Premium saved by a voluntary deductible versus the extra you pay per claim.
Compulsory vs voluntary deductible
Every own-damage claim has a compulsory deductible — ₹1,000 for private cars up to 1500cc, ₹2,000 above 1500cc and ₹100 for two-wheelers (insurers can set it higher for some vehicles). A voluntary deductible is an extra amount you agree to bear on each claim in return for a discount on the own-damage premium.
Reference discount slabs
| Private car voluntary deductible | Discount on OD | Maximum discount |
|---|---|---|
| ₹2,500 | 20% | ₹750 |
| ₹5,000 | 25% | ₹1,500 |
| ₹7,500 | 30% | ₹2,000 |
| ₹15,000 | 35% | ₹2,500 |
| Two-wheeler voluntary deductible | Discount on OD | Maximum discount |
|---|---|---|
| ₹500 | 5% | ₹50 |
| ₹750 | 10% | ₹75 |
| ₹1,000 | 15% | ₹125 |
| ₹1,500 | 20% | ₹200 |
| ₹2,000 | 25% | ₹250 |
These follow the India Motor Tariff reference used in many policy prospectuses; your insurer’s options may differ. Notice the caps: on a car, the most you can save is ₹2,500 a year, even with a ₹15,000 deductible.
How to read the result
The “worth it if claim chance below” column is the break-even point. If you think the chance of making an own-damage claim in a year is lower than that figure, the deductible saves money on average. If you would struggle to pay the deductible from savings, skip it regardless of the maths.