What's a good deductible for auto insurance?

A collision insurance deductible is the amount of money that a driver must pay out-of-pocket when filing a collision insurance claim. Collision insurance pays to repair or replace a car damaged in an accident, and a driver must pay their collision deductible before their insurance company will cover the remaining costs.... read full answer

Collision Deductible Example

Say you are at fault in an accident that causes $10,000 in damage and you have a collision deductible of $1,000. You are responsible for covering your $1,000 collision deductible out-of-pocket in order for your insurance company to pay the remaining $9,000.

Collision Deductible Amounts

Collision deductibles typically range from $100 to $1,000, and you select your deductible amount when you purchase your policy. The higher your deductible, the cheaper your premium will be. Although it’s tempting to get a higher deductible in order to pay less upfront, you should only choose a deductible that you can afford to pay if your car is suddenly damaged in an accident.

A good comprehensive deductible is an amount that the policyholder can afford to pay if their vehicle is suddenly damaged by something other than a car accident, such as vandalism or a natural disaster. Comprehensive insurance deductibles typically range from $100 to $1,000, but they can sometimes be as high as $2,500. You choose your ... read full answerdeductible when you purchase your policy, and the higher the deductible is, the lower your premium will be.

Comprehensive Deductible Example

As a reminder, a comprehensive deductible is the amount that you have to pay out-of-pocket when filing a comprehensive insurance claim. For example, if a hailstorm causes $5,000 in damage to your car and you have a $1,000 deductible, your insurance company will only pay $4,000 for the repairs.

How to Choose Your Comprehensive Deductible

Before you decide on a deductible, you should consider how likely you are to file a comprehensive claim. If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters or has a high crime rate, for instance, it may be a good idea to get a low comprehensive deductible.

A collision deductible waiver helps drivers save money on their deductible after an accident with an uninsured driver. Collision damage waivers typically apply only to accidents where an identified driver without insurance is completely at fault. A notable exception is California, where collision deductible waivers can be used in hit-and-run accidents. ... read full answer

When a Collision Deductible Waiver Is a Good Idea

Collision deductible waivers are similar to uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) insurance, so a waiver is usually redundant if you are already required by your state to have UMPD. In states where UMPD is optional or unavailable, collision deductible waivers can be a great alternative for the same type of coverage. However, keep in mind that you cannot purchase a collision deductible waiver without collision insurance.

Collision Deductible Waiver Cost

The cost of a collision deductible waiver is usually less than $50 for your entire policy term. Although collision deductible waivers can only be used in a limited number of situations, their low cost means they are a good investment if you want to avoid any out-of-pocket expenses in the event that you’re hit by an uninsured motorist.

Finally, it should be noted that collision deductible waivers are different from collision damage waivers, which are sold by rental car companies to cover damage to their vehicles.