Hear the word excess and you might think of the rich, the famous and the over the top. But when it comes to excess protection insurance, that's something most drivers should consider as a potential money saver if they need to make a car insurance claim.
What do you mean by 'excess'?
When you make a claim on your car insurance, the excess is the amount your insurance provider requires you to pay towards it. There are usually two parts: compulsory excess and voluntary excess.
Compulsory excess
Set by your insurer when you get a quote, and not up for negotiation, this is the bit you must pay towards the cost of a claim. The compulsory excess is based on the type of car you've got and your age.
Voluntary excess
This is an amount you can set yourself, and is added to the compulsory excess when you come to make a claim. You can reduce your premium by choosing a higher voluntary excess, but take care to pick an amount that's affordable if you have to make a claim.
What is excess protection?
Excess protection is an additional cover option for your main car insurance. Typically, it allows you to claim back your full policy excess on one insurance claim during the year-long life of the policy. This could be for a claim involving accidental damage, malicious damage, theft or attempted theft and fire, though policies can vary.
The cost of excess protection varies with the voluntary excess you select (for example, from nil up to £500). The higher your voluntary excess, the higher the additional premium.
What isn't covered?
Excess protection typically doesn't cover these type of claims:
- The total cost of the claim is less than the full excess payable on the policy.
- Accidents that happen before the start of your policy.
- Claims related to glass (such as the windscreen or sunroof), personal belongings, accessories, or equipment such as sat navs and radios.
So do I need excess protection?
Unlike car insurance, it's not a legal requirement to have excess protection insurance. But by adding it, you don't have to worry about being landed with a hefty bill if your car gets damaged by an unidentified driver.
Enhance your car insurance cover today by checking out what excess protection we can offer you.