Car Insurance Deductible Explained — And When Not to Claim

How your deductible actually works

Your deductible is the part of the repair you pay yourself. If the approved repair comes to $2,400 and your collision deductible is $500, the insurer pays $1,900 and you pay $500 to the shop when you collect the car. It applies once per claim, not once per estimate, so a supplement for hidden damage does not increase what you owe.

When it is not worth opening a claim at all

This is the calculation most people skip. If the written estimate is $700 and your deductible is $500, a claim gains you $200 and puts a collision on your record. Insurers price renewals on claim history, so that $200 can cost more over the following years than it saved. We give you the estimate in writing before anything is reported, precisely so you can do this arithmetic with a real number instead of a guess. Small bumper scuffs, single door dings and dents that qualify for paintless repair very often fall on the pay-directly side of the line.

When you may not owe a deductible

If another driver is clearly at fault and you claim against their liability insurance, there is normally no deductible — that is their carrier paying for damage their insured caused. If you claim through your own collision cover first because it is faster, your insurer pays out, you pay your deductible, and if it later recovers from the other carrier your deductible is usually refunded to you. Some glass and comprehensive coverages carry a separate, lower deductible or none at all. Your policy documents state which applies.

Comprehensive and collision are separate

Collision cover handles impacts. Comprehensive handles the rest — theft, vandalism, falling objects, fire, weather. They usually carry different deductibles, and which one applies changes what you pay. A keyed door and a car park collision may cost the same to repair and cost you different amounts out of pocket.

In California the choice of repair facility belongs to the vehicle owner. Your insurer may recommend a shop from its network, but you can bring the car here and your claim stays valid. We accept all insurance companies, take the damage photos, speak with the adjuster and file a supplement if hidden damage shows up during disassembly.

Working with a specific carrier? We have pages for GEICO, State Farm, AAA, Progressive, Allstate, Mercury and Farmers, plus a general insurance claims page.

Claim guides: choosing your own body shop in California, what a supplement is, how your deductible works, rental car while your car is in the shop and OEM vs aftermarket parts.

Get the number first

The Body Shop Collision Repair
12911 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250
Phone: (323) 661-6600
Email: 711body@gmail.com
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM · Sat 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Sun 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
After-hours towing and drop-off available — call us.

More detail on the work itself: bumper repair, paintless dent repair, car painting and colour matching, collision and structural repair, motorcycle body repair and a free estimate from photos.

We also look after drivers in Hawthorne, Inglewood, Gardena, Lawndale, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, Westchester & LAX, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, Culver City, Santa Monica. Full list on our service areas page.

Deductibles: common questions

When do I pay my deductible?

To the shop, when you collect the car. The insurer pays its share directly and the deductible is the balance.

Does a supplement mean paying the deductible twice?

No. The deductible applies once per claim, no matter how much additional damage is found or how many supplements are filed.

Should I claim if the repair is only a little more than my deductible?

Usually not. The gain is small and a claim on your record can raise renewals for years. We give you the written estimate first so you can decide with a real number.

Do I pay a deductible if the other driver was at fault?

Normally not, if you claim against their liability cover. If you go through your own collision cover first, you pay it and it is generally refunded when your insurer recovers from theirs.

Can a shop waive my deductible?

No reputable shop will, because it is insurance fraud, and offers to do it are a warning sign about everything else that shop does.

Is the deductible different for vandalism or theft damage?

Often yes. That falls under comprehensive cover, which usually carries its own deductible, separate from collision.

Get the number before you report anything. Call (323) 661-6600 or bring the car to 12911 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne.