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A car insurance excess is the amount you must contribute towards the cost of a claim before your insurer pays the rest. A higher excess means lower premiums, but you pay more out of pocket when claiming. Most policies have a basic excess plus additional excesses that may apply in certain situations.
Choose an excess you could comfortably pay in an emergency. A $500 basic excess is common, but some policies allow you to select up to $2,000+ for a significantly reduced premium. The right level depends on your financial buffer. If claiming would be a financial stretch at a $1,000 excess, keep it lower. If you rarely make claims and want to minimise premiums, a higher voluntary excess makes sense.
If the other driver is clearly at fault and their details are known, many insurers will waive your excess or reimburse it once they recover costs from the at-fault driver's insurer. If fault is disputed or the other driver is uninsured, you will typically pay the excess while the insurer investigates. Always check your policy's at-fault excess waiver conditions.
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