When is it prohibited to charge a car insurance deductible? Find out!

Did you know that it is forbidden to charge a deductible on your auto insurance for using a tow truck service? See other situations where the insurer cannot charge a deductible on your auto insurance.

Anyone who has or is going to take out car insurance should know that, when the vehicle is involved in an accident, it may be necessary to pay a type of co-payment for the repairs to be carried out.

However, this amount called the deductible in car insurance is not always charged and there are some rules for this.

The Superintendence of Private Insurance (Susep) establishes some rules for insurance companies to work with and one of them is related to when the deductible can or cannot be charged.

It is worth noting that the deductible amount is established in the policy and cannot be changed depending on the type of claim.

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But, after all, when is it prohibited to charge a deductible on car insurance?

Just because the vehicle has been damaged in an accident does not mean that the deductible will be charged. In fact, if the situation involves a total loss, there is no deductible charge. This amount will only be requested from the insurer if there is what is called a partial loss, such as a collision.

Here are some examples of when the deductible should not be charged.

Theft or robbery

If the vehicle was stolen or robbed and not recovered, the insured is exempt from paying the deductible.

Total collisionl

A total collision is one in which the vehicle is involved in an accident and the repair costs 75% or more of the vehicle's market price.

Damage to third parties

When you have third party damage coverage and you cause an accident, requiring repairs to the other person's vehicle, the deductible is also waived.

However, in this case, it is worth remembering that there is no deductible to recover the other person's vehicle. If the insured's car has also been damaged and needs to be repaired, the deductible will be charged as normal.

Small sinister

In some situations, the cost of the repair may be less than the deductible, so it should not be charged. The insurer must cover the expenses out of its own pocket.

Lightning strike

This is one of the few natural disaster coverages that almost all insurance companies offer. If lightning strikes your vehicle and causes damage, there is no deductible for repairs.

24-hour assistance services

This is a service that offers benefits and, as it is not specifically a coverage, it does not charge a deductible. Therefore, if you need a tow truck, mechanical assistance or other services, you can use it without incurring additional expenses, as long as it is within the contracted limit.

It is important to note that it is very important to check the auto insurance policy to see if all the above items are described correctly, because if there is any different item that is described, you will have to pay the deductible. Therefore, ask your insurance broker beforehand about the prohibition of charging a deductible on auto insurance and make a conscious purchase.