Do I have to pay excess if the accident wasn't my fault?
Asked by: Celia Moore | Last update: October 2, 2022Score: 4.3/5 (17 votes)
Do I have to pay the excess if it is not my fault?
Paying the excess when it's not your fault
If the other driver has admitted fault and has already told their insurer, your excess might be waived. But usually you'll have to pay it – so make sure you can afford it. When your insurer is certain you're not at fault, you'll get it back.
What to do after an accident that is not your fault?
- Call 911 if there are injuries.
- Call the police. ...
- Obtain names, addresses, telephone numbers, and driver's license numbers from all drivers.
- Obtain license plate(s) and vehicle identification numbers.
How does car insurance work when you are not at fault?
If you are involved in an accident and found not to be at fault, the insurance of the responsible party will cover your costs. When you buy a motor insurance policy from an insurance company, you will get an insurance disc and a certificate of insurance.
Do I call my insurance if it's not my fault?
Yes, you should call your insurance company if you were in a car accident that was not your fault. There are two main reasons for this. First, your insurance company may require you to contact them as outlined in your policy.
Do I have to pay excess if not my fault?
Who pays excess in accident?
Generally speaking, you always need to pay the excess when you make an insurance claim (even if you're not at fault), but insurers usually agree to waive the excess under specific circumstance.
Can I claim my excess back?
Can you claim your excess back? In some situations, yes, you should be able to claim back your excess, but not always, which is where Excess Recovery insurance can plug that gap and save you money.
What if my claim is less than the excess?
A reward for not claiming
One of the benefits of not making a claim when the cost of your repairs is less than your excess, is that you get to keep your No Claim Bonus. A No Claim Bonus is a discount you could earn on your insurance premium for being claim free.
Do you only pay excess if you claim?
An excess is the amount you pay towards your own repairs or claim, so you don't have to pay an excess for a third party's claim. Also, if you don't claim for your own damage, you don't pay an excess either.
Do you pay excess for damage to other car?
You only pay car insurance excess when you make a claim on your own insurance. You don't pay excess if you make a claim on someone else's insurance., or if someone else (a "third party") makes a claim on your insurance.
Why do I have to pay insurance excess?
Why do I need to pay Car Insurance excess? Car insurance excess helps to cover the cost of repairing and replacing insured vehicles, keeping policies affordable. It also helps to prevent people claiming too often and for minor things. In that sense, excess makes insuring your car possible for the insurer.
What happens when someone hits your car?
Call the police
If someone hits your vehicle, notify the police even if you think it was a minor accident. They'll write up a police report, which can then be used for your insurance claim. Police also act as an objective arbitrator if disagreements arise between you and the other driver.
Do you have to report a minor car accident to police UK?
You must report the accident to the police within 24 hours if you do not give your details at the time of the accident. You must also report the accident to your insurance company, even if you're not planning to make a claim.
Do I have to pay compulsory excess?
You pay your compulsory and voluntary car insurance excess when you make your car insurance claim. If you're only involved in a minor accident, you might find that your total excess is more than the cost of repairing the car.
How does excess work in insurance?
Insurance excess is the amount you have to pay towards the overall cost of an insurance claim. It's usually a pre-agreed amount. Your insurer will then contribute the rest – up to the limit of the cover. You'll see insurance excess on insurance products like travel, motor, home and health.
Do you have to go through insurance after minor accident?
Drivers must have valid insurance which covers you in the event of damage or injury. But when it comes to a minor scratch or prang, motorists may decide it's not worth going through the insurance companies. Instead of claiming through the insurer, the parties could agree to handle the issue privately.
Will a non fault accident affect my insurance UK?
Does declaring a non-fault claim affect my insurance? Unfortunately, yes it does. In many cases, your premiums will go up after you've declared a non-fault claim to your insurance provider.
Will my insurance go up if someone hits me UK?
The short answer unfortunately is yes. Regardless of whose fault it was, making a claim will almost always lead to an increase in your car insurance premium.
Is it worth claiming on car insurance for a dent?
In a nutshell, small dents/scratches on your car's surface does not require a car insurance claim. In fact, it is best to refrain from raising a claim in such a scenario, as you may otherwise lose a lot of money.
What should you not say to your insurance company after an accident?
Even if you know the accident was your fault, don't say sorry or admit guilt at the scene as your insurer might have a clause about it. Exchange details with the other's involved and get in touch with your insurer to report the incident.
What to do if someone has hit your car and drove off?
- Stop your car somewhere safe, preferably to the side of the road and not in the way of other cars. ...
- If you can, get the driver's number plate as well as the make and model of the car. ...
- If someone's hurt, call the emergency services.
- If no one is hurt, call the police, who'll give you a crime number.
Is it better to have high or low excess?
The more you drive the higher the chance that you may be involved in a collision, even if you do all of the right things and are considered a safe driver. If so, it may be better to opt for a lower excess. This way, you'll pay less if you need to make a claim – although your premium will be higher in the short term.
Do you pay excess for damage to other car UK?
Any excess payment you make will only ever be to cover repairs to your own vehicle if you've caused an accident. For example, if you run into the back of another car, your insurance company will handle the repairs to both vehicles – but you'll be expected to pay the excess for damage that's done to your car.
Will my insurance go up if someone claims against me?
Whether or not you were at fault, many insurers' data shows drivers who were involved in an accident are statistically more likely to be in an accident again within the next few years. This means you could see a rise in your premium at renewal – the rise could be higher if you were to blame for an accident.