Aviva has introduced an excess reduction of up to £200 for Minifleet customers with policies traded on its Fast Trade platform, with £100 available for early notification of claims and a further £100 for choosing an approved repairer.
Available to both new business and renewal customers, the enhancement aims to improve the speed and outcome of commercial motor claims while helping manage overall costs. It builds on a February 2026 expansion of the Minifleet proposition, which allows brokers to place up to 20 vehicles at new business and 30 at mid-term or renewal.
The move is intended to support brokers in delivering stronger claims outcomes for their SME customers. Aviva's latest Broker Barometer, based on a Censuswide survey of 250 UK general insurance brokers conducted in January and February 2026, found that faster claims settlement was brokers' single most cited priority for insurers, named by 46% of respondents ahead of faster quotes and greater use of AI and automation.
The emphasis on claims speed comes as commercial motor costs continue to rise. EY has projected that UK motor insurers will pay out £1.01 for every £1 of premium earned in 2025, rising to £1.11 in 2026, while analysts including PKF Littlejohn have warned of margin erosion in commercial motor and property lines.
The ABI's latest quarterly data illustrated the scale of the challenge facing motor insurers.
Of the £2.9 billion insurers paid out in motor claims in the first quarter of 2026, £1.9 billion was for vehicle repairs, up 3% on the previous quarter, with the average accidental damage claim rising 8% to £3,699. The ABI attributed the increase to higher parts prices and growing vehicle complexity, as sensors, cameras and other driver assistance technology push up the cost of even minor repairs.
Against that backdrop, insurers with direct control over repair networks, such as Aviva's Solus operation, have an added incentive to route more claims through owned or approved capacity, where costs and turnaround times can be more closely managed.
Meanwhile, the updated proposition incentivises early notification, with a £100 excess reduction available when incidents involving another vehicle are reported by the end of the next calendar day.
To qualify, reports should include key details such as how the incident occurred, the other driver's name, contact details and registration, alongside photos or witness information where available. Providing clear information quickly can support faster liability decisions and a smoother claims journey.
A further £100 excess reduction is available when customers use Aviva's approved repair network, including its wholly owned Solus repair centres or one of more than 670 approved repairers and commercial large vehicle networks managed through strategic partner Vizion.
Solus, which operates around 21 UK sites with more planned, is one of only two insurer-owned repair networks in the UK market. Aviva says the network allows it to manage the repair journey end to end, from booking through to return, with commercial repairs completed on average up to 50% faster than the market average and savings of £1,100 per claim.
Brokers and customers can track progress through dedicated claims handling teams, Claims Relationship Leads and Aviva's online claims tracking service.
The enhancement follows a broader push by Aviva to strengthen its commercial claims proposition, including recent growth in its loss adjuster team, now able to handle more than three-quarters of property claims requiring assessment, often within 24 hours, and the acquisition of DisasterCare, which added flood prevention, mitigation and recovery expertise through the National Flood School.
Chris Whiting, head of SME optimisation at Aviva, said the update gives customers "a simple way to lower their excess at a time when cost is a real focus," while helping vehicles and businesses get back on the road faster. He described Aviva's wholly owned repair network as "a genuine market differentiator" that gives brokers a stronger proposition for both retaining existing business and winning new accounts.
The Minifleet proposition has evolved over more than a decade in response to broker feedback, reflecting the wider trend among UK commercial insurers of tying pricing incentives to claims behaviour as repair and replacement costs continue to climb.
