Excess

An excess is the fixed amount stated in a motor insurance policy that the policyholder pays toward a repair or damage claim, with the insurer paying the rest, and the figure sits in the policy schedule rather than the certificate of insurance.

It mainly affects a vehicle-damage claim rather than a bodily injury claim, since it is deducted from what the insurer pays for repairs, not from any compensation for an injury. If you are pursuing your own-damage claim, check your policy schedule for the exact excess that applies to your case.

Some policies carry a higher excess for younger or less experienced drivers, or a separate voluntary excess chosen when the policy was bought. Confirming the figure with your insurer avoids a surprise deduction later.

If an insurer applies an excess you think is wrong, or delays the repair, an independent lawyer can take up the claim with them.