Definition: The word "deductible" refers to an amount that a policyholder must pay before their premium can be deducted from the insured's remaining premiums. This is typically expressed as a percentage of the maximum allowable cost for the claim. The specific amount required to deduct from a policy is often determined by the insurance company and varies depending on the type of coverage. For example, if a policy has a deductible of 10% of the maximum allowable cost for an auto-insurance policy, it would require the insured to pay at least $10 for each claim made in order to deduct any excess liability premiums from their total premium payment. If the deductible is set at 20%, then only $20 per claim would be required before deducting any excess liability premiums. The deductible is a critical component of an insurance policy because it sets the amount that must be paid by the insured as part of the premium, and it also determines how much the insurer can recover from the insured in the event of a claim. The higher the deductible, the more likely the insurer will have to recover its costs in the event of a claim. It's important for policyholders to understand their deductible so that they are aware of the financial burden involved in having excess liability coverage and consider whether it is necessary to meet this deductible before choosing an insurance policy.