What a deductible is
The deductible is the part of a claim that stays with you, before the insurer's compensation applies. If a claim is valued, for example, at 200,000 FCFA and the contract's deductible is 30,000 FCFA, the insurer pays 170,000 FCFA and the remaining 30,000 FCFA stays with you.
Fixed deductible or proportional deductible
A deductible can be fixed, an identical amount whatever the claim, or proportional, a percentage of the claim amount, sometimes with a floor and a cap. Some contracts also apply a different deductible depending on the type of claim, for example a lower amount for windscreen damage than for an accident. The exact way a deductible is calculated is stated in the conditions of each offer.
How it applies when a claim is settled
When compensating a claim, the insurer first assesses the claim amount, then deducts the deductible set by the contract before paying the rest. If the claim amount is below the deductible, no compensation is paid: that is why it is useful to know this threshold before choosing an offer, not only when reporting a claim.
A low deductible is not always the right choice
A lower deductible usually comes with a higher premium: the insurer covers a larger share of the risk and charges for it upfront. Conversely, a higher deductible often reduces the indicative price, at the cost of a larger amount left to you in the event of a claim. The right level depends on your ability to absorb that amount on the day a claim happens, not only on the price shown today.
Comparing deductibles between offers
Two offers at the same indicative price can show very different deductibles. The comparator shows the deductible of each offer next to the price and the guarantee level, so this can be read before requesting a quote.