Excess or not - car insurance

[Ilkleymoor]

Getting my first ever car insurance - one friend has recommended to go zero excess and another to do £250 excess. Second option gives much cheaper insurance but is first friend more sensible? Help!

(Car is just for social, I'm late 30s)

Think what you can afford! If you crash, can you access the excess? I usually put mine about £150

You will definitely pay the increased premium but only might pay the excess. However you need to be able to afford the excess. Mine is £400 but I can access that if needed. Over the years I've saved a lot more than that than if I'd had £0 excess.

Good way of thinking about it, thanks. I can definitely access that amount. Thanks for the help!

Put what you can afford to pay if you crash, worth it for the cheaper policy and hopefully you won't have to pay out for any excess anyway

I have a high excess because the risk of getting in an accident is low and I'll always be able to pay it using a credit card if I need to. I've saved more by having a high excess for many years which I haven't needed to pay then I have by paying more for a lower excess.
I'd set it at the highest you could always find the money for.

Same as other replies.
I've been driving a long time. What I've saved in premiums by having higher excess, if I'd put it aside each year would run into thousands of £££.
Of course, all insurance is about calculating risk. If you had an accident tomorrow you'd wish you'd gone for a lower excess, but, longer term unless you are likely to be having accidents every year you will save more with higher excess, as long as you can put your hands on the excess if you needed to.

@Kite22 - th friend wth zero excess doesn't have regular accidents so maybe she's just incredibly cautious. Thanks for th clear up, will stick with 250