Protect Your Motor Insurance with ALA Excess Cover for Cars, Vans, and Motorhomes

If you’ve ever had to make a claim on your vehicle insurance, you’ll know that the excess (your contribution towards each claim) can be a significant expense. Whether you drive a petrol hatchback, an electric SUV, a contract hire van, or a motorhome for touring holidays, excess charges apply across most standard motor insurance policies.

To protect yourself from unexpected out-of-pocket costs, ALA’s Excess Insurance is a practical and affordable solution. This specialist policy reimburses your voluntary and compulsory excess in the event of a claim, offering peace of mind across a range of vehicle types. This article explains which vehicles are eligible and how to choose the best policy for your needs.

What Is Excess Insurance?

Excess insurance, also known as excess protection or an excess waiver, serves as a financial safety net. It works by reimbursing the total excess amount you pay when making a claim on your motor insurance.

All UK motor insurance policies include two types of excess:

• Compulsory excess: a set amount determined by your insurer.
• Voluntary excess: an optional contribution you agree to pay in exchange for lower premiums.

Choosing a higher voluntary excess can help reduce your insurance costs, but it also means you’ll have more to pay in the event of a claim. That’s where excess insurance comes in handy.

Which Vehicles are Eligible for ALA Excess Cover?

ALA’s excess protection policies are available for a wide range of personal and business vehicles. These include:

1. Cars (petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles)

Whether you drive a petrol, diesel, hybrid, or fully electric vehicle, you can be eligible for excess cover with ALA. These policies are designed for privately owned or leased cars used for personal or commuting purposes. If you’re using a temporary hire car, you’ll need a different kind of excess cover.

What’s Covered:

• All car fuel types, including electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
• Voluntary and compulsory excess on your primary insurance.
• Claims involving own-fault, no-fault, and third-party incidents.

Important Considerations:

• The vehicle must be roadworthy and comprehensively insured.
• Excess cover excludes taxis, courier vehicles, or cars used for hire and reward. Explore the full list of excluded vehicles in our excess cover explained guide.

If you’re a new driver, under 25, or have a limited no-claims discount, setting a higher excess is a simple way to reduce your monthly expenses, but it can leave you with a considerable bill to pay when you need to claim. Car insurance excess cover is a smart option for covering large and small excesses – policies start at £23.86.

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2. Vans and Pick-Ups

Vans and pick-up trucks, commonly used for commercial and fleet purposes, often come with higher excess fees due to the increased cost of repairs, their higher value, and the risks associated with business use.

Why Is Excess Cover Helpful?

• Vans and pick-ups are typically more expensive to repair or replace.
• They’re often used more frequently, parked on streets, or carrying valuable tools, all of which increase the risk of theft, vandalism, or accidental damage.
• Excess fees can vary depending on the driver; young drivers usually face significantly higher excesses.
• It covers contract hire vans or privately owned vans, or pick-ups used for commercial or domestic purposes.

What’s Not Covered:

• Temporary hire vans or hire and reward vehicles
• Buses (including minibuses), coaches or HGVs
• Courier and delivery vehicles
• Emergency or recovery vehicles
• Tuition or competition vehicles

ALA’s flexible cover is ideal for sole traders, small businesses, and commercial fleet drivers looking for added protection without increasing their base insurance premium. This can be especially costly if you’re insuring multiple vehicles.

3. Motorhomes

Motorhomes and campervans are becoming increasingly popular for travel and leisure. However, due to their size, weight, value and unusual contents, they often carry higher insurance excess fees.

Benefits of Excess Insurance for Motorhomes:

• Helps avoid large financial losses in case of damage, theft, or write-offs.
• Makes long-term touring more financially secure.
• Offers international excess reimbursement as long as it’s covered by your comprehensive insurance.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Motorhomes must be comprehensively insured
• They must not be used as permanent residences
• Converted vans used for leisure purposes need to be insured under a motorhome insurance policy

What’s Not Covered:

• Temporary campervan rentals
• Minibuses or people carriers (over 7 passengers)

ALA offers motorhome owners a way to enjoy peace of mind during their adventures, knowing that excess fees can be recouped before they derail travel plans. Moreover, a single policy can cover multiple claims until your policy limit is reached.

How Does ALA Excess Cover Work?

Once your motor insurance claim is approved, you’re usually required to pay the excess before repairs can begin. With an ALA policy in place, you simply submit your excess receipt and claim back the cost, up to your selected policy limit. Excess cover is only available for insurance claims in excess of your set amount.

Features of ALA Excess Insurance:

• Policy limits range from £250 to £2,000.
• Policies start at just £23.86
• Covers both voluntary and compulsory excess.
• Annual cover with unlimited claims (within the policy limit).
• Rapid reimbursement after your claim is validated.
• Applies to own-fault and uninsured driver claims.
• Covers personal and up to class 3 business use

You can buy excess insurance online in just a few minutes. After the 30-day cooling-off period, your policy will be active and ready to protect your finances in the event of the unexpected.

Why Choose ALA

• Trusted UK broker with a 4.9-star Trustpilot rating
• FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected
• No age or mileage restrictions
• Free cancellation and refund within the 30-day cooling-off period
• No admin fees for mid-policy changes or claims

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cover multiple drivers with one policy?

Yes. ALA excess insurance covers all named drivers on your vehicle’s insurance policy, making it perfect for families, shared vehicles, or businesses with multiple users. Any claim relating to an unnamed driver won’t be covered.

Does excess cover work abroad?

If your comprehensive vehicle insurance includes international cover, your ALA excess policy will remain valid while driving abroad.

What if my excess exceeds my policy limit?

You’ll be reimbursed up to your limit. If your selected policy doesn’t provide enough coverage, you can cancel within 30 days and choose a more suitable policy limit.