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How Auto Insurance Deductibles Work

In any type of insurance policy, a deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out-of-pocket until your insurance provider covers the rest. As it relates to auto insurance, you’ll pay a specific amount of money for an accident until your insurer assists you in covering the rest.  

In contrast to other forms of insurance, such as health insurance, there is not an annual deductible that you must hit when it comes to auto insurance. You simply pay an out-of-pocket cost related to an incident such as a repair or damage cost until you hit your deductible, and then your insurer will step in and help. For example, if you have an $800 deductible and a certain repair for your car costs $1,800, you will pay $800 and your insurer will cover the remaining $1,000.

Fast Stats About Deductibles

As it relates to auto insurance deductibles, there are some important things to know before getting an auto insurance policy:

• The average car insurance deductible is $500.
• Not every type of car insurance uses a deductible.
• The higher your car insurance deductible is, the lower your car insurance premium will be.
• If you’re at fault in a collision, you can’t avoid paying your deductible.
• Most drivers pay a deductible when they’re not at fault, but there are some exceptions.

In addition to the above points, there is additional information to educate yourself about before acquiring an auto insurance policy. Talk to one of our agents today to learn more about auto insurance deductibles and other important items of note related to the topic.

Selecting a Car Insurance Deductible
When figuring out the deductible you want to pay for your auto insurance policy, there are some aspects to consider beforehand. The primary aspect to consider might be how much you’d be willing or able to pay out-of-pocket for costs following an accident. Paying more for your deductible might also decrease your premium costs, which is something to consider when weighing out your options.

Deductibles for Auto Insurance Coverage
Knowing what benefits of your auto insurance policy require a deductible might help you decide how much you want to pay for it. Deductibles for auto insurance coverage typically look like the following:

• Liability Insurance: No Deductible
• Collision Insurance: Deductible
• Comprehensive Insurance: Deductible
• Personal Injury Protection: Deductible
• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage: No Deductible

• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage: Deductible
• Medical Payments Coverage: No Deductible
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance: Deductible

Please remember that every policy and insurer is different, so your specific policy may vary from the above details.  

When Do You Pay Your Deductible?
Generally, you pay your deductible for costs related to your car if you cause an accident or your car sustains other damage (e.g., hail damage). You would file a claim under your collision coverage and pay your deductible until you hit the amount required for your insurer to step in and assist you. If you cause an accident and damage someone else’s vehicle but not yours, you would file a claim under your liability coverage and then that would cover the other driver’s repair costs.

Deductibles are pretty straightforward, but they can be confusing when figuring out what type of costs fall under what types of coverages related to repairs or damages. It’s essential to educate yourself before figuring out what amount you want to pay for your deductible or premium. Our agents at Peachstate Insurance can help you learn more.

Learn More
To learn more about auto insurance, we can assist you. Our experienced agents at Peachstate Insurance have years of experience in Georgia and are willing to assist you in your decision. We can help you learn more about auto insurance deductibles so that you can make the best decision for yourself and your coverage. Contact us today at 877-997-2478 to learn more.