Auto insurance guide · August 31, 2026 · 5 min read
$500 or $1,000? How to Choose a Deductible
Every renewal brings the same question: $500 or $1,000. What matters is not which one is cheaper, but which one you could absorb without strain.
1. How it works
One point worth emphasising: the deductible applies per occurrence, not once per policy year. Two covered losses in the same year generally mean it applies twice.
2. Weighing the trade-off
As a purely illustrative calculation: if raising the deductible saves $80 a year but costs $500 more at claim time, that is roughly six years without a claim before the difference evens out. Actual figures depend on your quote.
- All else equal, a higher deductible usually means a lower premium.
- The premium saved is certain; so is the cash you pay first when something happens.
- The only difference is timing.
3. The two deductibles can differ
Collision and Comprehensive each carry their own deductible, and they need not match. For a car that parks outdoors in a hail-prone area, some drivers set the Comprehensive deductible lower and the Collision deductible higher.
4. One Texas deductible you cannot waive
UMPD addresses damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured driver. Under Texas law it carries a $250 deductible, and it cannot be waived. Not many people know this one — worth a glance next time you open the policy.
5. Four questions before deciding
车险科普 · 2026年8月31日 · 约 5 分钟阅读
$500 还是 $1,000？免赔额到底怎么选
每年续保都会碰到同一道题：免赔额选 $500 还是 $1,000。这道题的关键不在「哪个划算」，而在「哪个你扛得住」。
一、它是怎么算的
需要特别注意的是：Deductible 按每次事故计算，不是一年只扣一次。同一年内发生两次 covered loss，通常需要各承担一次。
二、高低怎么权衡
举一个仅为算法示意的例子：假设调高免赔额一年省 $80，但出险时要多掏 $500，大致相当于连续六年多不出险，才把差额省回来。实际数字以报价为准。
- 其他条件相同时，免赔额选得越高，保费通常越低。
- 省下来的保费是确定的，出事时先掏的现金也是确定的。
- 差别只在于什么时候付。
三、两个免赔额可以分开设定
Collision 与 Comprehensive 各有一个免赔额，不必设成同一个数字。车长期停在露天、又处在冰雹高发区域时，有人会把 Comprehensive 的免赔额设低一些，Collision 相对高一些。
四、德州还有一个不能放弃的免赔额
UMPD 处理的是对方无保险时自己车辆的损失。按德州保险法，它有 $250 法定免赔额，而且依规定不可放弃。这一条知道的人不多，翻保单时可以顺手看一眼。
五、决定之前先问自己四句话
