A surplus on the payment is the fixed contribution you must pay every time your car is repaired through your car insurance policy. Typically, the payment is made via the accident repair garage when you collect your vehicle. Once your car is declared to be written off, your insurance company will deduct the excell agreed upon on the policy from the settlement payment it makes you.
If the accident was the other drivers fault, and this is accepted by the third party’s insurer, you’ll be able to reclaim your excess payment from the other person’s insurance company. But what if the driver fails to take up insurance?
All motorists know that it’s a legal requirement (under Section 143 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act) to have insurance for any damage they cause to third parties. But still many drive without insurance. A growing incidence of uninsured driving around the world is very difficult to come by and, for some reason, those drivers involved in breaking the law have every reasons to keep mum about it.
Calculations from the Department of Transport suggest that in the UK around 5% of vehicles are being driven without valid insurance. This sector does not only reuire costs on honest motorists in the form of higher premiums, but their visibility on our roads pose a serious risk to other road users. Subsequently, uninsured driving is increasingly becoming a major social dilemma.
But driving without insurance is not a victimless crime. If you have an accident with an uninsured driver and the accident wasn’t your fault, the repair costs will be paid for by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau that’s funded in its entirety by the industry, or by your insurer. Thus, if you are involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver you will eventually get your car repaired but you’ll still have to pay the excess and there’ll be no one to reclaim the excess from.
What is compulsory Excess?
A compulsory excess is the required lowest excess payment your insurer company will accept on your insurance policy. Minimum excesses do vary according to your personal details and driving record and by insurance company. Today the average excess is around £100, but younger drivers could be faced with excesses of up to £500 - whilst more mature, experienced drivers with a good driving record, could be offered an excess of just £50.
What is Voluntary Excess?
In order to reduce your insurance premium, you may offer to pay a higher excess than the compulsory excess demanded by your insurance company. Your voluntary excess is the exceeding amount over and above the compulsory excess that you agree to pay in the event there’s a claim against your policy. As a higher excess reduces the financial risk carried by your insurer, your insurer will be able to proffer you a significantly reduced premium.
The garage has repaired my car but it won’t release the car too me until I pay the policy excess to them. Is this right?
Yes, that is normal practice. But make sure you inspect the car when you collect it. Satisfy yourself that the repair is perfect. Then make sure you keep their receipt for your excess payment as you will need this if you’re reclaiming against a third party’s insurance. And just in case there’s a dispute, it’s a good idea to make sure the repair garage gives you a repair schedule. This will list all the repairs that were made to you car.
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