Do You Need Excess Protection?

Excess protection saves you from paying a high excess. If you claim an existing insurance policy, you are entitled to pay an excess. When you take out a policy you will usually be given two options to choose from, compulsory excess or voluntary excess.

Compulsory excess - When getting a quote from the insurer you will see that some will set a compulsory excess amount, this is an excess amount that you will have to pay if you make a claim, you cannot change this amount as it is set in place and not negotiable. The amount will depend on certain factors for example for a car, the type of car and its age would be considered.

Voluntary excess - This is an amount of excess that you can control and set yourself, some people add extra voluntary excess on top of the compulsory excess as this can reduce your premium, but make sure you pick an amount that you can afford if you do have to make a claim.

How does excess protection work?

Paying excess for an insurance claim can be expensive, excess protection is an insurance policy that recovers the excess costs.

Let’s say you buy car insurance that has an excess of £500, and you damage your car, the damage costs are £2500. You will have to pay £500 towards the claim, and your insurer will pay the rest to fix your car. With excess protection, you can claim the excess amount of money back.

So, for the £500 excess example, if you paid £90 annually for excess protection, you would save £410 from the claim. This obviously will save you a large amount of money.

If you claim on an insurance policy, you will pay the excess amount that you agreed to when buying your policy, and then the excess insurance will return the money to you.

How much does excess protection cost?

​The cost of excess insurance will all depend on the insurer and also the amount of excess that you want to be covered. For example, if you are protecting a small excess of £100 you could pay as little as £1.50 a month! However, if you’re protecting an excess of £600 you may pay up to £8 a month.

You may be wondering,are you saving money from buying excess protection? The answer is a very big YES! Think about it, from as little as £2 a month you could save hundreds of pounds if you have to claim.

Choosing the right excess protection amount 

These two points go hand-in-hand when deciding if excess protection is a good fit for you. Here's a quick breakdown:

Is Excess Protection Right for You?

• Consider your risk profile:

Frequent claims make excess protection less cost-effective.

• Evaluate your budget:

If you can comfortably afford your chosen excess amount, you might save money by skipping excess protection.

Choosing the right excess protection amount (if it's right for you):

* match your main policy excess:

Get coverage that aligns with the excess you typically pay on your main insurance policies 

Find a balance:

Choose an amount that offers peace of mind without significantly increasing your overall insurance costs.

Types of excess protection:

Single policy – The covers excess on one insurance policy, for example, your car.

Lifestyle – This covers the excess on multiple insurance policies, for example, your car, gadgets and health.

Excess insurance for car hire:

​Excess insurance is great for things like car hire, the reason being that car hire companies can make you pay a high excess, due to the risk of damage to the car. If you damage the car during the hire, you may have to pay thousands of pounds in excess, which is a substantial amount. Excess insurance will stop you from paying this large cost.

Here at Smart-Cover, we offer Excess protection for just £1.80 a month. For an excess of £500, you can be protected for just £50 annually saving you £450 if you claim. Get a quote today.

If you'd like to explore everything you need to know about buying a home emergency cover

FAQs

1. Why would I need excess protection?

Excess can be a significant cost, especially for a large claim. Excess protection helps you avoid paying that upfront cost.

1. Is excess protection always cheaper than a high excess on my main policy?

Not necessarily. You'll need to compare the cost of excess protection to the savings you get on your main insurance premium with a higher excess.

1. What types of excess does excess protection cover?

Most policies cover compulsory excess on car, home, and travel insurance. Be sure to check the specific policy wording.

1. Are there any exclusions in excess protection policies?

Yes, some policies might exclude certain types of claims or have limitations on the amount covered.

Conclusion

Excess protection can be a valuable tool for managing the financial burden of insurance claims. By understanding how it works, the factors to consider, and the potential benefits, you can make an informed decision about whether it's right for you.

Here's the key takeaway: Excess protection offers peace of mind by mitigating the upfront cost of excess on your main insurance policies. It's particularly beneficial for those with a low claim history, tight budgets, or high main policy excesses.

To access a comprehensive understanding of home emergency insurance, please visit our dedicated blog. There, you'll find all the essential information and insights you need to make an informed decision regarding this important coverage. 

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