# Deductible on home insurance **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 19, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831 "2025-06-19T01:44:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/21 "2025-06-19T16:45:28Z")
Just a heads-up: > **[Waiving Insurance Deductibles is Illegal in Colorado - Colorado Roofing...](https://www.coloradoroofing.org/news/waiving-insurance-deductibles-is-illegal-in-colorado)** > [@](#): > > These storms also bring with them “storm chasers,” otherwise known as fraudulent roofing contractors. These contractors prey on homeowners following a major storm event and take off with their insurance money. A common tactic for these contractors is the promise of waiving any applicable insurance deductibles and a cost-free roof. That is why Colorado implemented Senate Bill 38, otherwise known as the Consumer Protection/Residential Roofing Bill, which is designed to protect consumers and insurance companies while regulating the residential roofing industry. > > The bill explicitly states that it is illegal for a roofing contractor to pay, waive, or rebate a homeowner’s insurance deductible. An insurance deductible is an amount that an individual must pay out of his or her pocket before the insurance company will pay the rest of the claim. When a roofing contractor promises that he or she will cover a homeowner’s deductible, it means that a roofing contractor will try to pay, waive or rebate an insurance deductible for the roofing work so the homeowner will not have to personally pay the deductible. > > This practice can be construed as property insurance abuse or fraud depending on the specific facts. Good luck. BTDT … more than once. Car, too. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/22 "2025-06-20T05:28:52Z")
I just filed a claim with State Farm yesterday. The way they figure your deductible now is 1/2% of the insured value of the home. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/23 "2025-06-20T08:02:03Z")
First off, don’t depend on any(or very many) companies to go up there and say “Nope, you’re good. No work here” They’re certainly in the biz for clients. They will find a problem. I’ve never had a work man come out and say there wasn’t _something_ they could do. I’ve had them say they couldn’t do it(rare). I’ve had them say they were booked for a period of time, if I could wait…yada, yada. Get a friend or someone you trust in the construction/roofing business to look at it. Don’t hire a roofer who knocks on your door cold, especially after a big weather event. Don’t give anyone money til the job is finished. And go up and look. Or have someone you trust look. There’s a slew of fly by night roofing companies(?) after tornados, hail storms and hurricanes that follow the weather. Homeowners insurance is a strange business. I don’t understand the way they work. I just know they are not exactly on your side. Their side is the bottom line. Good luck. (PS, if it’s an asphalt roof and you don’t see copious tile missing or the ground is not covered with broken shingles, wait. You have some time. OTOH, Go look in the attic. If you see wet spots on the wood, go buy tarps til you can get it done) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/24 "2025-06-20T10:11:19Z")
> [@Slight\_Off\_Hand](#): > > (I know fraud and premium avoidance is a significant factor in auto rates) I suspect that it’s a bad, or even worse, in the home insurance sector. There is a general attitude that insurance companies are fair game and inflating a claim “doesn’t hurt anyone”. Not only that, but you’ve been paying them all this money for years and never made a claim - “They owe me!!!” You get burgled and suddenly that crappy old laptop you lost becomes last year’s model. Your roof is damaged and you do a deal with the roofer to inflate his bill by the amount of the deductible. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/25 "2025-06-20T10:16:03Z")
> [@Slight\_Off\_Hand](#): > > I do know the increase in weather events is a large part of the increase. This. About six weeks ago, I received a notice from my insurance company (Traveler’s) that my home insurance premiums were increasing. I called my agent, who was able to find me a better deal with another company (Cincinnati) for just a slight increase in my then-current premiums. My agent explained that Traveler’s had to raise their rates because they had paid so many claims on both coasts (fire and hurricane), that they had to raise their rates across the entire country. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/26 "2025-06-20T10:48:23Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > The way they figure your deductible now is 1/2% of the insured value of the home. I would very surprised if that was “the way”. 1/2% is a common deductible, but it’s not the only option. (Though it may be one of the only _affordable_ options.) ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/27 "2025-06-20T11:22:26Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I would very surprised if that was “the way”. 1/2% is a common deductible, but it’s not the only option. (Though it may be one of the only _affordable_ options.) My deductible is 5% - which sounds like a lot of money, but I’ve surely saved more than that in premiums over the 38 years I’ve owned this house. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/28 "2025-06-20T21:33:50Z")
I only have two insurance policies: The car, which is a legal requirement and carries a £500 excess, and the house and contents, so we won’t be homeless if it burns down. I have to pay the first £100 of any claim. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/29 "2025-06-20T21:52:06Z")
