What is the car insurance deductible?

Before buying insurance for your car, we recommend that you analyze and compare several options. However, for your search to be effective, you need to know some important terms that could be confusing if you are not familiar with the insurance field. But don't worry, today we clarify some of your doubts, we will explain to you what is the deductible of the car insurancehow it works, what types of deductibles are there and how to choose the one that suits you best.

What does the deductible mean?

The deductible is the amount that an insured must assume and pay when he reports an accident to his insurer. But do all insurances include deductibles? Are all deductibles the same? The answer is no. In most cases, you will be able to choose whether or not to include a deductible in your insurance policy and you can also choose the amount of your deductible. And now you are wondering why to choose an insurance with deductible? Because you will pay less for your insurance, that is, if you choose to have a deductible in your policy, payments or your insurance premiums They will be lower and will also decrease as the amount of the deductible increases.

We can tell deductibles are used to share the risk between the policyholder and the insurance company. In other words, if you have a deductible in your policy, you will take on some financial responsibility, together with the insurer, in the event of an accident.

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What is the car insurance deductible?

An auto insurance deductible is the amount of money you agree to pay out of your own pocket to repair or replace your car after a car accident. or any incident that you need to report to your insurer. The amount of your auto insurance deductible will be determined with your insurance agent or insurer before taking on your policy.

How does the car insurance deductible work?

So that you can understand it better, we explain how a car deductible works through a very simple example. Let's say you have a deductible on your collision coverage of $ 400 and you have an accident that results in $ 2,000 in repair costs. In this case, you will have to pay $ 400 and the insurance company will have to pay $ 1,600.

Remember that, as a rule, you will have to pay the amount corresponding to your deductible every time you report a claim to your insurer.

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What types of auto insurance deductibles are there in the United States?

You probably already know that full coverage auto insurance is a package that includes different types of coverage with their respective deductibles (if you've decided to include them).

Liability insurance pays the other driver for injury and damage in the event of his fault in an accident. This type of coverage, which is usually the minimum auto insurance required in most US states, does not apply deductibles. But there are other coverages, such as full protection (all risks), collision, personal injury and property damage for uninsured drivers, for example, which include deductibles. (or at least the ability to include them to reduce the cost of coverage).

Comprehensive insurance and collision insurance are the two car coverages for which deductibles are applied most often. However, in some states you may also have a deductible to protect against personal injury or property damage from uninsured / uninsured motorists, in which case it will apply equally. We see:

Collision coverage deductible

Optional collision coverage covers vehicle damage caused by a collision with an object (e.g. post, railing, mailbox, building) when you are at fault. If you have chosen to include a deductible in your collision coverage, when you make a claim for damage to your vehicle, your chosen deductible will apply.

Comprehensive coverage deductible (all-risk insurance)

Comprehensive coverage provides protection against theft and damage to the vehicle caused by an accident other than a collision. This includes fires, floods, vandalism, hail, falling rocks or trees, and other accidents, such as running over an animal. If you make a claim for damage to your vehicle under this type of coverage, the applicable excess will normally apply.

Property damage allowance for uninsured / underinsured motorist

If you are involved in an accident with a driver without insurance or without sufficient coverage to compensate for damage to your car, or in the event of a road accident, you can file a claim with this type of coverage if you have purchased, at that time the relevant coverage will apply. deductible. However, Note that this type of coverage is not available in all states.

Personal Injury Protection Deductible

Depending on the state you live in, you may have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on your policy. This coverage helps you pay for your own medical bills and those of the passengers in your vehicle. It can also cover expenses related to lost wages. In case of PIP deductibles, they will apply when you make a claim with this type of coverage.

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Which car insurance coverage does not include a deductible?

Liability insurance does not apply a deductible. This is the coverage required in most states in the United States and helps cover injury and damage to the other driver's property if you are at fault in an accident.

When purchasing liability insurance, you will choose a specific amount of coverage based on the minimum auto insurance required in your state. Depending on the amount of coverage chosen, there will be maximum limits that the insurance company will pay the other party for a claim. As the liability coverage extends to third parties for injury or property damage caused by you, no deductible applies.

If you choose optional coverage such as roadside assistance or car rental refunds, the excess will also not apply. However, there may be coverage limits and limits on the number of claims you can submit for these add-ons.

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How to calculate the car insurance deductible?

As you already know, the higher the car insurance deductible, the lower the policy premiums. This is why it is generally recommended to choose high deductibles. However, you should consider your particular situation when making these calculations. You should only opt for a high deductible if you are sure you can afford it when an accident occurs with your vehicle.

You should also consider your driving record and the likelihood of filing a claim. If you choose a high insurance deductible, you are betting that you will not have any accidents. But if you've had them in the past and drive regularly on busy roads, you'll likely need to file a claim and pay the excess.

Before making your decision, remember to compare the rates of the car insurance you want to rent by including different deductible amounts. Only then will you be able to know if it is convenient for you to include high deductibles in your insurance.

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What is the average US auto insurance deductible?

Many drivers in the United States have full collision policies and deductibles of $ 500, but you can choose different amounts. Most companies offer $ 250, $ 500, $ 1,000, or $ 2,000 options; although you can also find deductibles of $ 0 or $ 100, for example.

It is important to know that full coverage and collision coverage do not have to coincide either. For example, you can have a full deductible of $ 100 and a collision allowance of $ 500, or a full deductible of $ 500 and a collision allowance of $ 1,000.

What is the car insurance deductible: Frequently Asked Questions

we have already explained what a deductible is, how it works, what types of deductibles exist in the United States and how to calculate them. Let's now take a look at some of the questions people ask most frequently on this topic.

How much is car insurance deductible?

As we explained earlier, the amount of a US car deductible can be set through your insurance agent or insurer. It is not a fixed amount, in fact you could choose not to have a deductible in the policy (obviously this will increase your insurance premium). To give you an idea, An average deductible in the United States for auto insurance is around $ 500. but because that's how the policyholder chooses it.

How to choose a car insurance deductible?

If you choose high deductibles in your auto insurance, you will pay a larger amount out of your own pocket when you report an accident, theft or any other type of accident to your insurer. However, you will pay less for the insurance premiums.

To choose the deductible amount you want for your policy you have to do your own calculations and analyze very well how much you would be willing to pay out of your own pocket when an event occurs with your vehicle and you must report it to the insurer.

When is the car insurance deductible paid?

You must pay the deductible every time you make a claim with the insurance company. If you have a car accident or your car suffers insured damage, you will need to pay the full deductible before the insurer intervenes.

How do I find out what my car's deductible is?

If you don't remember the deductible you included in your car insurance, you will have to read in detail the conditions and terms of your policy, remember that everyone is different. You can also request this information from your insurance agent.

What does it mean to have a collision deductible of $ 1,000?

If you have a $ 1,000 deductible, you will pay $ 1,000 out of your own pocket when you make a claim to your insurer for damage covered by your collision insurance. For example, if you make a claim for $ 5,500 for your car repair, you will pay $ 1,000 and the insurance company will pay $ 4,500.

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What if the car insurance deductible costs more than my repairs?

If your car insurance deductible is greater than the cost of the damage to your vehicle, you will pay the full cost out of your own pocket, as the insurer only covers damage that exceeds the amount of the deductible. In these cases, it may not be necessary to file an insurance claim.

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