Insurance excess after a car accident
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Do I have to pay an excess after a car accident?
An excess is the amount you contribute when you claim. You generally pay it on an at-fault claim, and on a not-at-fault claim you often pay it up front and are refunded once your insurer recovers from the responsible party. Additional excesses can apply for young or inexperienced drivers, and they stack.
The excesses that stack
Most people know their basic excess. Fewer know that others can be added on top of it for the same claim.
- Basic excess — the standard amount on your policy
- Age excess — commonly for drivers under 25
- Inexperienced driver excess — for drivers without a full licence for a set period
- Unlisted driver excess — where the driver was not named on the policy
- Specific event excesses — for particular claim types set out in your policy
A young driver claim can carry two or three excesses at once. If someone else was driving your car, check which excesses apply before assuming the claim is worth making.
When you may not have to pay
- The other driver is identified and held responsible — many insurers waive or refund the excess.
- Windscreen cover, where your policy includes glass claims without an excess.
- Repairs at a nominated network repairer, where the policy reduces the excess for using one.
These depend entirely on your policy wording. Ask your insurer to confirm in writing whether your excess is waived, refundable, or payable regardless.
Is it worth claiming at all?
For small damage, compare the excess plus the likely effect on your no-claim discount against a written repair quote. Get the quote before deciding — modern bumpers with parking sensors and cameras cost far more to repair than they look like they should.
Even if you decide not to claim, check whether your policy still requires you to notify the insurer of the accident. Many do.
Common questions
Do I pay the excess to the insurer or the repairer?
It varies. Some insurers deduct it from the settlement, others have you pay the repairer on collection. Confirm which applies so you are not surprised at pick-up.
Will I get my excess back if I was not at fault?
Often, once your insurer recovers from the responsible party — but that can take months, and it depends on recovery succeeding. Ask your insurer to explain their process and expected timeframe.
Sources
Crash Guide checks state rules against primary government and regulator sources. If something below has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
- Car insurance — Moneysmart — ASIC MoneysmartChecked 10 September 2026
- General Insurance Code of Practice — Insurance Council of AustraliaChecked 10 September 2026
- Australian Financial Complaints Authority — AFCAChecked 10 September 2026