The deductible on a commercial car business insurance policy works the same as it does for personal auto insurance. The deductible is the amount you'll pay when there's a claim on your policy. Consider the deductible the "self-insured" part of the policy, where you are responsible for paying for a portion of the repairs. Here's a look at what a business owner needs to know about commercial auto coverage and deductibles.
What are auto insurance deductibles?
Your insurance deductible is the amount you'll pay out of pocket after you file an insurance claim because of an incident with your covered business vehicle.
Deductible amounts vary; you and your insurer will determine your deductible amount when you form the policy. However, policyholders can change the deductible amount in the middle of a policy by calling their insurance carrier.
The deductible shows up on collision and comprehensive claims but doesn't apply if another car hits you and you need to get your car repaired.
How do deductibles work for commercial auto insurance?
You pay the deductible when you get your car repaired. You'll usually pay the deductible directly to the autobody shop before it releases your car back to you.
For example, let's say you were in an at-fault accident that damaged your vehicle and your deductible is $500. Your first step is to file a claim with your insurance carrier to explain the accident's circumstances. Next, the insurance carrier sends an adjuster to assess the damage and estimate what repairs would cost. In this case, let's say the adjuster notes $5,000 in damages.
Next, you'll bring your car to a repair shop and provide the claim information. When your car is fixed, the shop will bill your insurance carrier for the total amount minus the deductible. When you pick up your car, you'll pay your $500 deductible to the shop and leave with your newly repaired car.
Types of commercial auto insurance deductibles
Commercial auto insurance deductibles apply only to your insurance policy's comprehensive coverage and collision coverage. You can choose a separate deductible for each coverage to customize your policy.
Collision coverage deductible
Collision coverage pays for repairing or replacing your vehicle if you hit something – a car, building, object or animal – and are at fault in the accident. Collision coverage doesn't cover damage to what you hit; your general liability insurance covers those damages.
When you engage your policy for collision coverage, you'll need to pay the collision deductible.
Deductibles vary from carrier to carrier, but most carriers offer policies that range from no deductible to a $2,000 deductible. Basically, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be.
Comprehensive coverage deductible
Comprehensive coverage kicks in for any type of loss other than a collision. For example, a comprehensive claim would cover someone stealing your car, a vandal slashing your tires or a tree branch falling on your car. Hail is another common source of comprehensive coverage claims.
Comprehensive coverage also has its own deductible that you'll set when you choose your business insurance policies. Like the collision deductible, it can range from nothing to $2,000, depending on the carrier. Also, as with the collision deductible, you'll pay the deductible directly to the repair shop when you get your car fixed.
What is the average auto insurance deductible paid on commercial vehicles?
Auto policyholders can select a $250; $500; $1,000; or $2,000 deductible for both comprehensive and collision coverage. Most drivers tend to take a middle ground with their deductible, finding the sweet spot between cost and coverage with a $500 deductible.
Those who want additional savings might jump to a $1,000 deductible, while many find that a $2,000 deductible doesn't provide enough savings to take on so much risk.
What to consider when choosing a commercial auto policy with deductibles
When it comes to your deductible amount, your decision boils down to cost versus risk. As an insurance policyholder, you want to save as much money as possible, so you may be tempted to go with a higher deductible and lower premium.
But when you look at what you'd have to pay out of pocket in a claim, consider whether or not the lower premium is worth it. For many people, coming up with an extra $1,000 for a claim would be difficult. Even $500 can be burdensome.
If the cost savings associated with a higher deductible aren't substantial, you may be better off with a lower deductible while paying a few extra dollars a month for coverage.
Do you pay a deductible every time for car insurance?
A commercial car insurance deductible doesn't work like a health insurance deductible. In health insurance, the deductible goes toward the out-of-pocket maximum for the year. With auto insurance, there's no ceiling; you'll pay the deductible every time you file a collision or comprehensive insurance claim.
So, if you have a $500 deductible and make three claims during your policy, you'll pay a total of $1,500 to get your car repaired.
Is it better to have a $500 or $1,000 deductible?
Choosing between a $500 and $1,000 deductible is a personal choice. Since this is the amount you'll pay if you file a claim, you need to be comfortable with your out-of-pocket responsibility.
A higher deductible can save you money on your insurance premium. You might be able to save as much as 40% on your premium when you jump from a $500 to a $1,000 deductible. If you aren't likely to file many claims, the higher deductible may be a good option that's worth it for the premium savings.
If you have more frequent claims, consider a lower deductible to get the most out of your insurance.
Should you have a deductible on older cars?
As your car gets older, the cost of repairing it after an accident can exceed its fair market value. This means your car is likely to be totaled. If so, you'll receive a check for its fair market value if you have comprehensive or collision coverage. For many, this is why paying for these coverages on an older car is often not worth it.
When deciding if you should have a deductible on an older car, evaluate the amount you'd receive in a claim compared to what you're paying for insurance. Some people decide to keep coverage in place because they feel getting something in a claim is better than nothing.
What is splitting your deductible?
Splitting the deductible is when you choose different deductible options for collision and comprehensive coverage. You might have a $500 collision deductible and a $250 comprehensive deductible. Traditionally, the comprehensive deductible affects premium pricing less, and many policyholders prefer carrying less responsibility for events where they're not at fault.
Other policyholders keep things simple and choose the same deductible for both comprehensive and collision coverage. This takes the confusion out of claims, and the policyholder doesn't have to guess which deductible will apply.