The average cost of a policy excess has soared since 2008, according to research by Defaqto.
Defaqto studied the excesses on standard travel, motor, buildings and contents insurance policies.
The research showed that a quarter of motor policies in 2008 charged an excess of more than £75 for replacing the windscreen, compared to almost half in 2011.
In 2008 less than a third of home insurance policies had a standard excess of £100 or more, compared to half today, the research said.
Defaqto insurance analyst Mike Powell said consumers were making a mistake by focusing on premium price above cover level.
"The price comparison websites have come along and educated the consumer that price seems to be the most important factor when it really isn't," he said.
"You need to know what the excess levels are because, when it comes to a claims stage, if you don't understand that you've got, for example, a £250 excess, that would be a lot of money to find."
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said it gets hundreds of complaints about excess charges every year.
No comments yet