Lowering your deductible means you pay less in the event of a claim. Here’s everything you need to know about lowering your deductibles, and what it means for your car insurance as a whole.
What is a Deductible?
A deductible is the amount you need to pay before your car insurance will start paying for claims. It’s what you pay “out of pocket” before your car insurance pays. A deductible is not the same as your insurance premium, which is what you pay to maintain your policy. You may have to pay your deductible every time you file a claim.
How Does a Deductible Work?
Deductibles typically apply to your non-liability coverage. Collision and comprehensive coverage are the most common types of insurance that are impacted by deductibles.
| Insurance Coverage Impacted by Deductibles |
| Collision |
| Comprehensive |
| Personal Injury Protection/Medical Benefits |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists |
Collision coverage pays for the cost to repair or replace your car after a collision with another vehicle or object.
Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car not related to a collision. This includes things like:
- Natural disasters and storms
- Fires
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Damages caused by hitting an animal
Other types of car insurance impacted by deductibles may include personal injury protection, medical payments coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Car insurance deductibles must be paid every time you file a claim. A deductible is your share of the responsibility to pay for a claim. After you pay your deductible, your car insurance company will pay the remainder of the expenses. For example, if your car suffers $2,000 in damages and your deductible is $500, you will pay $500 and your insurance will pay the remaining $1,500 to repair your car.
Your insurance will not pay for anything until the deductible is met. If the cost of the damage is below your deductible, you will be responsible for paying for the entire cost. For example, if your car suffers $400 in damages and your deductible is $500, your insurance will not pay for any of the repairs.
If you damage someone else’s car, your property damage liability coverage will pay for their repairs. You don’t pay a deductible for this liability coverage. If your own car is damaged as well, your collision coverage will pay for repairs after you pay your deductible.
Benefits of Lowering your Car Insurance Deductible
Your insurance premium is related to your deductible. A low deductible means you pay less in the event of a claim, but your overall insurance premium will be a little higher. A higher deductible means you pay more in the event of a claim, but you pay less on your premium.
There are advantages to having a low deductible. While you pay more each renewal, you pay less out of pocket when you file a claim. With a higher deductible, you risk spending more money on claims.
Glass damage is one of the most common car insurance claims made, so many insurers offer separate windshield deductibles. Often, these glass deductibles will be lower than a comprehensive deductible.
At Plymouth Rock you can select a $0 windshield deductible, which means you won’t have to pay to replace a windshield in a covered loss. Plymouth Rock also offers a $100 Glass Deductible option, which applies a $100 deductible for glass only claims.
How to Change Your Deductible
To change your deductible, contact your agent or insurance company to request the change. Plymouth Rock customers can view and edit their policy at any time online or on the Plymouth Rock mobile app.
There isn’t one right answer to choosing a deductible— it depends on your own financial situation. Consider the value of your vehicle and how much you are comfortable paying in the event of an accident.
When Can You Change Your Deductible?
You can change your deductible at any time. Typically, changes to your car insurance policy will take effect the next policy period.
If you have questions about car insurance deductibles, give us a call. One of our insurance experts will be happy to guide you through your coverage options.
