A voluntary excess is an amount which you can choose to pay towards a claim when you are purchasing your policy. The voluntary excess you choose may influence your total premium price.
A compulsory excess is set by your insurer upon quotation and is non-negotiable. The total compulsory excess can vary as it's dependent on a number of factors, such as the policy type, your vehicle or your age.
Your total excess, which is the voluntary and compulsory excess combined, is the amount you would need to pay in the event of a claim. For example, if your policy has a compulsory excess of £200 and a voluntary excess of £200, you would need to pay £400 towards the costs of the claim.
Before purchasing your policy, you should always consider whether you can afford the total excess  should you need to make a claim.