What is an excess and who pays it?

How age affects excess depends on whether a driver is listed on your policy:

• For any driver listed on your policy, we take their age into account when calculating their excess
• If a driver under 25 isn’t listed on your policy, you will pay an additional excess called an undisclosed driver age excess.
• If a driver aged 25+ isn’t listed on your policy, you may pay an additional excess called an undisclosed driver excess, depending on the type of cover you have.

Special note for learner drivers:

For learner drivers, any excess related to a claim when the vehicle was driven by a learner driver is based on the excess of the supervising driver.

We cover anyone who drives your car, even if you haven't listed them on your policy.¹

However, your excess may be affected if a driver isn’t listed.

• An additional excess (known as an undisclosed driver excess) applies where a driver is 25 years of age or older and is not listed on your policy
• A higher additional excess (known as an undisclosed driver age excess) applies if the unlisted driver is under 25 years of age
• You won't have to pay either of these additional excesses if the driver is listed on your policy.

Special note for learner drivers:

You don't need to list learner drivers on your policy. Instead, we base any excess related to a claim when the vehicle was driven by a learner driver on the excess of the supervising driver. This excess may be higher if the supervising driver is not listed on your policy.

Things you should know

¹ Cover is subject to standard underwriting guidelines and policy terms.

For glass-damage-only claims (like windscreen damage), you don’t need to pay an excess if you:

• Have Comprehensive Plus
• Added no excess for glass damage to your policy
• Aren’t at fault, and you have the at-fault person’s details.

If you’re only claiming for glass damage, call our glass specialists on 1300 050 912.

We’ll talk to you about your options to pay your excess. It depends on the type of claim and how the claim will be settled.

We might ask you to pay your excess to the repairer or supplier that we've arranged to manage your claim. Or, we might deduct the excess from a settlement we pay you.

You can also pay your excess directly to us for your car insurance or your home insurance.

Our Loyalty Discount is being phased out and replaced with two new discounts: the Relationship Discount and the Multi-Product Discount. As you begin to renew your policies from 1 July 2024, you may become eligible for either or both discounts.

To find out more about the Relationship Discount and the Multi-Product Discount, please see the appropriate Premium, Excess and Discount Guide (PED).

You can increase your excess anytime, but you can only reduce it when your policy is up for renewal.

Changing your excess at renewal

• For car, home and landlord policies:
  1. Log in to your account
  2. Look for the policy and select Review renewal
  3. Navigate to the section titles Your excess
  4. Select Change vehicle excess
  5. Select an excess amount
  6. Save and update your policy
• For all other policies, call 132 132.

Changing your excess at other times

• For car, home, landlord, caravan, trailer and motorcycle policies:
  1. Log in to your account
  2. Select View policy
  3. Select View all details
  4. Scroll down to excess area
  5. Edit your excess
  6. Enter the date you want the change to start
  7. Select Update excess
  8. Click Submit.
• For all other policies, call 132 132.

When the damage to your car has been inspected, we can discuss the cost of repairs with you.

You can then decide if you'd like to proceed with the claim.

Damage caused by your pet is only covered if you selected the Pet Lover's Pack as an optional extra. The Pet Lover's Pack is being phased out, and won't be available as an option when you next renew.

For more information about what's covered, what's not and terms and conditions, read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) on our policy booklets page.

You don’t need to list learner drivers on your policy. Instead, we base any excess related to a claim when the vehicle was driven by a learner driver on the excess of the supervising driver. This excess may be higher if the supervising driver is not listed on your policy.