An excess is the amount you pay towards the cost of a claim. A car insurance claim can cost an insurer millions of pounds, but you pay a set amount towards it, no matter how much it costs.
If the claim is found to be non-fault (not your fault), you won’t have to pay the excess. If you are found to be at fault, the excess is generally deducted from the final amount you get after the claim is finalised.
Compulsory excess
A compulsory excess in the amount set by the insurer. That’s the minimum you’ll pay towards the cost of a claim if you have to make one.
Check your policy schedule document for which compulsory excess/es would apply to you if you had to claim. They could include a compulsory excess for claims made by a driver under 21, for example, which covers the higher risk of a younger driver.
Voluntary excess
A voluntary excess is an optional extra amount you would pay towards the cost of a claim.
Choosing a voluntary excess can make the policy cheaper, but it increases the amount you’ll pay if you have to claim.
If you make a claim with this policy, you’ll have to pay both the compulsory excess/es and the voluntary excess.
Total excess
This means the total amount when you add the compulsory excess/es and the voluntary excess up. That’s how much you’d pay towards the cost of a claim.
If you do have to make a claim, you'll usually be refunded the total excess if your claim is found to be not your fault.