What is an excess in car insurance?

Depending on the circumstances of the incident that led to your claim, more than one excess might be applicable to your claim. Here at Bingle we have three types of excess:

• a standard excess that applies to all claims, unless otherwise stated in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)
• an age excess, which applies if you, or the person using your car at the time of the incident, is under 25 years old, and
• an unlisted driver excess which applies if the person using your car at the time of the incident was a household member or regular driver, and who was not a listed driver on your policy. This excess will not apply to learner drivers as long as another driver listed on the policy is a passenger in your car.

For example, if your standard excess was $795², you're over 25 and are a listed driver, you'll only need to pay $795. If the driver was under 25, they'll need to pay the standard excess as well as the age excess. If the driver using your car at the time of the incident was a household member or regular driver who wasn't listed on the policy, they'll need to pay the unlisted driver excess too. More examples can be found in Bingle's Comprehensive Car Insurance or Third Party Car Insurance premiums, excesses, and claims guides.

The standard excess ranges from $600 to $2200 depending on your state and what you selected when you bought or renewed your policy if you hold a Comprehensive car insurance policy with us. If you hold a Third Party property policy, the excess varies based on your state. Your excess can be found in your Insurance Schedule.

Compare our Comprehensive Car Insurance and Third Party Property Damage Car Insurance to see the different options. Read the PDS to see the different excesses that may apply if you need to make a claim.

Already part of the Bingle family? Welcome back! View your standard excess and additional excess amounts on your Insurance Schedule – get a copy of this in Policy Self Service.

Some insurers let you reduce (or increase) your standard excess. When looking over quotes, try testing out different levels of excess to find cover that suits your needs and budget. Keep in mind that your premiums will change depending on what your excess is. So, if you have a high excess you're likely to pay less on your premiums, but if you have a low excess, you're likely to have higher premiums.

Here at Bingle, on our Comprehensive Car Insurance, we offer a range of excesses between $600 and $2200 depending on your state. For our Third Party product, our excesses are set amounts, (you're not able to opt for a higher or lower excess when you buy a policy) which means you'll always know exactly how much you need to pay if you make a claim. Compare our Comprehensive Car Insurance and Third Party Property Damage Car Insurance to find the right product for your needs and budget.