Yes, your deductible can be waived. The better question, however, is WILL it be waived. Yes, there is a difference.
An insurance adjuster has the ability to waive a deductible under a few circumstances. Well, they always have the ability to waive a deductible. They usually will waive it in a few circumstances. If you are not at fault, they can waive a deductible. In other words, your car is completely stopped and you are struck or your car is parked and struck. If the other driver is uninsured, they can waive the deductible as well, but only if you are not at fault.
However, some insurance companies don’t waive deductibles, in my experience. I recently had a client come to me. She was rear ended and the other person has insurance. 21st Century, my client’s insurance company, refused to waive the deductible. Instead, they are making my client pay the deductible and when 21st Century is reimbursed, they will reimburse my client.
This is absolutely legal and is in accordance with the policy provisions. However, it is horrible customer service. (And so no one thinks I am picking on 21st Century, I have had CSAA do it, as well as State Farm, GEICO, Farmers and Allstate.) This is when having an agent, not an 800 number, makes a huge difference. You will have someone to call and complain to – someone with a vested interest in keeping you happy.
The moral: make sure you take out a deductible you can afford to pay and…………….. use a real person as your agent!