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You can avoid paying your car insurance deductible for vehicle repairs by not filing a claim at all or by getting the mechanic to waive the deductible, which is possible but highly unlikely. In some cases, your insurer may also waive your comprehensive deductible for glass damage specifically.
Otherwise, if you are filing a car insurance claim with a type of coverage that has a deductible, you have to pay it.
How to Avoid Paying Your Car Insurance Deductible
1. Ask your mechanic to waive it.
Though it is unlikely they will, your mechanic does have the ability to waive your deductible. By allowing you to not pay your deductible, your mechanic would be agreeing to receive less than they should for the cost of the repairs.
2. Get it waived for windshield repair or replacement.
In some states, insurance companies are not allowed to require a deductible for windshield replacement claims. In other states, insurance companies are required to offer full glass coverage, which waives or reduces your deductible for glass claims.
3. Don't file the claim.
It is not worthwhile to file a claim if the cost to repair your vehicle is less than the cost of the deductible for the claim. Filing a claim for a small amount could also lead to an increase in your insurance premium.
4. Purchase a vanishing deductible policy.
A vanishing deductible is a policy feature offered by a few insurance companies that decreases your deductible over time as long as you remain violation-free, accident-free, and/or claim-free, depending on your insurer. With most insurers that offer it, the vanishing deductible will apply to your collision and comprehensive insurance deductibles.
5. Drive safely and do not cause accidents.
If you are in an accident and another driver is at fault, your costs will be covered by their liability insurance, which doesn’t require you to pay anything out of pocket.
If you choose to use your collision insurance or personal injury protection to cover immediate costs while fault is being determined, you will have to pay your deductible. However, your insurance company will try to recoup your costs from the at-fault driver’s insurer.
What To Do If You Can’t Afford Your Car Insurance Deductible
If you want to file a claim but cannot pay your deductible, you have a few options. You can set up a payment plan with the mechanic, put the charge on a credit card, take out a loan, or save up until you can afford the deductible. Depending on your state and insurance company, you could have anywhere from 30 days to a few years to file a car insurance claim after an accident.
Because it’s almost impossible to avoid paying your car insurance deductible in situations where it actually applies, it’s important that you pick a deductible amount you can afford. To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to car insurance deductibles.
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If you can’t pay your car insurance deductible, you won’t be able to file a car insurance claim to have vehicle damage or medical bills paid for by your insurance company. Instead, you will need to set up a payment plan with a mechanic, take out a loan, or save up until you can afford the deductible. On the other hand, in the case of an accident that you did not cause, you can immediately...
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