Do you have to pay your deductible, and when?
Short answer. Yes. Your deductible is your share of a covered loss, and you pay it to the contractor doing the repair, usually when the contract says, often with the final balance. In Georgia, a contractor cannot legally waive it, and skipping it by inflating the claim is insurance fraud, though financing the deductible is legal.
Why it is not optional
The insurer already reduced your payment by the deductible, so the repair is only fully funded when you pay your share. A contractor who does not collect it is either losing money, cutting corners on the job, or padding the insurance estimate to make up the difference. Georgia law makes deductible waivers and rebates by contractors illegal, and both parties can face fraud exposure when a claim is inflated to cover it. See can a roofer pay your deductible.
What happens if you do not pay
- The contractor can pursue the balance, and in Georgia unpaid contractors may have lien rights against the property.
- The final invoice may not show the job as paid, which can hold up recoverable depreciation or a mortgage company's final release.
- Your warranty registration can be delayed until the job is paid.
When money is tight
- Contractor financing: many roofers offer monthly payment plans for the deductible and any upgrades.
- Ask about timing: the deductible is often due at completion, which gives you a few weeks after signing.
- Use the right check for the right purpose: insurance money is meant for the repair; your deductible comes from your own funds or financing.
- Plan ahead: check your wind and hail deductible now, since a percentage deductible can be several thousand dollars. See percentage deductibles.
When you do not owe it
If the claim is denied or the damage is below the deductible, there is nothing to pay toward a claim. You simply decide whether to repair at your own cost.