Car insurance - Tips & Advice - Understanding car insurance

Did you know that increasing your voluntary excess payments could reduce the premium on your Car Insurance? For a good deal better from Direct Line, it’s worth getting clued up about…

What is excess?

Excess is an amount of money you usually have to pay when you make a claim on most kinds of insurance – Direct Line Car Insurance, Home Insurance and Travel Insurance, for example. The amount you pay is agreed when you take your policy out.

With Direct Line Car Insurance, you only pay the excess amount when you make a claim under our Comprehensive and Third Party Fire and Theft Car Insurance policies. Excess does not apply to Third Party Only.

How much excess do I pay?

The amount of excess you pay depends on a number of factors, including what type of car you have and who will be driving it. This figure is made clear when you apply for a quote and receive your personal policy documents.

Drivers should note, however, that a compulsory excess amount could apply to certain vehicles and young or inexperienced drivers.

Who do I pay my excess to?

If you make a claim and your car needs repairing under the terms of your policy, the agreed excess should be paid direct to the approved repair garage.

If your car is written off, the excess will be deducted from any settlement payment you confirm with us.

If your car was damaged in an accident that was another driver’s fault – and is accepted by the third party’s insurer – you should be able to reclaim your excess payment back from them.

A good deal better with Direct Line

With Direct Line Comprehensive Car Insurance, you also get the benefit of our ‘Uninsured Driver Promise’: If you claim for an accident that is not your fault and the driver of the car that hits you is not insured, you won’t have to pay any excess (or if you do, it will be refunded as soon as ‘no fault’ is declared).

Direct Line Comprehensive Car Insurance customers can also get their windscreen repaired without having to pay excess.

Added Legal Protection is available to all Direct Line customers. This is another way to help you get your excess back if you make a ‘no fault claim’ and it cannot be retrieved from another source – for example, if your car is stolen.

For great value Direct Line Car Insurance, get a quote today.