Why do I have to pay deductible when it's not my fault?
Asked by: Ms. Kaya Bernier | Last update: January 28, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (68 votes)
Should I pay deductible if not at fault?
Do I Have to Pay My Deductible if I'm Not at Fault? If you get into an accident and it's not your fault, the other driver's insurance company should pay for the damages, and you may not have to pay your deductible.
Who is responsible for paying the deductible?
Simply put, a deductible is the amount of money that the insured person must pay before their insurance policy starts paying for covered expenses.
Can you get your deductible waived?
In most situations, for coverages with a deductible, a deductible will apply - but there are some circumstances in which the deductible may be waived. For example, if you have comprehensive coverage and make a claim to repair windshield glass damage, then your deductible may be waived.
Do I have to pay my deductible if the accident wasn't my fault progressive?
If a driver hits you, your collision coverage will still cover the damage to your vehicle, but you won't have to pay your deductible. In some states, the driver must also be uninsured for a CDW to apply.
Car Insurance Deductible- Why Do I Have To Pay My Deductible If The Accident Wasn't My Fault?
How to avoid paying deductible?
- Choose not to file a claim until you have the money.
- Check your policy, as you may not have to pay up front.
- Work out a deal with your mechanic.
- Get a loan.
Is it better to have a $500 deductible or $1000?
Remember that filing small claims may affect how much you have to pay for insurance later. Switching from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible can save as much as 20 percent on the cost of your insurance premium payments.
Is waiving deductibles illegal?
Deductibles. It is illegal for a contractor to pay, waive, or discount your insurance deductible. It is insurance fraud if homeowners don't pay their deductible. Some contractors offer waived or discounted deductibles as a selling point to their customers.
Do I have to pay deductible if I was not at fault with Allstate?
Will I have to pay my deductible if I'm not at fault? It's possible, but we will do our best to recover the amount paid from the person responsible, including your deductible.
Do you always get your deductible back?
If their efforts are successful, in whole or in part, most companies will reimburse you in accordance with the recovery. For example, if 100 percent of the paid claim is recovered, you will receive 100 percent of your deductible; if the recovery is 65 percent, you will receive 65 percent of your deductible.
Should I file a claim with my insurance if I'm not at fault?
Always File a Claim, Regardless of Who Was At-Fault
One of the primary questions we receive from clients who have been in an accident is whether they should report the accident to their own auto insurance carrier, particularly when the accident was not their fault. And the answer to that question is: always.
Do you have to pay a deductible if someone hits your parked car?
With both collision and uninsured motorist property damage coverage, you may be responsible for paying a deductible before your insurance provider will help pay for the damage. Your coverage will also be subject to your policy limits, which is the maximum amount your insurance will pay for a covered claim.
Do I have to pay deductible if I was not at fault with Geico?
Let's say your vehicle is damaged due to another driver's negligence. Once GEICO settles your claim, we'll likely seek to recover your deductible, as well as the amount we paid, from the negligent party or that party's insurance company.
What happens when a car accident wasn't your fault?
The first step is to get the other party's car insurance information and then report the accident. You should call 911 or the police to respond to the scene. You must also report the accident to both your own insurer and theirs. Generally, this will start the claims process with the at-fault party's insurer.
Is deductible mandatory?
Depending on your policy, and the types of coverages you have, a deductible may be required. With an auto insurance policy, coverages like comprehensive and collision may require a deductible before said coverages apply in the event of a covered incident.
What if I can't pay my deductible health insurance?
Your healthcare provider can't waive or discount your deductible because that would violate the rules of your health plan. But they may be willing to allow you to pay the deductible you owe over time. Be honest and explain your situation upfront to your healthcare provider or hospital billing department.
Can my husband drive my car if he is not on my insurance?
Usually, yes. Your car insurance coverage should be able to extend to anyone else driving your car. Even if someone isn't listed on the policy, they can operate your vehicle. If you explicitly name someone as an excluded driver in your policy, however, none of this applies to them.
Can insurance deductible be waived?
The California Insurance Code requires insurers to offer a Waiver of Collision Deductible if you carry Collision Coverage on any of your motor vehicles and if you carry Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage.
What happens if you don t use all the money from an insurance claim?
If you don't use insurance money for repairs, the consequences depend on the terms of your insurance policy and the type of damage involved. For example, if your lender requires repairs on a financed home or vehicle, failing to use the funds as intended could violate your loan agreement.
Do you have to pay your deductible if you're not at fault?
If You're Not at Fault
You can wait for the at-fault driver's insurance to pay directly for the damage to your vehicle. While this option means you won't need to pay a deductible, it could take time for the other insurer to approve the claim, assess the damage, and arrange repairs.
How to get a roof replaced without paying the deductible?
No matter what you hear or what a roofing company says, you must pay your deductible for your insurance roof replacement once your claim is approved. Trying to avoid this leads to one of the biggest scams in the roofing industry. You'll hear some roofing companies offering to pay deductibles, but this is illegal.
What happens if I don't use my insurance money to fix my roof?
If you don't complete repairs or a replacement, however, your insurance provider will likely just decide to no longer cover your roof. This means if another storm deals further damage, you won't be covered and will have to pay for the replacement out of pocket.
What happens if my repairs cost less than the deductible?
What if my car repair costs less than my deductible? There may be times when your car insurance deductible is more than the cost of the damage to your vehicle. Unfortunately, in these cases, you'll need to pay for all repairs out-of-pocket. This is because insurance only pays for damages that are above your deductible.
What is a good deductible for collision insurance?
Most drivers choose a $500 auto insurance deductible, but policies with higher deductibles cost less. Choosing a plan with a higher deductible to get a lower insurance rate means higher out-of-pocket costs when filing a claim.
Do I have to pay deductible if I was not at fault state farm?
When another party is primarily at fault for your damages, State Farm may try to recover the amount of the claim paid for your loss. This is called subrogation. State Farm will try, to the extent that you're not liable for the accident, to recover all or a portion of the deductible you paid.