Claims how-to
How car insurance excess works
By Sipho Dlamini · 6 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
- Basic excess
- Compulsory amount set by the insurer per claim
- Voluntary excess
- Extra you agree to pay to lower your premium
- Additional excess
- Added for young or unlisted drivers, etc
- Excess waiver
- Optional add on that reduces or removes excess
Excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before your insurer covers the rest. In South Africa it usually combines a basic (compulsory) excess set by the insurer with any voluntary excess you chose to lower your premium, plus additional excesses for things like young or inexperienced drivers.
Understanding excess matters because it directly affects how much cash you need when you claim. A low premium with a high excess can be a nasty surprise at claim time.
This guide explains each type of excess, how they stack, and how to manage what you will actually pay.
What excess means
Excess (sometimes called a deductible) is your share of a claim. If your car needs R30 000 of repairs and your excess is R5 000, you pay R5 000 and the insurer pays the rest. If a repair costs less than your excess, claiming makes no sense because you would pay the whole bill anyway and still affect your no claim bonus.
Basic or compulsory excess
This is the standard excess your insurer applies to most claims. It is often a fixed Rand amount or a percentage of the claim with a minimum, for example a typical range of a few thousand Rand up to higher amounts for expensive vehicles. It is set when you take out the policy and shown on your schedule. Always check this figure before you buy.
Voluntary excess
You can agree to pay a higher excess in exchange for a lower monthly premium. This works if you rarely claim and can cover the larger excess when you do. The trade off: a cheaper premium now, but more out of pocket if you have an accident. Only take a voluntary excess you could actually afford to pay on the day.
Additional and special excesses
Insurers add extra excesses in higher risk situations, such as:
- Young driver or inexperienced driver excess
- Unlisted or unnamed driver excess
- Excess for drivers under a certain age
- Specific excesses for theft, hijacking or windscreen claims
These stack on top of the basic excess, so a young driver claiming after a theft could face several excesses added together.
How excesses add up
On a single claim you may pay more than one excess. For example: basic excess plus a young driver excess plus an additional theft excess. Read your policy schedule so you know the worst case total. A useful question to ask before buying is: what is the maximum excess I could pay on a single claim?
Lowering your excess
Options to reduce what you pay:
- Buy an excess waiver or excess buster add on (this usually raises your premium)
- Avoid taking a high voluntary excess you cannot afford
- List all regular drivers so you avoid unlisted driver excesses
- In a no fault claim, claim against the at fault driver's insurer, where your excess may be recovered
Weigh the add on cost against how often you realistically claim.
Frequently asked questions
What does excess mean in car insurance?
Excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before your insurer pays the rest. If repairs cost R30 000 and your excess is R5 000, you pay R5 000 and the insurer covers the remaining R25 000.
What is the difference between basic and voluntary excess?
Basic (compulsory) excess is set by the insurer and applies to most claims. Voluntary excess is extra you choose to pay in exchange for a lower premium. They add together when you claim.
Can I have no excess on car insurance?
Some insurers offer an excess waiver or no excess option, usually for a higher premium. Without that, almost all accident and theft claims carry at least the basic excess.
Do I pay excess if the accident was not my fault?
You may still pay your excess upfront, but if the other driver was clearly at fault and insured, your insurer can recover the costs and refund your excess. Claiming against their insurer directly can avoid paying it at all.
Why is my excess so high?
Excess rises with extra layers such as young driver, unlisted driver or theft excesses, and with a high voluntary excess you chose to lower your premium. Check your schedule for all the excesses that could apply.
Is there excess on windscreen claims?
Often there is a smaller or separate windscreen excess, and some policies waive it for repairs rather than replacement. Check your specific policy wording.
Does paying excess affect my no claim bonus?
Paying excess is separate from your no claim bonus. The bonus is usually affected by whether you claim at all, not by the excess amount you pay.
