Can you get your excess back?
Asked by: Rogers Goyette Jr. | Last update: March 26, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (26 votes)
Does excess get refunded?
You usually have to pay every time you make a claim, but not always. For example, if you were in a car accident that wasn't your fault, you wouldn't be expected to pay – or your excess would be refunded.
How long does it take to get excess back?
If you are wondering how long it will take to get you excess back after a claim, this is almost impossible to say – even your insurer may not know. Depending on the complexity of your accident claim however, it can take anything from a couple of months to over a year.
What happens if you can't pay excess?
What if you cannot afford the excess? If you do not have the money available to pay the excess your insurer may refuse your claim or it might deduct the amount from what it pays towards the repairs.
Can you pay off your excess?
Normally, a car insurance excess is paid as a lump sum, not in instalments. If you can't pay it as a lump sum due to financial hardship, you can ask us whether you might be entitled to assistance. If you are, we may give you longer to pay the excess or allow you to pay it in instalments, for example.
How to get your excess back after a claim
Do I get my excess back if it's not my fault?
Paying excess for a car accident that isn't your fault
When you pay the excess for a car accident which isn't your fault, you may need to claim this back from the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident once the claim is settled, if you don't have legal expenses cover to pay this for you.
Is it better to pay excess or not?
If you raise your excess, this will decrease the cost of your premium. On the other hand, reducing your excess will raise the cost of your premium. So, when making this decision, consider what is right for you and your circumstances. You may need to pay a set excess for specific claims, such as an age excess.
What happens if insurance gives too much money?
In some situations, they may allow you to keep the funds if you incur other damages related to your claim. However, they may also ask you to fill out a form returning the excess money to their agency. How each insurance company handles overpayment varies on a case-by-case basis.
What happens if no one is at fault in an accident?
But what will happen if no one is at fault for your car accident? You can always file a no-fault car insurance claim. The insurance provider will compensate the policyholder and its passengers for the cost of minor injuries and loss of income regardless of who caused the accident.
What is excess payout?
An excess (also known as a deductible) is an amount the policy holder must pay if they proceed with making an insurance claim on their insurance policy. It's the first amount payable by the policy holder in the event of a loss and is referred to as the uninsured portion of the loss.
How does excess work?
What is insurance excess? Insurance excess is a pre-agreed amount of money that you need to pay to your insurance provider in the event of a claim, such as a car accident or a flood at home. In many cases, you'll be asked to pay the excess immediately so that the claim process can begin.
What happens if insurance cannot determine fault?
50/50 fault: If it's too difficult to determine fault, particularly if no witnesses saw the accident take place, some insurance companies will decide to split the costs equally between the two drivers.
How long does it take to get money back from insurance?
Payments Must Be Made Within 30 Days of Settlement
These requirements include deadlines for when an insurance provider must respond to your claim and resolve it. California's insurance laws also limit how long an insurer can usually take before paying you after they reach a settlement with you on your claim: 30 days.
Is excess fee refundable?
Sometimes the insurer can recover damages from the at-fault driver, and can refund the excess to you. This may not happen, because your insurer may decide it's not worth the time or money to pursue the other person – it could take months or years.
What is refund of excess amount?
(1) The Commissioner shall refund to a person the amount of tax and penalty or interest (if any) paid by such person in excess of the amount due from him.
What is the minimum excess in insurance?
The compulsory excess is the minimum amount that you'll pay towards a claim. It's set by your insurer when you take out your policy and will be in your policy documents. The amount of compulsory excess you pay can vary depending on the cover you're making a claim on.
Should I file a claim if I'm not at fault?
Always File a Claim, Regardless of Who Was At-Fault
One of the primary questions we receive from clients who have been in an accident is whether they should report the accident to their own auto insurance carrier, particularly when the accident was not their fault. And the answer to that question is: always.
Will insurance pay out if it was my fault?
Who pays for an at-fault accident? If the situation is clear-cut, or one party admits that they caused the accident, the at-fault driver's auto insurance should pay for any property damage and medical bills, and in some cases compensation for other damages, such as pain and suffering.
Should I call my insurance if it wasn't my fault progressive?
Start the claims process
Regardless of who's at fault, it's a good idea to inform your car insurance company that an accident occurred.
Does insurance excess get refunded?
You pay the excess in the event of any claim made on your insurance policy, regardless of who's to blame. However, if it's proved the accident was the other person's fault and the full cost is recovered by their insurer, you may be able to recover this amount.
Can I keep extra money from a car insurance claim?
If your insurer does allow you to keep the excess money, you may wonder if you must use it on vehicle repairs. The answer is no. You can use the extra money in any way that you please. If your vehicle has other, non-accident-related issues you wish to take care of, you can use the extra funds to do so.
Can insurance ask for money back?
Commercial Plans/Insurers
California law allows health plans, their delegated groups and health insurers 365 days from the date of payment to request a refund, except in cases of fraud or misrepresentation.
Do I pay excess if I am not at fault?
You pay the excess in the event of any claim made on your insurance policy regardless of who is to blame. However, if it's proved the accident was the other person's fault and the full cost is recovered from their insurer, you may be able to recover this amount.
How to get out of paying excess?
You should explain that you are in financial difficulty and cannot currently afford to pay the excess but that your claim is otherwise covered by your policy.
How is your excess decided?
The excess versus premium reduction calculation is one that insurers work on diligently, with a lot of analysis going into determining the reduction in premium versus the quantum of claims. In simple terms, they look at how often bad things happen and how much it costs to fix them.