Yes, in most cases you still need to pay your excess upfront—even if you weren’t at fault.
This is because your excess is something you agree to pay when you take out a policy when an accident happens.
If you're not at fault for the accident you may still need to pay your excess because we want to deal with your claim as quickly as possible without waiting for the other party’s insurer to admit liability. Once liability is confirmed, we’ll then work to recover your excess.
How your excess can be recovered
If the third party is clearly identified and found responsible:
We will try to claim the cost of your excess back from their insurer.
If successful, the excess you paid will be refunded to you.
What if the third party is uninsured or cannot be found?
If the other driver is uninsured or leaves the scene without being identified, you will still need to pay your excess. In these situations:
You may not be able to recover your excess.
However, if you have Legal Cover as an add-on, your legal provider may be able to help recover your costs from the third party.
Good to know
Paying your excess does not mean you’re accepting fault for the accident.
Recovery of your excess can take time, depending on how quickly liability is confirmed and payment is made by the other insurer.
If recovery isn’t possible, you won’t be refunded the excess amount.