My daughter recently had a low speed bump while changing lanes in stationary traffic. Both cars were relatively old and low value; damage was superficial – scratches, etc - and she hoped to sort it out with the other party without recourse to insurance, and loss of her preciously accrued NCD. In the event, he supplied a non-existent phone number, and she was unable to contact him until she received a claim from his insurance company for damage to the vehicle plus whiplash injuries to him and his passenger (and witness). Subsequently she discovered an acquaintance who works for a company that employs doctors in a centre providing reports on injuries for insurance companies. Remarkably, they are paid on a reward basis, so providing an incentive to exaggerate injuries and costs. The result: a trivial incident costing a couple of hundred pounds at most will be inflated into a claim for thousands, she will lose NCD and pay an increased premium for the next 5 years. Until people in this country, encouraged by the compensation culture and no win no fee gravy train, stop treating insurance claims as a money making opportunity, premiums will continue to rise. At the end of the day, there is no such thing as a free lunch; we are all footing the bill.