Excess Information
When you buy motor insurance, you agree to pay a fixed amount called an excess, this is an amount payable in the event of a claim. This excess is usually made up of three parts:
- Compulsory excess, set by the insurer.
- Voluntary excess, set by yourself.
- Driver age and experience excess depending on age and experience (more information is available below)
Why increase your own excess? Raising your voluntary excess may lower your premium in some circumstances but will mean you pay more in the event of a claim.
How you pay the excess depends on your claim. If you make a claim where your vehicle is written off, the insurer will pay out the value of your vehicle, minus the total excesses, i.e. compulsory, voluntary, driver age, and experiences excesses.
In a case where your vehicle can be repaired, your excess is payable to the garage on the completion of repairs.
You should be aware of choosing a high excess in relation to the value of the vehicle could mean a significantly reduced amount payable in the event of a claim.
Non–Approved Repairer Excesses
Should you choose to use a repairer outside of Our Approved Repairer network, you will be subject to an increased excess amount of £200.
Windscreen Excesses
If you use a repairer other than our Glass Helpline to arrange replacement or repair of your windscreen or windows, you will only receive a maximum of £100 towards your claim under this section if it’s a repair (or a maximum of £150 for a replacement).
Excesses for both approved and non-approved repairers are applicable below.
Fire & Theft Excesses
Up to £100 for loss of or damage to Your in-car entertainment, communication and navigation equipment caused by:
- Theft or attempted theft.
- Fire and lightning.
Malicious damage excesses
If you have Comprehensive cover, we will pay for:
- Loss of or damage to your car.
- Loss of or damage to your in-car entertainment, communication and navigation equipment if it is the original specification, fitted by the manufacturer/dealer from first registration.
Young or inexperienced driver excesses
As well as the excess made up of the compulsory and voluntary amounts, additional excesses may apply while your vehicle is being driven by a young or inexperienced driver: :
- A young driver is a driver under the age of 25.
- An inexperienced driver is someone who has held their licence for less than 1 year or holds a provisional licence.
These excesses would apply at the point of a claim, for example the insured driver could be aged 20 when they purchase the policy but be aged 21 when making a claim, so the additional young driver excess applicable at a claim in these circumstances would be £200.
