There are two main types of contents insurance excess:
Compulsory contents insurance excess is the amount that is set out in your policy and your insurer will ask you to pay if you decide to make a claim. This amount should always be considered when looking at contents insurance quotes.
Voluntary contents insurance excess is anything you add to the compulsory amount. The more you pay when and if you make a claim, the less you will pay in premiums.
The majority of insurers will offer consumers the chance to raise their voluntary excess payments. It all starts getting a little more complicated when it is discovered that most insurance companies may vary the level of excess for different items in your contents insurance policy.
An example of this would be a company asking for £100 in compulsory contents insurance excess for accidental damage but a higher rate of excess for emergency cover.
Working out how much excess you are going to pay involves thinking carefully about whether you are likely to be able to afford to pay a higher cost when making a claim. Another question is whether you will make a claim for small damages, which could affect or repairs or pay for them yourself.
Contents insurance excess is not the only thing to consider when surveying contents insurance quotes, but it is an important element of getting a manageable policy that still provides the cover that is needed.