Auto Insurance Deductibles in 2025 (What it Means for Your Coverage)

What does a deductible mean for car insurance? Auto insurance deductibles are the amount you must pay before your coverage pays out a claim.

Deductibles affects rates, so consider a higher deductible for cheap auto insurance premiums if you can afford it.

Generally, drivers select their auto insurance deductible amount, but the most common deductible is $500. Picking the right deductible for your car insurance is crucial, so learn more about how to get auto insurance coverage.

Read on for a comprehensive auto insurance deductibles definition.

Then, enter your ZIP code above to find a deductible for car insurance in your area offering the best rates and coverage for you.

Car Insurance Deductible Explained

So, what is a car insurance deductible? Your deductible is an amount you agree to pay before your insurance kicks in. Think of it as risk-sharing — you and your insurance company have a financial stake in your car repairs.

Paying a deductible before your insurance takes over prevents drivers from making claims for minor events. Learn more about how to file an auto insurance claim and pay your car insurance deductible.

You might be able to adjust your deductible during your policy, but you can always change it when your insurance renews. The amount you select directly affects your car insurance rates. You might find it necessary to change your deductible when you need to save money.

So, when do you pay a car insurance deductible? Generally, your insurer will subtract your deductible amount from the settlement check before sending it to you.

Choosing a deductible is a simple task, but it’s an important decision that can have long-term effects on your insurance experience. So, knowing how a car insurance deductible works is important.

Now that you know the auto insurance deductible definition, we’ll explain how the deductible amount you choose impacts your car insurance rates.

How Your Auto Insurance Deductible Affects Rates

The deductible amount you choose is one of many factors that affect auto insurance rates — the lower your deductible, the higher your rates. Check out the table below to see how much you could pay for coverage based on your deductible amount:

Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Deductible Amount & Coverage Level

You should carefully consider the value of choosing a high deductible. High deductible car insurance offers the cheapest premiums, but you might not save that much compared to a slightly lower deductible.

While you can justifiably select a higher deductible if you have a history of being a safe driver, it might not be worth the risk.

When You Will and Won’t Pay a Car Insurance Deductible

When do you have to pay a deductible? You must pay a deductible for collision and comprehensive coverages, while coverages such as liability, roadside assistance, and rental car reimbursement generally don’t have deductibles.

On the other hand, you may need to pay a deductible for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection.

Most insurance companies don’t require you to physically pay your deductible. Instead, they subtract your deductible from the cost of your repairs. For example, if your car sustains $8,000 worth of damage, your company subtracts your comprehensive auto insurance deductible from the repair cost.

So, if you have a $2,000 car insurance deductible, your insurance company pays for $6,000 worth of repairs, making the remainder your responsibility.

Your deductible works the same, no matter what type of claim you need to make. Whether it’s liability, personal injury protection, custom parts and equipment, or any other type of coverage, deductibles will always work the same.

If you’re unsure how much your deductible should be, an insurance representative can help you choose the right amount.

Average Car Insurance Deductible Amount

How much deductible for car insurance can you get? You generally have options from your insurer for the amount your deductible will cost. Options vary by company and insurance type but usually fit most budgets.

Learn More: How to Pay Your Auto Insurance Deductible

Most insurance companies offer deductibles in amounts of $250, $500, $1,000, and $2,000.

So, what is the average car insurance deductible? Since deductibles are the part drivers must cover, the average deductible most people choose for car insurance is $500. A $500 deductible is an affordable amount to pay for car repairs and usually keeps your insurance rates relatively low.

How to Choose Your Auto Insurance Deductible

A top question readers ask is, “What deductible should I choose for car insurance?” The most important factor to consider when selecting a deductible is how much you can pay after an accident. 

According to Consumer Reports, raising your deductibles from $500 to $1,000 can cut 11% off your premium on average. While a high car insurance deductible will save you money on your monthly bill, not everyone is able to pay $2,000 after an accident.

However, your monthly rates also need to be considered. After all, what’s the point of having insurance if it’s too expensive?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a deductible, but here are a few to keep in mind:

• How much you can spend out of pocket on an emergency car repair
• The value of your car
• How much you can save by increasing your deductible
• Whether your loan or lease specifies how much your deductible should be

Another consideration is how much your deductible should be for different types of car insurance. For example, a deductible for collision auto insurance might be best kept low since accidents are fairly common and repairs can be expensive.

On the other hand, you might be safer choosing a higher deductible for coverages like personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance or medical payments.

How to Avoid Paying Car Insurance Deductible

In most scenarios, it’s difficult to avoid paying an auto insurance deductible since they come with most policies. However, you may be able to forgo a deductible payment if you:

• Have a Zero-Deductible Policy: Many of the best car insurance companies offer a $0 deductible, meaning you won’t pay anything at all before getting your payout. However, rates are much higher for a $0 deductible.
• Have Waiver of Deductible: With a waiver of deductible, you won’t pay your car insurance deductible if you get hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.
• Have Vanishing Deductible: Some providers have a vanishing deductible, where your deductible amount decreases for each year you go claims free, which could eventually get to $0 over time. (Learn More: How do vanishing or disappearing deductibles work?)
• Ask Your Mechanic: You could also receive a discount from your repair shop to help with the deductible, or they can work with your insurance company to cover the deductible cost.
• Don’t File a Claim: If your repair costs are less than or near your deductible amount, you could skip the claim altogether to avoid paying a deductible and higher rates.

Remember, with a vanishing deductible or waiver of deductible, you’ll likely pay higher rates for these services. You’ll also see higher rates if you opt for a $0 deductible.

However, considering these situations could help you avoid unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses after a car accident. Speak with your insurance company to figure out the best approach for your situation if you’re still unsure what to do.

Auto Insurance Deductible: Situations Where You Will and Won’t Need to Pay it

You may wonder, “How does an auto insurance deductible work in certain scenarios?” Whether you pay a deductible after an incident depends on the type of insurance you need to make a claim with.

Here are some examples on when you will and won’t have to pay a deductible:

• You won’t pay a deductible if you cause an accident but don’t damage your vehicle. The other driver will be making a claim on your liability insurance. However, your insurance rates will increase.
• If your car is damaged in an accident you cause, and you want to file a collision claim, you’ll have to pay the deductible. 
• If another driver strikes you, you won’t have to pay a deductible to file a claim against the other driver’s liability insurance. 

Things get a little more complicated if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run accident. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage will help pay for damage to your car if you have it, sometimes without the need for paying a deductible.

However, if you don’t have uninsured motorist insurance, you’ll have to rely on your collision auto insurance, which requires a deductible.

Find the Best Auto Insurance Policy With the Right Deductible Today

So, what is the car insurance deductible meaning? Your deductible is the amount you must pay before insurance pays out a claim. The average deductible for auto insurance is $500.

Your deductible amount is one of the most significant factors that affect auto insurance rates. However, while it can be tempting to choose the highest option to keep your rates down, ensure you can afford the car insurance deductible if you need to file a claim.

With our Deductible Fund, you pay less out of pocket following an accident. Learn more: https://t.co/xWNMaRF01j pic.twitter.com/3c1G0bSbxN

— Liberty Mutual (@LibertyMutual) September 8, 2016

When you need to save money, comparing quotes the best auto insurance companies might find you lower rates than raising your deductible. An insurance representative can help you determine how much you should choose for your deductible when you look at new companies.