How to Get No Deductible / Zero Deductible Car Insurance

Last Updated on January 26, 2026

With standard car insurance, you pay a deductible when making a claim. You pay your share first, and your insurer covers the rest (up to your policy limits).

Some drivers, however, wonder about “zero deductible” car insurance. With truly $0 deductible coverage, you pay nothing out of pocket when a covered claim applies to a deductible-based coverage.

Is zero deductible car insurance an option? Sometimes—but it depends on the coverage type, your state, and your insurer. Here’s what “no deductible” can realistically mean, where you might actually find it, and when it’s worth paying extra for.

Key Takeaways

• “Zero deductible” usually doesn’t mean your whole auto policy has no deductible—most often it applies only to specific coverages or claim types.
• True $0 deductibles are uncommon for collision and comprehensive because they significantly increase premiums.
• Zero-deductible situations are most common for liability claims, some windshield/glass claims, and certain state-specific coverages or endorsements.
• If you’re trying to reduce out-of-pocket costs, a lower deductible (like $250 or $500) is usually more available and practical than a $0 deductible.

How Zero Deductible Car Insurance Works

A $0 deductible means you don’t have to pay any amount toward a covered claim before your insurance starts paying.

With most policies, collision and comprehensive deductibles commonly range from a few hundred dollars up to $1,000+ (exact options vary by insurer and state). You typically pay the deductible as part of the repair process—either directly to the shop or through your insurer’s claim settlement.

Example: After a crash, your car needs $10,000 in repairs. If you have a $1,500 deductible under your collision coverage, you pay $1,500 and your insurer covers the remaining $8,500 (assuming the damage is covered).

Or, if you have a non-crash loss covered under comprehensive coverage—say a $1,000 repair with a $250 deductible—you pay $250 and the insurer pays $750.

With a true $0 deductible option, you’d pay $0 for that covered loss. The catch: $0 deductibles are uncommon for collision and comprehensive, and when available, they usually come with noticeably higher premiums.

Is “No Deductible” Car Insurance Actually Available?

Sometimes, yes—but “zero deductible” usually shows up in one of these ways:

• Coverage types that don’t use deductibles (like liability—more on that below)
• State-specific rules that waive deductibles for certain claims (windshield damage is a common example)
• Optional add-ons that waive or reduce deductibles in specific situations (like glass coverage or certain deductible waiver endorsements)
• Lower deductibles (like $250) rather than true $0, which is more widely available

For collision and comprehensive, most drivers can reduce deductibles, but a true $0 deductible is often limited, expensive, or only offered for specific claim types.

$0 deductible vs. deductible waiver vs. a lower deductible

People often use “zero deductible” to mean different things. Here’s how the most common options compare.

Why $0 Deductibles Usually Cost More

When your deductible goes down, your premium usually goes up. That’s because the insurer is taking on more of the cost for each claim—especially smaller claims that many drivers might otherwise pay out of pocket.

In practice, zero deductible options can encourage more frequent claims. Even if it’s a small claim—like a scrape or minor damage—filing a claim may feel “free” when there’s no deductible.

Bottom line: $0 deductible coverage is rarely a “deal.” It’s more like paying in advance through higher premiums so you pay less (or nothing) at claim time.

Simple break-even rule of thumb

A quick way to evaluate a $0 deductible option is to compare the extra premium per year vs. your deductible savings.

Note: These are illustrative examples. Your real break-even depends on your premium increase, deductible amount, and how often you file covered claims.

Where Zero Deductibles Are Most Common

It’s rare to see $0 deductibles for broad collision and comprehensive coverage. But “no deductible” is more common in a few situations:

1) Windshield and glass claims

Glass is one of the most common areas where deductibles get waived. Some states require insurers to waive the deductible for certain windshield damage if you carry comprehensive coverage. Other states don’t require it, but insurers may still offer optional full glass coverage (or repair-first programs) that reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs.

Also note: some insurers waive the deductible for glass repairs (chips) but not always for full replacement. Your coverage terms and state rules matter.

How to check if your state waives windshield deductibles

1. Look at your policy declarations page for your comprehensive deductible and any glass endorsements.
2. Ask your insurer: “Do you waive the deductible for glass repair? What about replacement?”
3. Confirm whether your state has special glass rules by checking your state Department of Insurance (or official state insurance site).

If you’re shopping for more predictable glass costs, optional full glass coverage may reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket costs—depending on the insurer and state.

2) PIP and certain medical-related coverages

In some states, personal injury protection (PIP) may be written with no deductible, or the deductible options may be limited by state rules. In other states, you can choose a PIP deductible amount. Either way, the way PIP deductibles work is heavily state-dependent.

3) Uninsured motorist property damage and special endorsements

Depending on your state, uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) may have a smaller deductible than collision—or no deductible at all. Some insurers also offer limited “deductible waiver” add-ons that waive your collision deductible in narrow situations (for example, when an uninsured driver hits you and your collision coverage must pay first).

As we’ll learn below, state rules can require, limit, or influence deductibles depending on the claim type and coverage involved.

Liability Coverage Has No Deductible

Unlike collision and comprehensive, liability coverage generally does not have a deductible.

Liability coverage pays for other people’s injuries and property damage when you’re at fault. So if someone makes a claim against your liability coverage, they don’t pay a deductible to access your liability coverage.

And if another driver is at fault and you’re paid through their liability coverage, you typically wouldn’t owe a deductible either. The deductible usually comes into play when you’re using your own collision or comprehensive coverage for your vehicle.

There are two main types of liability coverage required in most states:

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: This helps cover the other person’s medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and related costs after an accident you cause.

Property Damage Liability Coverage: This helps pay for damage you cause to someone else’s property (including their vehicle). If the other driver is paid through your property damage liability coverage, they receive compensation without paying a deductible. (Your own vehicle repairs would still fall under your collision/comprehensive coverage and deductible rules.)

Can You Avoid Paying Your Deductible If You’re Not at Fault?

Sometimes. If the other driver is clearly at fault and you file through their liability coverage, you usually won’t pay a deductible.

If you file through your own collision coverage to get repairs started quickly, you may have to pay your collision deductible first. In many cases, your insurer will try to recover that money from the at-fault driver’s insurer (a process called subrogation). If they recover funds, you may be reimbursed for some or all of your deductible.

Typical deductible reimbursement timeline (subrogation)

1. You file a claim through your own collision coverage and pay your deductible (or it’s deducted from the settlement).
2. Your insurer pursues the at-fault insurer to recover what they paid (and your deductible).
3. If recovery succeeds, you may receive a deductible reimbursement check (full or partial).

Tip: Keep receipts and claim paperwork. Reimbursement timing varies widely based on fault disputes, investigation, and how cooperative the other insurer is.

Customize Your Deductible by Contacting Your Insurer

Most insurers let you choose from several deductible options for collision and comprehensive coverage. You can raise your deductible to lower your monthly premiums, or lower your deductible to increase your monthly premiums.

Questions to ask your insurer

• Do you offer a $0 deductible for collision or comprehensive in my state?
• Do you have a deductible waiver endorsement (and what triggers it)?
• Do you waive deductibles for windshield repair vs. replacement?
• What are my options for $250 / $500 deductibles and how much does each option change my premium?
• If I’m not at fault, how does deductible reimbursement work in my state?

The “right” deductible is the one you could comfortably pay on short notice. If a $1,000 deductible would be a financial strain, paying a little more each month for a lower deductible can make sense—even if $0 isn’t available.

Contact your insurer to review the deductible choices available to you, including whether any special options exist (like glass coverage, deductible waivers, or state-specific deductible rules).

FAQs on Zero Deductible Car Insurance