Excess

What is an excess?
An excess is the amount you have to pay if you make a claim on a car insurance policy. NOTE, if the accident was not your fault you may be able to claim a reimbursement from the person at fault’s insurance company.
You have a choice of voluntary or compulsory excess (see below).

Hot Topics

What if I am a mature driver?
Drivers over the age of 50 tend to have less than average number of accidents and as such deserve a discount on their car insurance premiums. However not all insurance companies recognise this claiming behaviour and offer the over 50’s market a discounted premium.
What is Third party only Insurance?
If you want yourself to be personally covered against accident or your vehicle to be covered you should consider a more comprehensive form of car insurance.
How do I make a claim on a Motor Insurance policy?
You should also take the time to familiarise yourself with the claims procedures at each new motor insurance company you use. Each company has a slightly different claims procedure, it is imperative that you understand both what is covered and how you should approach making a claim against your policy.
How do I find the cheapest motor insurance premiums?
In order to get the best possible quote for your Motor insurance you should compare and contrast quotes provided by many different insurers. You'll find the difference between quotes can be enormous with a potential 50% difference between the most expensive and the cheapest quote.
What are the road tax rates by specific type of vehicle?
The collection and administration of road tax is done by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). The DVLA is responsible for all regions of the UK. Their aim is to facilitate safe and responsible driving throughout the UK. In addition to road tax they are also responsible for keeping a registry of all vehicles and qualified drivers.
What is compulsory excess?
A compulsory excess is the minimum excess value your insurer will allow you to pay whilst taking one of their policies. Most frequently, young drivers have to bear an increased excess which may be as much as £500. There is usually a compulsory excess for fire and theft of £100 on most motor insurance policies.

What is voluntary excess?
An voluntary excess is an additional excess value which you may chose to pay on each claim. By adding a voluntary excess value you are reducing the risk to your insurer and will therefore benefit from a reduced premium as a result.

My car has now been repaired and the garage has asked me to pay the policy excess - should I pay them?
Yes, but only when you are satisfied with the quality of the repair. You should always retain a receipt, as this will be required if a claim for uninsured losses is to be pursued. Make sure you have documented all repairs that have been made to your vehicle.