and expiry dates, the number of claim-free years and the insurer's full contact details. Insurers abroad decide for themselves whether to accept it, and many apply time limits, such as Aviva's two years after the last policy expired.
What a no-claims letter is for
A no-claims letter, sometimes called a claims experience letter or no-claims bonus certificate, confirms that you held motor insurance for a period without making a claim. Insurers abroad use it to decide whether to give you a discount on your first policy there. Without it, most will price you as a driver with no history. Our guide to car insurance abroad with Nigerian driving history explains how insurers treat it; this guide covers getting the letter itself.
What the letter should state
There is no international standard. The safest approach is to ask for everything the stricter insurers abroad ask for, combining Aviva's and Marshmallow's published requirements:
- Printed on the insurer's official headed paper, signed and dated.
- In English.
- Your full name as it appears on your passport, stated as the main or policyholder driver.
- The vehicle covered: make, model and registration number.
- The start and expiry date of each policy period, or the first start date and the last expiry date if cover was continuous.
- The number of years without a claim.
- Details of any claims made, with dates, or a clear statement that none were made.
- The insurer's phone number, email and postal address, so the new insurer can check it.
If you were a named driver on a parent's or employer's policy, ask whether the insurer can issue a letter confirming named-driver experience; some insurers abroad give credit for it, many do not.
How to request it from abroad
- Find your policy number, certificate of insurance or a renewal notice. If you have lost them, give your name, the vehicle registration and the years covered.
- Contact the insurer through the email or phone number on its own website, not a number from a social media page.
- Send a short written request listing every item above, and say the letter is for an insurer in your country of residence.
- Ask whether there is a fee, how it is paid, and whether the letter can be emailed as a signed PDF as well as posted or couriered.
- Keep a copy of your request and any reply.
If you held third-party cover only
Many drivers in Nigeria carry third-party cover rather than comprehensive cover. Ask for the letter anyway and make sure it states the type of cover. Some insurers abroad give credit only for comprehensive history; others look only at whether claims were made. A letter that is clear about the cover type avoids a later dispute if the new insurer checks.
If the insurer is slow or refuses
Follow up in writing and ask for the name of the officer handling it. If a family member in Nigeria can visit the branch with a copy of your passport and an authority letter, that often speeds things up. If the insurer still does not respond, you can escalate a complaint to the industry regulator, NAICOM; our Nigeria library explains NAICOM complaint routes and claim timelines.
When it is likely to be accepted
Acceptance is at each insurer's discretion. Points that commonly decide it:
- Country list
- Aviva accepts no-claim discount from a listed set of countries and asks others to contact it. Check whether Nigeria is covered before you rely on it.
- Time since cover ended
- Aviva treats no-claim discount as valid for two years after the last policy expired; Marshmallow accepts it if the most recent cover ended within the last three years.
- Gaps
- Marshmallow accepts combined foreign no-claims if there is no gap of more than three years.
- Language
- Aviva requires English; Marshmallow accepts originals in other languages.
Request the letter before you leave Nigeria if you can, or as soon as you arrive, because the clock starts when your last Nigerian policy expired.
Keep it with your licence evidence
Insurers and licensing authorities often ask for proof of driving experience as well. A confirmation from the FRSC of your licence and first issue date pairs naturally with the no-claims letter; see FRSC licence verification. If an insurer or authority wants Nigerian documents authenticated, our guide to legalising a Nigerian document for use abroad covers the route.
Where Pryme fits
If the insurer charges a naira fee or a courier bill, you can pay it from naira held in a Pryme account with Send, and keep the payment receipt for your records.
Questions people ask
Do Nigerian insurers issue no-claims letters?
You can request one from your motor insurer's customer service or underwriting team. Ask for it in writing with your policy details and the items an overseas insurer needs.
Will an insurer abroad accept a Nigerian no-claims letter?
It depends on the insurer. Some accept only listed countries; others accept many formats. Check before you buy.
How long is a no-claims bonus valid after I stop driving?
Policies differ. Aviva says two years after your last policy expired; Marshmallow says the last cover must have ended within three years.
What if my Nigerian insurer will not reply?
Follow up in writing, ask family to visit the branch with an authority letter, and if needed complain to NAICOM.
Sources
- Aviva: What if I have earned No Claim Discount on motor insurance overseas? · accessed Oct 2026
- Marshmallow: Will you accept my foreign NCD? · accessed Oct 2026
- Uswitch: Driving in the UK on a non-UK licence (updated 14 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.