Imagine you accidentally scrape your car while parking and the repair costs AED 4,000. Your insurer approves the claim, but you are still asked to pay AED 500. Why? That’s your car insurance deductible.
A car insurance deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket toward a covered claim before your insurance company pays the remaining covered costs.
Deductibles typically apply to comprehensive car insurance coverage rather than third-party plans.
Car Insurance Deductible at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Your contribution toward a covered claim |
| When do you pay? | When making an approved claim |
| Higher deductible | Lower premium |
| Lower deductible | Higher premium |
| Usually applies to | Comprehensive insurance |
Higher deductibles mean lower insurance premiums, while lower deductibles mean higher premiums.
If lowering your premium is the goal, see how to lower your car insurance costs in Dubai.
What Is A Car Insurance Deductible
A car insurance deductible is your share of the cost of a covered insurance claim.
Example
Suppose:
- Repair bill: AED 2,500
- Deductible: AED 500
You pay AED 500, and your insurance company pays the remaining AED 2,000 (assuming the damage is covered by your policy).
How Does a Deductible Work?
Accident(Your vehicle gets damaged)
↓
Claim(Your insurance reviews the claim)
↓
Garage Estimate(the repair cost is assessed)
↓
Pay Deductible(the fixed amount by your policy)
↓
Insurance Pays Remaining Cost
↓
Car Repaired
Why Do Insurance Companies Charge a Deductible?
Insurers use deductibles to:
- Keep insurance premiums more affordable.
- Reduce small or unnecessary claims.
- Share the financial risk between you and the insurer.
Premium Vs Deductible Vs Coverage Limit
| Premium | Deductible | Coverage Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Paid every year | Paid when making a covered claim | Maximum amount the insurer may pay under your policy |
Types of Deductible Value in Insurance
There are three types of deductible in insurance.
Compulsory Deductible
It is the fixed amount that your insurance company has set for you to pay when you file a claim.
Voluntary Deductible
It is the amount you choose to pay when claiming with the mandatory deductible.
Additional Deductible
Insurance companies charge an additional deductible when they see the claim involves additional risk.
- If the driver of the vehicle is less than 25 years old, the deductible is a maximum of 10% of the compensation value.
- Taxis and public vehicles must pay up to 10% of the compensation amount.
- For sports and equipped vehicles, the maximum is 15% of the compensation value.
- Vehicles supplied outside the factory, a maximum of 20% of the compensation value.
- For rental vehicles, a maximum of 20% of the compensation value.
Comprehensive vs Third-Party Insurance Deductibles
| Feature | Comprehensive | Third-Party |
|---|---|---|
| Covers your car | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deductible usually applies | ✓ | Usually no for your own vehicle |
| Covers third-party damage | ✓ | ✓ |
How To Choose The Right Deductible
You can select the right deductible depending on the person driving or the vehicle.
| If you are… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| New driver | Lower deductible |
| Experienced driver | Higher deductible |
| Luxury car owner | Lower deductible |
| Older vehicle owner | Higher deductible if affordable |
New driver
A lower deductible may reduce out-of-pocket costs if you need to make a claim.
Experienced driver
A higher deductible can reduce your premium if you’re comfortable paying more when you claim.
Luxury vehicle
Lower deductibles may help manage higher repair costs.
Older vehicle
Depending on the vehicle’s value and your budget, a higher deductible may make sense.
When Do You Pay the Deductible?
The deductible is generally paid on each insurance claim and in the following cases:
- If the cause of the accident is you
- If the insurance company determines that you are partially at fault
- If there is a dispute about the fault, you may have to pay for the deductible until your car is repaired, and then be compensated later
- In the event that the driver at fault is not insured and cannot pay compensation
- The wrongdoer escaped from the scene of the accident without leaving his details
- The car was stolen
- The car was damaged by natural factors
- Deliberate vandalism
The process differs for each company, so when buying comprehensive insurance, it is best to ask the insurance representative about the cases in which you will have to pay the deductible, and the cases in which you will not have to pay.
When Can The Deductible Be Waived
- If another driver caused the accident and the police report clearly shows they were fully at fault, your insurance company may waive your deductible.
- In order to avoid paying the deductible, you must meet the following conditions:
- The company’s agreement that you were not at fault in the accident.
- Provide the name and details of the person responsible for the accident.
- The company recovers money from the person who caused the accident.
- In certain cases, it is not immediately clear who is responsible for the accident, and it may take some time; in the meantime, you will have to pay the deductible until the facts become clear.
