How much is a roof deductible?
Short answer. A roof claim uses whichever deductible your policy applies to the cause of loss: often a flat amount such as $1,000 or $2,500, or, for wind and hail, a percentage of your dwelling coverage, commonly 1 or 2 percent. On a $350,000 dwelling limit, a 2 percent wind and hail deductible is $7,000.
Which deductible applies to your roof
- Hail or wind damage: the wind and hail deductible, if your policy has one; otherwise the all other perils deductible.
- A tree falling on the roof: usually depends on what made it fall. Wind brings in the wind deductible on many policies.
- Fire or a sudden leak not caused by weather: the all other perils deductible.
Run your own numbers
Find the percentage on your declarations page and multiply it by your Coverage A dwelling limit. Then compare it with a realistic roof price. North Georgia replacements commonly fall between $8,000 and $16,000. If your deductible is $7,000 and the damage is limited to a couple of slopes, a claim may pay little. If the whole roof is damaged, the claim may still be worthwhile.
Things that do not change it
- A roofer cannot pay, waive, or rebate it. That is illegal in Georgia.
- Your deductible does not shrink when the insurer pays only actual cash value on an older roof; it comes off that smaller amount.
Lowering it next time
Ask your agent for the premium difference between deductible options. A lower deductible costs more each year but leaves you paying less after every storm.
Related: the percentage wind and hail deductible, whether a roofer can pay your deductible, and whether to call insurance or a roofer first.