What is the average deductible for car insurance?

Asked by: Garrett Auer II  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.5/5 (62 votes)

The average car insurance deductible is $500. Not every type of car insurance uses a deductible. The higher your car insurance deductible is, the lower your car insurance premium will be. If you're at-fault in a collision, you can't avoid paying your deductible.

Is a $2000 deductible high car insurance?

For most policyholders, a $2,000 comprehensive deductible will likely be much higher than they need. What these numbers don't show is the whole range of claims filed, so there will be outliers with much lower and much higher claim amounts.

Is a 250 deductible good for car insurance?

Depending on your financial circumstances, it may be better to stick with a lower deductible — even one as low as $250 — which will save you money in the event of an accident that results in a claim.

What is considered a good deductible for car insurance?

Although $1,000 is often considered an average deductible, it's becoming more common for individuals to mitigate their risk by opting for lower deductibles of $500 or even $250.

Is it better to have a $500 deductible or $1000?

A $1,000 deductible is better than a $500 deductible if you can afford the increased out-of-pocket cost in the event of an accident, because a higher deductible means you'll pay lower premiums. Choosing an insurance deductible depends on the size of your emergency fund and how much you can afford for monthly premiums.

Insurance Deductible Explained! | Car Insurance 101

20 related questions found

Is a 500 deductible good?

It's best to have a $500 collision deductible unless you have a large amount of savings. Remember, this deductible amount has to be paid every time you make a collision claim.

Is it better to have a low deductible or high deductible?

Key takeaways. Low deductibles are best when an illness or injury requires extensive medical care. High-deductible plans offer more manageable premiums and access to HSAs. HSAs offer a trio of tax benefits and can be a source of retirement income.

How can I lower my car insurance deductible?

Listed below are other things you can do to lower your insurance costs.
  1. Shop around. ...
  2. Before you buy a car, compare insurance costs. ...
  3. Ask for higher deductibles. ...
  4. Reduce coverage on older cars. ...
  5. Buy your homeowners and auto coverage from the same insurer. ...
  6. Maintain a good credit record. ...
  7. Take advantage of low mileage discounts.

What does a 500 dollar deductible mean for car insurance?

After you pay the car deductible amount, your insurer will cover the remaining cost to repair or replace your vehicle. Example: You have a $500 deductible and $3,000 in damage from a covered accident. Your insurer will pay $2,500 to repair your car, and you'll be responsible for the remaining $500.

Should I pay deductible if not at fault?

You do not have to pay a car insurance deductible if you are not at fault in a car accident. ... You will have to pay a deductible for collision coverage and personal injury protection, but your insurance company will eventually recoup your costs through subrogation with the at-fault driver's insurer.

Do I have to pay my deductible to fix someone else's car?

What if I hit another car? If you hit a car and are found at fault, you won't have to pay a deductible for your insurance to cover the other driver's damage. ... You only pay a deductible if you're at fault and need repairs to your own car.

What is a 1 000 deductible car insurance?

If you have a $1,000 deductible, you will pay $1,000 out of pocket if you have an approved claim covered under collision. For example, if you file a claim for $5,000 worth of repairs, you will pay $1,000 and the insurance company will pay $4,000.

What is a good comprehensive deductible?

Typically, insurance agents recommend that your comprehensive deductible be between $100 and $500. Comprehensive claims tend to be filed for less damage than collisions, so having a lower deductible is often logical.

Will I get my deductible back?

Your insurance company will pay for your damages, minus your deductible. Don't worry — if the claim is settled and it's determined you weren't at fault for the accident, you'll get your deductible back.

How do I get my deductible waived?

How to Get Your Car Insurance Deductible Waived?
  1. You have broad collision coverage. If you have broad collision coverage you may be able to have your deductible waived: ...
  2. You have purchased a car insurance deductible waiver. ...
  3. The other driver is uninsured. ...
  4. You need to repair a crack in your windshield or windows.

Do you have to pay car insurance deductible upfront?

According to AutoInsuranceQuote, some insurance companies do not require you to pay your deductible up front. ... That is the amount of your claim minus your deductible. In this case, you will not need to pay your deductible before having any repairs done.

Which is a type of insurance to avoid?

Avoid buying insurance that you don't need. Chances are you need life, health, auto, disability, and, perhaps, long-term care insurance. But don't buy into sales arguments that you need other more costly insurance that provides you with coverage only for a limited range of events.

How much should your collision deductible be?

A collision insurance deductible is the amount of money you will pay for car repairs before your insurance coverage is applied, and it typically ranges from $100 to $1,000. If repairs cost more than the deductible, your insurance will pay the difference, up to the policy's limit.

How do I choose a deductible?

You get to choose your deductible when you buy your policy. Policies with lower deductibles have higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs if you file a claim. And policies with higher deductibles have lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs if you file a claim.

Is a $0 deductible good?

Is a zero-deductible plan good? A plan without a deductible usually provides good coverage and is a smart choice for those who expect to need expensive medical care or ongoing medical treatment. Choosing health insurance with no deductible usually means paying higher monthly costs.

What is considered a low deductible?

Consequently, a plan qualifies as a LDHP if it has a deductible of less than $1,400 for an individual or $2,800 for a family. While HDHPs have higher deductibles than LDHPs, there's a reward for taking on more risk. HDHPs typically have lower monthly premiums than LDHPs.

What does it mean when you have a 5000 deductible?

The $5,000 deductible option means your health plan benefits kick in after you pay $5,000 out of your own pocket. You can: (1) choose your coinsurance, (2) choose your office visit copay, and (3) choose your prescription drug benefits to create a plan just for you or for your whole family.

What does a 250 dollar deductible mean?

$250 Deductible: When you live paycheck-to-paycheck and don't have much savings. When you choose a $250 deductible, your out-of-pocket costs stop at $250 after a loss that requires an insurance claim. Your insurance company covers your loss, minus the $250 that represents your deductible.

Why is my deductible so high?

Why so high? Typically when you have a health insurance plan with a low monthly premium (the monthly payment), you'll have a higher deductible. This means you won't be paying a lot for your monthly bill, but if you need to use your insurance, you'll have to pay for medical expenses until you reach your deductible.

Should you have full coverage on a 10 year old car?

Between 10 and 15 years after a vehicle's model year, full coverage is a poor investment. While the cost of full coverage by itself likely won't be more than what a car is worth, the cost of insurance is more likely to be higher than the value of the car after an accident.