If you claim through your own insurer, you will usually have to pay your policy excess, even when the crash was not your fault. If the claim is made directly against the at-fault driver's insurer instead, your own policy is not being used, so you may be able to avoid paying it or recover it from the at-fault party's insurer. It depends on the claim and on your policy, and we'll explain how it works for you before anything is arranged.
Find out more about non-fault accident claims.
It is one of the first questions people ask us at our Wishaw office, usually while they are still a bit shaken. So here is a plain answer, and what to watch out for.
What your excess actually is
Your excess is the part of a claim you agree to pay yourself when you take out your motor policy. There is often a compulsory excess set by the insurer and a voluntary excess you choose to lower your premium. Your policy schedule will show the figures.
The important bit is this: an excess applies when your own policy pays out. It is part of your contract with your insurer, not with the other driver.
Had an accident that wasn’t your fault?
Start your claimWhy claiming through your own insurer usually means paying it
If you phone your insurer and ask them to fix your car under your policy, they are treating it as a claim on your cover. In most cases they will ask you to pay the excess, or take it off what they pay out, even if they agree the other driver was to blame.
Some insurers will then try to get their costs back from the other side, and you may get your excess back later if they succeed. How that works, and how long it takes, depends on your insurer and your policy wording.
Money you are out of pocket for, like an excess, is often called an "uninsured loss", because your own insurance does not cover it.
How a non-fault claim is different
A non-fault claim is made directly against the at-fault driver's insurer. The idea is simple: the person who caused the accident, through their insurer, should be responsible for the costs it caused.
When G4 Claims handles a non-fault claim for you, we deal with the other insurer, help arrange repairs and recovery, and help check whether a comparable replacement vehicle can be arranged, where eligible. Because the claim is not going through your own policy, the excess question often looks quite different. You may be able to recover your excess from the at-fault party's insurer, or avoid paying it in the first place, depending on the claim and your policy. We'll explain it for your situation.
You can read more about how this works on our non-fault accidents page and our how it works page.
When the excess may still come into it
We'd rather be straight with you. A non-fault claim is not the right route for everyone, and there are situations where the excess may still apply. For example:
- the other driver disputes what happened, and fault is not agreed
- you were partly to blame, so fault is split
- the other driver was uninsured or drove off and cannot be traced
- you have already claimed on your own policy
In those cases the options can be more limited. If it looks like your own insurer is the better route, we'll tell you. If you were hit by someone with no insurance, have a look at our guide on uninsured or untraced drivers.
Already paid your excess?
That happens a lot. People phone their insurer from the roadside, the claim gets opened, and the excess is taken before they knew there was another option.
If that is you, tell us. We can check an existing claim and explain what your options might be.
You should still tell your own insurer
Even if you are not claiming on your policy, most policies say you must tell your insurer about any accident. You can tell them it is "for information only" and that the other driver was at fault. Telling them is not the same as making a claim. Not telling them could cause problems with your cover, so check your policy wording.
If you are worried about your premium or your no-claims discount, our guide on non-fault claims and your no-claims bonus goes through it carefully.
What helps us sort it quickly
When you get in touch, it helps to have:
- the date, time and place of the accident
- the other driver's name, registration and insurer, if you got them
- photos of the vehicles, damage and the scene
- any dashcam footage or witness details
- your own policy details, so we can see where the excess sits
Don't worry if you are missing some of this. A real person will tell you what else would be useful. If you have just had the accident, our step by step guide to making a no-fault claim in Scotland is a good place to start.
Talk to a real person in Wishaw
If another driver hit you and you are not sure about your excess, start your claim online and someone from our Wishaw team will look at the details and explain your options. You can also message us on WhatsApp any time on 07788 266261, or call 01698 767 172 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm). Prefer email? Send your details to firstresponse@g4claims.net.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay my excess if the accident was not my fault?
If you claim on your own policy, usually yes. If the claim is made against the at-fault driver's insurer, you may be able to avoid it or recover it from them. It depends on the claim and your policy, and we'll explain it before anything is arranged.
Can I get my excess back after claiming through my own insurer?
Possibly. Some insurers try to recover their outlay, including your excess, from the other side. Tell us what has happened so far and we can check your existing claim.
Is my excess an uninsured loss?
Generally an excess is described as an uninsured loss, because your own insurance does not cover it. Whether and how it can be recovered depends on the circumstances.
Does it matter if I was partly at fault?
Yes. If fault is split or disputed, the options change and the excess may still apply. We'll be honest with you about where you stand.
Will using G4 Claims cost me anything?
In a non-fault claim we aim to recover the cost of our service from the at-fault insurer rather than charging you. It depends on your claim and policy, and we'll explain before you go ahead.
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different.