When choosing the right car insurance, this question comes up all the time.  So, how much of a deductible should you have?  Well, there are a few things to consider when trying to figure out how high your deductible should be:

• What do you think your chances are of getting into a car accident that is your fault?  If you are a high risk driver and you get into plenty of fender-benders, you would probably want to have a lower deductible to save your out-of-pocket expenses every time that you get into an accident.
• How well do you want your repairs done?  If you have a really high deductible, say $2,000 - and your damage only totals $1500, you aren’t getting a dime from the insurance company.  If you can live with a shoddy body job or some scratched paint, having a higher deductible will help keep your premium lower while still covering you if you do some serious damage to your vehicle.
• How much do you need your car?  If you absolutely cannot survive without your vehicle, I would recommend getting a lower deductible just to help keep you in your car.
• How much cash do you usually have on-hand?  If you absolutely need your car to get to work, and you are living paycheck to paycheck, what happens if you get in an accident and can’t afford the deductible?  If you don’t usually have high cash reserves in the bank for emergency situations like this, make sure to get a lower deductible.
• Finally, how much will your deductible affect your insurance premium?  If you have a stellar driving record, your deductible might now affect your premium all too much.  When you are searching for quotes, try playing around with your deductible to see what effect it has on your overall premium.