How to get out of paying excess?

Asked by: Barbara Heaney  |  Last update: August 8, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (27 votes)

If you can't afford to pay your excess If you cannot pay your excess, you should tell your insurer and ask them to: Agree to a payment plan to pay the excess over a reasonable amount of time. Cash settle your claim. They can keep the amount of your excess before paying the rest to you.

What if I can't pay my 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.

Is it better to pay excess or not?

Purely based on likelihood of risk, paying extra excess when you do end up claiming insurance will usually^ be cheaper cumulatively over all the years that you drive a car, than paying extra in premiums.

Can I claim back my excess?

Yes, recovering the excess will be simple process once indemnity and liability have been confirmed which your insurers will be dealing with any in preparation of recovering their own outlay.

Do I have to pay excess if not my fault?

22 related questions found

Do you get refunded excess?

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.

How long does an insurance company have to recoup an overpayment?

California. Reimbursement request for the overpayment of a claim shall not be made, unless a written request for reimbursement is sent to provider within 365 days of the date of payment on the overpaid claims.

Do I pay excess if I'm not at fault?

Once liability has been determined by the insurer and if you're found to be not at fault, your excess will be waived and your claim will continue as normal. It can be easy to assign blame and assume it's the other driver's responsibility to cover costs, especially if the events around the incident weren't clear-cut.

Is insurance excess worth it?

Raising Your Voluntary Excess: The Pros

By opting for a higher excess, you may see significant savings on your insurance costs. This can be especially beneficial for those with a low-risk profile or a history of few claims, as they are less likely to need their insurance coverage frequently.

Can you cancel an insurance claim?

In short, yes, you can cancel a claim after it's been filed. You can cancel your request as long as you are the one who opened it initially.

What if my claim is less than the excess?

The excess is the amount of money that your insurer will take off the claim. It may not be worth making a claim if the amount you're claiming for is less than this. the small print. Make sure there's nothing in the terms and conditions that prevents you from claiming.

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.

What does $100 excess mean?

Excess is the amount of money you agree to pay should the unfortunate happen and you need to make a claim to your insurer.

Can I pay my excess in installments?

Normally, a home or contents 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.

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.

Will my insurance increase after a claim?

How much does car insurance increase after a claim? Although the amount will depend on who's to blame, the severity of the accident, and your own driving record, you should expect your car insurance to increase by about 20-50% after making a claim.

Does insurance excess get refunded?

Paying excess for a car accident that isn't your fault

If your insurance company have dealt with the claim, they should claim the excess back for you.

Is 500 excess a lot?

Insurance excess exists mainly to prevent people from making lots of small claims. A car-park ding that might cost a dent specialist £300 to pull out would not be worth making a claim for if your excess is £500, for example, as it would actually cost you more to get fixed if going through your insurance provider.

Is it better to have higher excess or premium?

Having a higher insurance excess will mean a lower premium, which is certainly convenient provided you never have to make a claim. Unfortunately, if you do have to make a claim, you'll face a larger lump sum upfront.

Do I still pay excess if not my 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.

Do I have to pay if I hit someone's car?

Hitting a parked car is the same as any other kind of car accident when it comes to key issues like fault and insurance coverage. If no insurance covers the incident, the driver who hit the parked car will personally be on the financial hook for any resulting vehicle damage.

Do you pay excess before or after repair?

You pay your car insurance excess when you make a claim on your car insurance policy, on a per-incident basis. This means you need to lodge a claim and pay an excess for each separate incident. In most cases, for example if repairs need to be made to your vehicle, you will need to pay the excess before work can begin.

Am I obligated to pay back an overpayment?

The general rule is that if an employer has overpaid an employee, the overpayment of wages should be repaid even if the mistake was the employer's. In other words, the employer is legally entitled to recover any salary overpayment from the employee.

Can you fight an overpayment?

If you do not agree that you have been overpaid, or if you believe the amount is incorrect, you can appeal by filing Form SSA-561, Request for Reconsideration. You should explain why you think you have not been overpaid or why you think the amount is not correct.

What is the 60 day rule for overpayment?

30 December 2024

On December 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published revised regulations implementing the so-called 60-day rule, under which healthcare providers and other parties generally must report and return any overpayment within 60 days after they have identified it.