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Deductible Break-Even Calculator

Should you raise your car insurance deductible?

A higher deductible lowers your premium but increases what you'd pay out of pocket in a claim. This tool shows the added risk, your annual savings, and exactly how long it takes to break even — for collision and comprehensive.

Your inputs
Collision
Comprehensive
Estimated results
Collision
Not worth it
Extra self-insured risk$500
Annual premium savings$120
Break-even time4.2 yrs
Comprehensive
Not worth it
Extra self-insured risk$250
Annual premium savings$48
Break-even time5.2 yrs
Rule of thumb: a break-even under 2.5 years is usually worth it, 2.5–4 years is marginal, and over 4 years rarely pays off — you're taking on more risk than the savings justify.

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How it works. Your extra self-insured risk is the difference between the two deductibles (proposed − current). Break-even time is that extra risk divided by your annual savings.

Worked example. Raising collision from $500 to $1,000 saves $10/month. That's $120/year in savings against $500 of added risk — break-even of 4.17 years. Under the 2.5-year rule, that change is not worth it unless you have the $1,000 set aside and rarely file collision claims.

This is a planning estimate, not a quote. Actual premium changes vary by carrier, vehicle, and driver. New to deductibles? Start with our coverage guide.

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