How a wind and hail deductible works in Texas
A percentage deductible is a share of what your house is insured for. Move the numbers to see it in dollars, then read how it plays out on a claim.
You pay
$7,600
- You pay
- $7,600
- The policy pays
- $10,900
On an $18,500 roof, a 2% deductible leaves you with $7,600 and the policy with $10,900.
An illustration with round numbers. It is not a quote, and your policy may work differently. The percentage is applied to your dwelling coverage, the amount the house is insured for. Have us read your policy.
What is a percentage deductible?
A deductible is what you pay on a claim before the policy pays. The Texas Department of Insurance puts it this way: a deductible may be a specific dollar amount or a percentage, and if it is a percentage, make sure you know how that translates to a dollar amount.
Most people know their premium to the dollar and have never seen their wind and hail deductible written as a number. On a Fort Worth roof, it is often the larger of the two.
The department's own example is on this page. A $6,500 hail repair is mostly paid by one policy and not paid at all by the other.
The state's example
| On a $150,000 home | Deductible | Policy pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy A | $500 | $6,000 | $500 |
| Policy B | 5%, which is $7,500 | $0 | $6,500 |
Policy B pays nothing because the repair costs less than the deductible.
What does each percentage cost?
Find the row closest to what your house is insured for.
| House insured for | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 | $6,000 | $10,000 |
| $300,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 | $15,000 |
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 | $12,000 | $20,000 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| $750,000 | $7,500 | $15,000 | $22,500 | $37,500 |
What else should I know?
Four things that surprise people the first time they file.
It is based on the house
The percentage is applied to your dwelling coverage, the amount the house is insured for. The size of the damage does not change it.
It applies to each claim
Two storms in one year means two deductibles.
It is often separate
Many policies carry one deductible for wind and hail and a different one for everything else. Both are on the declarations page.
A roofer cannot cover it
It is illegal to waive a homeowners deductible under Texas law. Your insurance company may ask for proof that you paid it.
Hail deductibles, answered
What is a wind and hail deductible?
It is the amount you pay on a wind or hail claim before the policy pays. Many Texas home policies set it as a percentage of what the house is insured for, and it is often separate from the deductible for everything else.
Is the deductible a percentage of the damage or of the house?
Of the house. A 2% deductible on a house insured for $380,000 is $7,600, whether the repair costs $9,000 or $30,000.
Do I pay the deductible every time?
Yes. The deductible applies to each claim. Two storms in one year means two deductibles.
Can my roofer cover my deductible?
No. It is illegal to waive a homeowners deductible under Texas law, and your insurance company may ask for proof that you paid it. Walk away from any contractor who offers.
Should I raise my deductible to lower my premium?
It can lower the premium. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that moving from a $500 deductible to $1,000 can save as much as 20 percent. Pick a deductible you could pay next week without borrowing.
Have us read your policy
Send four details and an agent calls back the same business day. Bring your current policy to the call and we will find the deductible together.
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Central. Magnolia Avenue, Near Southside, Fort Worth.