I carry a CAD$10,000 deductible on my house which roughly works out to about 0.75% of replacements house+contents. In 17 years, we have made no claims. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/30 "2025-06-20T22:05:37Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I would very surprised if that was “the way”. 1/2% is a common deductible, but it’s not the only option. (Though it may be one of the only _affordable_ options.) I have state farm as well. They, like most every other insurer, have a range of deductible options you can choose from, the choice of which will in turn determine your premiums. You can choose percentages of the house value or absolute dollar amounts. I carry a higher 2% deductible on my house and it has reduced my premiums substantially. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/31 "2025-06-21T15:17:24Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I would very surprised if that was “the way”. 1/2% is a common deductible, but it’s not the only option. (Though it may be one of the only _affordable_ options.) Could be but that is what the claims adjuster explained to me. He did not state any other options. I read through my policy and that is what it states also. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/32 "2025-06-21T15:58:24Z")
A claims adjuster is only involved in handling your current claim under your current policy. Your policy will have exactly one deductible. Or maybe one for most things and special different deductibles for certain things like roofs or mold remediation. In any case there is only one deductible applicable to whatever problem you’re now making a claim over. But … Before you bought the policy there was _probably_ a range of deductibles available. The proposal the sales agent gave you should have included info about all of them. It sounds like maybe your agent steered you to one choice without adequately explaining all your choices. Even if your carrier really does only offer one deductible option, there are plenty of other carriers who’d have different options available. It does pay to shop around. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/33 "2025-07-08T23:12:17Z")
Had the insurance adjustor out here Here is a simplified version of how insurance is a scam total damage to the house: $14000 Minus depreciation: $8400 Minus deductable: $5000 Total payout to repair our roof/window screens/paint/AC cover: $600 Yes when all is said and done and thousands of dollars every year in premiums, we get $600 to repair our hail damage. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/34 "2025-07-08T23:43:28Z")
It sounds like your policy is for Actual Cash Value (ACV), which factors in depreciation. The other option is Replacement Cost Value (RCV), which pays the cost for a new roof no matter how old it is. You can get both types of policies, with RCV being more expensive. If your agent went over all this when you first got your policy and you didn’t pay attention, then I guess that’s on you. But if they pointed you toward these options – ACV and a high deductible – without explaining it, then it’s time to find a new agent. Their value is making sure you understand what you’re buying and it’s the right option for _you_, not the generic “best choice.” A high deductible is right for me; it might not be right for you. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/35 "2025-07-08T23:57:31Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > But if they pointed you toward these options – ACV and a high deductible – without explaining it, then it’s time to find a new agent. I am considering that. Also, we are positive the previous owner replaced the roof just before we bought it 11 years ago but insurance is claiming it is 24 years old. No clue how we would document the correct age. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/36 "2025-07-09T00:01:10Z")
Do you have contact information for the previous owner? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/37 "2025-07-09T00:36:48Z")
Your local municipality probably requires a permit, so you can check there if the previous owners can’t produce a receipt. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/38 "2025-07-09T01:04:19Z")
Depending on whether unpermitted work is vanishingly rare or the 90% norm in that jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/39 "2025-07-09T02:54:58Z")
Update: the disclosures say the roof was done in 2008. The insurance inspector said it was 24 years old. That 7 year difference means over $1500. Two things: Would have been nice if they asked me to have that paperwork ahead of time but I didn’t know and they keep their process obscure. I told him the roof was fairly new when we bought it. I had no clue they needed an exact year. Apparently what they sent me was a final draft and according to my sales representative, if I want to get that depreciation back, they send me the $$$ _after_ we repair the roof and talk to claims, he has nothing to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831/40 "2025-07-09T11:10:37Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > according to my sales representative, if I want to get that depreciation back, they send me the $$$ _after_ we repair the roof and talk to claims, he has nothing to do with it. Just so I understand, are you working with an ‘independent agent’, one who represents a bunch of companies and will (or should) work to find the best one for you, or is it a sales representative of a specific insurance company? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deductible-on-home-insurance/1019831.md?page=3)