In California, determining fault is crucial in deciding who ultimately pays the deductible. California follows a “fault” insurance system, meaning the driver responsible for causing the accident pays for the damages through their insurance company.
You typically pay your car insurance deductible after your car is fixed. Depending on your insurer and the situation, your insurer may pay the repair shop directly, minus your deductible — if that's the case, you'll need to pay the repair shop your deductible.
Deductible defined
A deductible is the amount of money that you are responsible for paying toward an insured loss. When a disaster strikes your home or you have a car accident, the deductible is subtracted, or "deducted," from what your insurance pays toward a claim.
You won't pay your deductible to the insurance company like a bill. Instead, it's subtracted from the amount the insurance company pays. You pay the rest of the money (your deductible) to the person or company hired to fix the damage.
Remember that filing small claims may affect how much you have to pay for insurance later. Switching from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible can save as much as 20 percent on the cost of your insurance premium payments.
Insurance companies collect deductibles every time they settle a claim, so they don't care who was at fault. You would not be at fault if your car was stolen from a secure facility, but you would still pay a deductible if you filed an insurance claim.
A deductible is the part (or amount) of the claim you're responsible for. Insurers will deduct this amount from any claim settlements they pay to you or on your behalf. So if your insurance policy has a $1,000 deductible, that means you've agreed to pay $1,000 out of your pocket for the damage to your home.
Generally, when you have Geico collision coverage, an adjuster provides an estimate of damages. This allows the policyholder to go to a body shop, give it the insurer's estimate, and get the car repaired. The policyholder usually needs to pay a deductible.
With both collision and uninsured motorist property damage coverage, you may be responsible for paying a deductible before your insurance provider will help pay for the damage. Your coverage will also be subject to your policy limits, which is the maximum amount your insurance will pay for a covered claim.
Fault determination: Most insurers require you to be not at fault for the accident. Some auto companies may require you to be 100 percent fault-free to have the deductible waived, while others may waive a percent of your deductible based on your percentage of fault.
What is a typical deductible? Deductibles can vary significantly from plan to plan. According to a KFF analysis, the 2024 average deductible for individual, employer-provided coverage was $1,787 ($2,575 at small companies vs. $1,538 at large companies).
If a driver hits you, your collision coverage will still cover the damage to your vehicle, but you won't have to pay your deductible. In some states, the driver must also be uninsured for a CDW to apply.
If you've paid your deductible: you pay 20% of $100, or $20. The insurance company pays the rest. If you haven't paid your deductible yet: you pay the full allowed amount, $100 (or the remaining balance until you have paid your yearly deductible, whichever is less).
If you have a comprehensive policy you should claim from your own insurer, but you may lose your no claims bonus if the insurer can't recover the money from the other driver's insurer.
If another car was damaged in the crash, then your insurance will pay for its repairs as well. You will be required to pay your deductible, but your insurance company should cover repair costs for your car as well as any damages suffered by the other driver.
The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself. A fixed amount ($20, for example) you pay for a covered health care service after you've paid your deductible.
For example, if you have a health insurance policy with a $1,000 deductible and you receive a medical bill for $2,000, you would be responsible for paying the first $1,000 and your insurance would cover the remaining $1,000.
If your deductible has been satisfied, your health insurance will pay for the service, minus any copayment or coinsurance you are required to cover. If the deductible has not yet been satisfied, you are responsible to pay for the services received—this is your contribution toward the deductible.
The insurance carrier outlines its responsibilities in the benefits, limits, and exclusion sections. But homeowners also have responsibilities as well. If you do not pay your deductible you are committing a crime. Technically, this is a form of insurance fraud.
Yes, if you have to pay your deductible and you were not at fault, you may be able to get it back from the at-fault driver's insurance company. This is called subrogation. Your insurance company will pursue the at-fault driver's insurance company to recover the money paid for the damages, including your deductible.
The color of your car doesn't affect your insurance rate. Instead, your insurance company uses other information, like your car's age, location, usage, and your driving record, to help determine insurance rates. Learn more about the factors that impact auto insurance pricing.
$500 is the most common car insurance deductible. Not every type of car insurance coverage uses a deductible. A higher car deductible can lower your insurance premium. You pick your deductible when buying insurance.