Insurance Excess (Deductible)

Policies can have a compulsory excess and a voluntary excess. Choosing a higher voluntary excess often lowers the premium. Glass, theft and young-driver claims may carry their own excess amounts. Rental cars often carry a high excess that can be reduced with an extra waiver or separate excess insurance.

The insurer deducts the excess from the payout or asks you to pay it to the repairer.

Pick an excess you could actually afford to pay at short notice. For small damage, the repair may cost less than the excess.