StateCover Guide
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Car insurance deductible chooser

By Editorial team, last reviewed

Quick answer

A higher deductible is worth it when the yearly premium saving pays back the extra amount you would pay in a claim within a few years, and when you could pay that higher deductible tomorrow without borrowing. Enter two quotes from the same insurer that differ only in the deductible, and the chooser does the arithmetic for you.

Key facts

FactDetail
Which coverages have a deductibleMainly collision and comprehensive (and sometimes uninsured motorist property damage)
What a higher deductible doesLowers your premium, raises what you pay in each claim
Break-even timeExtra deductible ÷ yearly premium saving
What the chooser needsTwo deductibles, the two yearly premiums and, optionally, your available cash
Average collision claim (2022)$7,191

Compare your deductibles

Use two real quotes from the same insurer that differ only in the deductible. Your numbers stay in your browser address bar; nothing is stored.

Collision or comprehensive claims you expect in the next 5 years

How to compare two deductibles

  1. Ask your insurer, or check your online account, for two quotes that are identical except for the collision and comprehensive deductible.
  2. Write down the yearly premium for each. If you pay monthly, multiply the monthly payment by 12.
  3. Subtract the cheaper premium from the more expensive one to get your yearly saving.
  4. Subtract the lower deductible from the higher one to get the extra you would pay in each claim.
  5. Divide the extra deductible by the yearly saving. That is how many claim-free years it takes to come out ahead.
  6. Check that you could pay the higher deductible from savings today, then decide.

A worked example

For example, suppose a policy costs $1,000 a year with a $500 deductible and $900 a year with a $1,000 deductible. The higher deductible saves $100 a year and costs $500 more in each claim, so it takes five claim-free years to break even. If the same quotes were $1,000 and $800, the saving would be $200 a year and the break-even time two and a half years, which is a much better deal. These numbers are only to show the arithmetic; your quotes will differ.

When a higher deductible makes sense

  • You have an emergency fund that could cover the higher deductible without borrowing.
  • You rarely make claims and would not claim small repairs anyway.
  • The premium saving is large compared with the extra deductible, so break-even comes quickly.
  • Your car is older, so you might drop collision soon anyway; see reviewing your coverage.

When a lower deductible is safer

  • You could not pay the higher deductible tomorrow, or you would need a credit card to do it.
  • You drive a lot, park on the street or live where hail, theft or flooding is common.
  • The insurer offers only a small saving for the higher deductible.
  • Your lender requires a maximum deductible on a financed or leased car; check your loan papers.

Deductibles and claim costs

Repairs have become expensive. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners found the average collision claim rose from $6,113 in 2021 to $7,191 in 2022. With claims that large, the deductible is often a small share of a big repair, which is another reason to choose a deductible you could actually pay. Read more in how to choose a car insurance deductible.

Frequently asked questions

Is a $1,000 deductible better than $500?

It is better when the yearly saving pays back the extra $500 within a few claim-free years and you could pay $1,000 from savings. Use your own quotes in the chooser to check.

Do I pay the deductible if the crash was not my fault?

Usually not when the other driver's insurer pays your claim. If you claim through your own collision coverage first, you may pay the deductible and get it back if your insurer recovers the money from the other driver's insurer.

Does liability insurance have a deductible?

Liability coverage normally has no deductible; deductibles mainly apply to collision and comprehensive.

Can I have different deductibles for collision and comprehensive?

Often yes. Many insurers let you choose them separately, so you can keep a lower comprehensive deductible and a higher collision one, for example.

Will raising my deductible lower my monthly payment?

It usually lowers the collision and comprehensive part of the premium. Ask for both quotes to see exactly how much.

Does the chooser store my numbers?

No. The numbers appear only in the page address while you use it and are not saved.

Sources

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