What is an insurance excess?

Policies can include a compulsory excess set by the insurer and a voluntary excess chosen by you, which may be added together.

A higher voluntary excess can reduce the premium but makes smaller claims less worthwhile because more of the repair cost falls to you.

Young-driver, windscreen and theft excesses can differ from the main accidental-damage excess, so read the schedule rather than assuming one figure applies to every claim.

For 'What is an insurance excess?', check the actual policy wording or insurer confirmation rather than assuming another driver's policy works the same way. Cover, disclosure duties and excesses can vary materially between insurers.

Check the current source for 'What is an insurance excess?' before acting if the relevant rule, policy, fee or eligibility has recently changed. Keep any official confirmation or reference number produced by the process because it can help resolve a later query. This note is specific to answer 449.