StateCover Guide
Glossary

Deductible

By Editorial team, last reviewed

Quick answer

A deductible is the amount of a covered loss you pay out of your own pocket before your insurance pays. In car insurance it applies mainly to coverage for your own car, collision and comprehensive, and the insurer usually subtracts it from the claim payment.

How it works

Example: your car has $2,000 of covered collision damage and your deductible is $500. The insurer pays $1,500, and you pay the first $500, usually directly to the repair shop.

  • Choosing an amount: a higher deductible lowers your premium, but you pay more when you claim. A useful test is whether you could cover the deductible from savings after a crash.
  • Separate amounts: collision and comprehensive can have different deductibles, and the deductible applies to each claim.
  • Claims against someone else: you do not pay a deductible when you claim against another driver's insurance company. If you use your own coverage instead, your deductible applies.

Your deductibles are listed next to each coverage on your declarations page.

Sources

Last reviewed by the StateCover Guide editorial team. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.