After that, the car insurance company will refund you the deductible.
Common Mistakes UAE Drivers Make About Deductibles
- Assuming insurance pays 100%
- Choosing the lowest premium without checking the deductible
- Filing claims for minor scratches
- Ignoring additional deductibles for young drivers
- Not reading policy exclusions
These were just a few of several pitfalls. See our full list of mistakes to avoid when purchasing car insurance.
Myth vs Fact In Insurance Deductibles
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Deductible is paid every year | No, only when you make a covered claim. |
| Higher deductible is always better | It depends on your finances and risk tolerance. |
| Third-party insurance has a deductible | Generally, no for damage to your own car because it isn’t covered. |
What If The Car Damage Cost Is Less Than The Deductible Amount?
If the car damage cost is less than the deductible rate, then you will pay the amount and repair the damages on your personal account, and the insurance company will not pay any expenses.
For example: If the cost of car damage is 500 AED and the deductible is 1000 AED, you will pay the value of repairs, 500 AED, and the insurance company will not pay that.
A lot of people question this practice. Some of the repairs can be as small as a broken mirror or a scratch, and it won’t cost you a lot of money to get it fixed.
Insurance companies will pay you when you really need the coverage. The amount of insurance coverage that the company will pay must be beyond your ability and personal possibility.
When the insurance company imposes a deductible or deductible, it forces the customer to assume responsibility, drive safely, and take the necessary measures to protect their vehicle from exposure to collision accidents.
Should You File A Claim?
| Repair Bill | Deductible | Should You Claim? |
|---|---|---|
| AED 400 | AED 500 | No |
| AED 2,000 | AED 500 | Yes |
| AED 700 | AED 1,000 | No |
| AED 8,000 | AED 500 | Yes |
If the repair cost is only slightly higher than your deductible, it may be worth considering whether making a claim is beneficial after reviewing your policy terms and potential future premium implications.
How Deductibles Are Determined?
The insurance company may impose a high or low deductible, but in all cases it should not exceed the rates approved by the insurance authority.
Some of the common and approved factors in determining the deductible increase or decrease are:
- The number of claims made by the policyholder
- Claims within the country or outside the country
- Driver’s age, less than or greater than 25 years
- The deductible rate is determined according to the market value of the insured vehicle and not its type or model
- Vehicle use – private, commercial, or rented
Get the details of these factors that affect your car insurance in Dubai.
Questions to Ask Before Buying Car Insurance in the UAE
- What is my compulsory deductible?
- Can I increase the voluntary deductible?
- Are there additional deductibles for young drivers?
- Does the policy cover flood damage?
- How are windscreen claims handled?
- Can my deductible change when I renew?
Not sure where to start comparing? Check our guide on how to compare and get the cheapest car insurance in the UAE.
Ready to Find the Right Car Insurance?
Don’t choose a policy based on price alone. Compare premiums, deductibles, and coverage to find the right car insurance for your needs.
Compare car insurance quotes from leading UAE insurers with BuyAnyInsurance.
FAQ
A compulsory deductible or mandatory deductible is a fixed amount set by the insurance provider that you have to pay out of pocket in case of comprehensive insurance.
Yes, you can select a voluntary deductible, and it helps you get lower premium rates for your insurance.
Yes, for drivers under 25 years, there is an extra 10% deductible charged by the insurance.
Some insurances give the windscreen replacement as an add-on, but many others charge a separate deductible for windscreen replacement.
A deductible in motor insurance is a fixed amount that you have to pay before your insurance company pays for the repair.
Yes, comprehensive insurance does have a deductible.
If repair costs are less than the deductible, you normally do not file an insurance claim and pay all out of your own pocket.
No, you do not pay the vehicle insurance deductible every year; rather, it is paid per claim.
Yes, you can avoid paying the deductible, but with that you have to pay a higher premium.
Yes, you can save money on your upfront premiums if you select a higher deductible.
Official Sources:
Central Bank of the UAE’s Unified Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy rulebook
Related Articles
How to Compare & Get Cheapest Car Insurance in UAE
These Factors Will Change Your Approach to getting Car Insurance in Dubai
Comprehensive car insurance – what is it?
Contact Us:
[…] Understanding Your Car Insurance Deductibles […]
[…] Understanding Your Car Insurance Deductibles […]
[…] Understanding Your Car Insurance Deductibles […]
[…] Understanding Your Car Insurance Deductibles […]
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you. https://www.binance.bh/register?ref=JW3W4Y3A
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.