Is voluntary excess worth it?

Asked by: Mariano Conn  |  Last update: May 23, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (33 votes)

The amount of voluntary excess you have can significantly impact the cost of your car insurance premium. By choosing a higher voluntary excess, you will reduce your premium; but you will also have to pay more if you do make a claim.

Is it better to have higher excess or lower?

Generally, a higher excess is considered higher risk. But it might save you money right now. If you're an infrequent driver and mostly have your car safely stored then the level of risk may be low and the savings could be great.

What should I set my voluntary excess at?

The voluntary excess amount that you commit to will mostly be determined by the disposable income you have access to if the need for a claim arises. It should be set at an amount that you can comfortably manage to pay whilst taking the inclusiveness of compulsory excess into consideration.

Do you pay voluntary 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. This is even more likely if you've chosen to increase your voluntary excess.

What is the difference between voluntary and compulsory excess?

Compulsory excess - is set by your insurance provider and can't be changed. Voluntary excess - is how much you choose to pay on top of the compulsory excess.

Compulsory excess or voluntary excess? U.K. ??

26 related questions found

Do you have to pay voluntary excess if 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 happens if I can't afford my excess?

What this means is, the insurer may pay the other parties insurer the amount they are demanding less your excess and then you may be contacted by the other party's insurer. You can then negotiate to repay it in instalments with the other party.

Can I claim my insurance excess back?

If you were in an accident and it wasn't your fault, there's a chance you may be able to get your excess back or at least a portion of it. However, only your insurance company can recover this money; you can't go directly to the guilty party yourself. This only applies if you weren't the cause of an accident though.

Why do insurers charge an excess?

The main reason why insurers apply an excess is so they can eliminate most of, or if not all, of the minor or small claims. The cost to the insurer for the dealing with minor or small claims would only cover the administration charges therefore, they add an excess to the policy to avoid such minor claims.

How do I protect my no claims bonus?

A way to safeguard your no claims bonus is to pay an additional amount on top of your car insurance to protect it. This means that even if you were to make a claim, your discount would stay intact.

Is it better to pay higher excess on car insurance?

Because when you increase your excess it shifts some risk from the insurer back to you. It represents a saving for insurers, as they no longer have to pay out numerous small claims. Often people see a higher excess as one of the most effective ways to save on insurance costs but it may not be the wisest option.

What happens if I can't pay my excess UK?

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. For example, if you make a claim for damages worth £2,000 but cannot afford to pay the £250 excess, your insurer will only pay the remaining £1,750.

Is it important to have legal cover on car insurance?

Motor legal protection can be useful, but it's not mandatory. However, it could potentially save you a lot of money if you're ever involved in a court case. If you decide to buy legal expenses cover, just make sure you don't have it already.

Do you have to pay excess if your car is stolen?

Paying the excess

When you take out car insurance, it comes with an excess. This is an amount of money you'll need to pay if you claim. If your car is stolen and you make a claim for theft, you'll usually need to pay the excess immediately. Then your insurer will investigate your claim and progress from there.

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.

What is voluntary excess in insurance?

The voluntary excess is the amount you volunteer to pay in the event of an accident. The higher your voluntary excess, the lower your quote will be. Similarly lowering the excess will increase the cost of your car insurance. The excess amount is noted on your policy schedule.

Do you have to pay excess to make a claim?

An insurance excess is the amount you need to contribute when you make an insurance claim. 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.

How much does insurance increase after a claim?

If you have claimed on your car insurance, you can expect to pay 20% to 50% more for cover in the future. However, the amount varies depending on who is to blame for the claim, the severity and expense of the accident, and your overall driving record.

How does an excess work on 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 I pay the excess to insurance or garage?

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 from their insurer, you may be able to recover this amount.

Should I tell my insurance company about a minor accident UK?

Always notify your insurers if you are involved in an accident, however minor it may be and regardless of whether there is any damage. If you are involved in an accident and do not wish to make a claim on your policy you can simply advise your insurers about the accident 'For notification purposes only'.

Do I need to tell my car insurance if someone hits me?

Yes. You need to declare all accidents that you're involved in, regardless of who or what was at fault. Almost every insurance provider will have a clause in their policy requiring you to declare any incidents you've been involved in while driving in the past 5 years.

What happens in a 50/50 insurance claim?

In a 50 50 insurance claim, who pays for what? If you and the other party both accept 50% liability for the accident, their insurer would pay for your damages and your insurer would pay for the damage due to the other party.

Is motoring legal protection worth it?

Considering the relatively small annual cost, motor legal protection cover could potentially save you thousands of pounds in expensive legal fees. Some policies also include free legal advice on a range of personal matters, such as employment, family, conveyancing and probate (administering the will of a dead person).

Who is the best car insurance company in UK?

Top 10 car insurance companies in the UK
  • Direct Line. ...
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  • Aviva. ...
  • John Lewis Finance. ...
  • Hastings. ...
  • Churchill. ...
  • CSIS. ...
  • Bell Insurance.