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Car insurance excess calculator

Enter your claim amount and excess details to see what you'd pay out of pocket — and what your insurer would cover.

Written by Lerato Molefe Personal Insurance Writer Reviewed by Nomsa Dlamini RE5 qualified · 12 years in short-term insurance Updated 28 July 2026 Our editorial standards →

This is an educational estimate based on the figures you enter — not a quote. Your policy schedule sets your exact excess structure, and some claims carry more than one excess. Always check your schedule.

Want a lower excess or a cheaper premium? Compare cover from South Africa's top insurers — free and with no obligation.

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How car insurance excess works

Your excess (or first amount payable) is the portion of a claim you cover yourself before the insurer pays the rest. Most South African car policies combine:

Basic excess — a fixed rand amount, a percentage of the claim, or "whichever is greater".
Additional excesses — extra amounts for a young, newly-licensed or unlisted driver, or for certain claim types.
Voluntary excess — an amount you choose to add in exchange for a lower monthly premium.

See our full car insurance excess guide, or if the accident wasn't your fault, read who pays the excess when you're not at fault.

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Frequently asked questions

How is car insurance excess calculated in South Africa?

Your total excess is usually a basic excess (a fixed rand amount or a percentage of the claim, whichever the policy states) plus any additional excesses — for example a higher excess for a young or unlisted driver — plus any voluntary excess you agreed to in exchange for a lower premium. You pay the total excess towards the claim and the insurer pays the rest.

Do I pay the excess if the accident wasn't my fault?

Usually you pay the excess first when you claim, even if you weren't at fault. If the other party is identified and liable, your insurer may recover the costs and refund your excess. If you're never at fault and the third party is known, ask your insurer about a no-fault excess waiver.

Does a higher excess lower my premium?

Yes. Taking a higher voluntary excess means you carry more of the risk, so insurers usually reward it with a lower monthly premium. The trade-off is that you pay more out of pocket if you claim, so choose an excess you could actually afford.