How does excess work on third party car insurance claims?

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Marissa Hayes

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Marissa Hayes is a technical editor and contributing writer. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in history, and she was the editor of the literary magazine, The Bluestone Review.

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Daniel Walker

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Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura.

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UPDATED: Dec 4, 2023

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UPDATED: Dec 4, 2023

It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We partner with top insurance providers. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.

UPDATED: Dec 4, 2023 Fact Checked

How does excess work on third party car insurance claims?

Excess in car insurance refers to the money you have to pay after filing a claim on your policy. You can check your insurance document to find out what your excess payable is. There are 3 types: Basic, Age, and Special. The main premise of an excess payment simply states that you agree to pay part of the cost. Many people do this because it lowers their monthly premiums.

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Third party insurance claims depends on whether the claim is a fault or no-fault request. If it’s your fault, then you have to pay the excess, voluntary and compulsory. If it is a no-fault claim, the excess may be covered by your insurance company through a legal cover clause provided you have this on your policy.

Legal cover can be claimed through ULR and is common in comprehensive car insurance. This is uninsured losses which is an add-on insurance feature that is not mandatory. It works by helping you save on costs if a third party is responsible for the damages on your car. Having ULR means a higher premium since it is an add-on feature in your insurance. Keep in mind that when you file against your insurance, you may be losing your No Claims Discount.

Read More: How To File a Claim After an Accident

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