How do car insurance deductibles work?

Unlike health insurance, there are no annual deductibles to meet when it comes to auto insurance. You're responsible for your policy's stated deductible each time you file a claim. For example, if you total your car, your insurer will give you a payment for the vehicle's current value, minus your deductible. If your car is worth $35,000 and your deductible is $1,000, your insurer will pay you $34,000.

On the other hand, if the damage to your vehicle amounts to $800, and your deductible is $1,000, then your insurer will pay nothing, as they only cover damages above your deductible.

Comprehensive and collision are the two most common coverages that include deductibles. You may also have a deductible for personal injury protection or uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage in some states. Deductibles work exactly the same for all coverages.

What deductible should I choose for car insurance?

Deductible amounts typically range anywhere from $100 to $2,000. The most common deductible our drivers choose is $500, but know that there's never a wrong choice when selecting a deductible. It comes down to what you prefer:

Higher deductible = Lower car insurance rate and higher out of pocket costs

Lower deductible = Higher car insurance rate and lower out of pocket costs

Choose an amount you're comfortable with, but always consider the value of your vehicle. If your car is only worth $1,200, for instance, then it probably wouldn't make sense to choose a $1,000 deductible. Also, make sure you're able to afford your deductible in the event of a claim.

How likely are you to file a claim?

You might select a high deductible because you're betting against having an accident. Our data shows that 16% of our customers with comprehensive/collision coverage have a claim in a given year that would require them to pay their deductible. If you've had accidents in the past and you drive a lot on busier roads, you may be even more likely to file a claim.

If you live in a state where cracked windshields are common, you may want to choose a low deductible for windshield replacements. Depending on your state and insurer, you may have no deductible on glass replacement coverage or have the option to select a $0 deductible—which will increase your rate.

How will your deductible impact your price?

Based on paying $420 for collision coverage on a six-month policy, the chart shows examples of how adjusting a deductible can change the price. Increasing your deductible from $100 to $250 gives the biggest jump in savings, while going from $1,000 to $2,000 offers the lowest amount of savings.

When do you pay a car insurance deductible?

If your claim is approved, your deductible will be applied when your insurance company issues your payout. You won't ever have to write a check or make a payment to your insurer. They'll simply subtract your deductible amount from your claim's approved payout. So, if you have a claim approved for $5,000 and your deductible is $250, your insurance company will issue you a check for $4,750.

When you don't have to pay your deductible

A deductible won't apply to you in the following scenarios:

1. 1. An insured driver hits you

   If the other driver is officially deemed at fault, their insurance company can pay for your repairs if you choose, and you won't have to pay your deductible. Or, if you have collision coverage, you can choose to go through your own insurer who will seek reimbursement (including your deductible) from the other driver's insurance company. In situations where fault is shared, you may end up paying all or part of your deductible.

   Keep in mind, if you're hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, a deductible may apply to your uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage in certain states.

2. 2. Another person files a claim against your liability coverage

   There is no deductible on a liability claim. That means you pay nothing out of pocket for an accident claim in which your insurer pays for the damages and/or injuries you caused to another person, up to your policy's limits.

3. 3. You elected for no deductible

   In some states, you'll have the option to select a $0 deductible on your policy's comprehensive coverage.

4. 4. You have free repairs on glass claims

   At Safe House Insurance, in most states, if we can repair (instead of replace) any glass breakage, you won't have to pay your deductible.

Choose your deductible and get coverage from Safe House Insurance

New Safe House Insurance customers

Call 915-503-1207 or quote online and we can help you figure out the best deductible for each coverage.

Current Safe House Insurance customers

Log in to your policy or call us at 915-503-1207 and make changes to your existing deductibles, if necessary.

Blog By Progressive: https://www.progressive.com/answers/car-insurance-deductible/