🚗 What Is a Voluntary Excess – And How Much Should You Choose?
🚗 What Is a Voluntary Excess – And How Much Should You Choose?
“Hang on… you’re saying you’d have to pay £500 before your insurance even covered anything?”
That was my reaction recently when I helped my parents renew their car insurance. Like a lot of people, they’d clicked through to the cheapest quote years ago — and hadn’t looked at the details since. They had no idea what “voluntary excess” meant, or that it could seriously affect them in the event of a claim.
It got me thinking: how many of us actually understand how voluntary excess works? Whether you're 25 or 85, choosing the right excess can help you save money and avoid nasty surprises later on.
💡 What Is a Voluntary Excess?
Voluntary excess is the amount you choose to pay towards a claim, on top of the compulsory excess set by your insurer. So if your compulsory excess is £250 and you set your voluntary excess at £250, you'd have to pay £500 total before your insurance even starts helping.
Yikes — especially if you didn’t realise you’d agreed to it.
💬 Why Choose a Voluntary Excess at All?
Because it can reduce your premium. Insurers reward you for sharing the risk — but too high an excess, and it could cost you dearly if something goes wrong.
🎯 So What’s the Right Amount?
🚗 Young/New Drivers
Tempted to crank the excess up to lower those painful premiums? Just be careful — make sure you can actually afford to pay it if needed.
👉 Suggested range: £250–£500
👨👩👧👦 Families & Multi-Car Households
Balance is key — you don’t want a claim to throw off your household budget.
👉 Suggested range: £100–£250
👵 Older Drivers (70s and 80s)
Often low mileage and careful drivers — so there's no need to set the excess too high.
👉 Suggested range: £100–£250, especially on a fixed income
🔍 Things to Watch Out For
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Look at total excess (compulsory + voluntary combined)
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Check exclusions (like windscreen or theft cover)
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Think about protecting your No Claims Bonus
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Don't just click “cheapest” — compare what's covered
🚗 Why It Matters
Too many drivers only find out about their excess when they need to claim — and by then it’s too late. Whether you’re buying a used car, helping family with their insurance, or renewing online, take two minutes to double-check your excess settings.
At Simon Shield Cars, we’ve seen it all — and while we’re not insurance brokers, we’re always happy to chat and share what we know, because driving should be confident, not confusing.
🙋 Need a hand understanding your car setup — or helping a parent or partner get it sorted?
Fill out the contact form , give us a call, or pop by the forecourt in Great Bricett. We’re happy to help.