The conditional deductible in RESO insurance contracts is a fixed amount of damage, below which no payment is made at all, and if this threshold is exceeded, the insurance indemnity is paid in full without deduction of the specified amount. This mechanism often causes confusion among customers when studying insurance rules, since it is radically different from the classic irrevocable franchise, where the amount is always deducted from the final payment. Understanding the principle of work deductible It is critical for the correct choice of options when buying a policy, since it allows you to significantly reduce the cost of insurance, while maintaining full protection in the event of serious insurance events.
In RESO insurance practice, this type of franchise is often referred to as “conditional” or “unreceivable”, and its essence lies in the trigger mechanism for activating the payment. If the cost of repairing your car is 10 000 rubles, and the size of the franchise established in the contract is 15 000 rubles, the insurance company will not pay anything, since the damage did not exceed the threshold value. However, if the damage is 15,001 rubles or more, RESO will pay the full cost of the repair, ignoring the established limit of 15,000 rubles. This is a key difference that makes conditional (although it is more correct to call it simply conditional) attractive for experienced drivers who want to insure against major accidents, but are willing to take small scratches for the sake of saving on the contribution.
When choosing this insurance option, you should be aware that minor incidents such as bumper scuffs in the parking lot or broken headlights are likely to have to be fixed at your own expense. The insurance agent, when making a contract with RESO, must explain that pay-off It is a hard filter for small losses. This allows the insurance company to reduce administrative costs for processing small applications, and the client to receive a CASCO or VHI policy at a much lower price. It is important to carefully check the section of the contract, which spells out the terms of the franchise to avoid unpleasant surprises in the event of an insured event.
Mechanism of work and calculation of payments
The principle of operation of a conditional franchise is based on a comparison of the actual amount of damage and the size of the franchise prescribed in the policy. Unlike the unconditional deductible, which is always deducted from the insurance payment (for example, if damage is 50 000 rubles). and a 10,000-ruble franchise. You will receive 40 000 rubles.), conditional works on the principle of "all or nothing". If the damage is less than or equal to the deductible, the payout is zero. If the damage is greater than the deductible, the payout is 100% of the damage. It does. deductible A powerful risk management tool for both parties to the contract.
Let’s take a look at a specific example of the mechanism in RESO. Let’s say you chose a policy with a conditional deductible of 30,000 rubles. In winter, you were damaged bumper, and the estimate of repair was 25 000 rubles. In this case, the application to the insurance company for payment does not make practical sense, since the amount of damage did not exceed the threshold of 30,000 rubles. You pay for the repairs yourself or leave the damage unattended. However, if the damage was estimated at 100,000 rubles as a result of the accident, RESO will pay the full amount of 100,000 rubles, without requiring you to pay the first 30,000.
⚠️ Attention: When calculating the amount of damage, RESO insurance experts take into account the cost of spare parts and works at the company's tariffs. If the amount is 1 ruble less than the size of the deductible, the payment will not be made, even if the visual damage seems serious.
For a clear comparison of different types of franchises and their impact on the final payout, we turn to the table. It shows how the amount that the policyholder will receive varies depending on the type of deductible and the amount of damage.
| The amount of damage (ruble) | No franchise. | Unconditional (15 000 rubles) | Conditional (15 000 rubles) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 000 | 10 000 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 000 | 15 000 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 000 | 20 000 | 5 000 | 20 000 |
| 100 000 | 100 000 | 85 000 | 100 000 |
A conditional franchise is beneficial if you are a confident driver and rarely get into minor accidents, as it retains the full payout in major accidents.
Differences between conditional franchise and unconditional
The main difference between the two types of franchises is the moment when the financial participation of the insured begins to operate. Unconditional franchise Deductible is the amount you pay at all times in any event that exceeds that limit. It acts as a permanent filter, reducing the burden on the insurer for each specific loss. In RESO, as in other large companies, the unconditional deductible is often used in corporate insurance or in policies for young drivers, where the risk of minor claims is statistically higher.
At the same time, deductible It is a threshold for small losses. Its goal is to save the insurance company from paperwork and the costs of examination and payment of insignificant amounts. For the client, this means that he is insured only against substantial financial losses. Often, customers confuse these concepts, believing that “franchise” always means a deduction from the payout. However, in the case of a conditional deductible for major damage, you get full compensation, which makes this product more profitable in the long run for neat drivers.
- 💡 Financial result: In a conditional franchise, you either get nothing (with little damage) or get the full amount; in an unconditional one, you always get the amount minus the franchise.
- 💡 Impact on the award: Both types of franchises reduce the cost of the policy, but conditional often gives a more tangible discount for drivers with a trouble-free history, as it completely eliminates minor risks from coverage.
- 💡 Psychological aspect: Conditional franchise motivates not to apply to the insurance for small things, keeping the discount for accident-free (CBM), while unconditional can be used more often, but with a surcharge from the client.
It is worth noting that some RESO policies may have a combined approach or specific conditions for different risks. For example, for the risk of “Theft”, the franchise may not be applied at all or be unconditional, and for the risk of “Damage” – conditional. Careful study insurance It will help to avoid misunderstanding. Also.
The impact of franchise on the cost of the policy CASCO
Using a franchise is a legal and effective way to reduce the cost of an insurance policy. In RESO, applying a conditional deductible, the client assumes part of the risks associated with minor damages, which allows the insurance company to form a lower premium. The pricing mechanism is based on statistics: the insurer understands that a significant part of the appeals account for amounts that do not exceed the franchise threshold. By excluding these payments from its obligations, the company reduces the tariff rate for the client.
The size of the discount depends on the selected amount of the franchise. For example, increasing the conditional deductible from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles can reduce the cost of a policy by 10-20%, depending on the model of the car, the region and the driving history. This is especially true for owners of low-cost cars or high-value cars, where full insurance without a franchise can cost unreasonably expensive. For such cases franchise It is becoming a tool for balancing the budget.
However, it is important not to overdo it in pursuit of cheap insurance. Too high a threshold of a conditional franchise can lead to a situation where even an average accident will require significant personal investment. Experts recommend choosing the size of the franchise that you can comfortably pay from the current budget without compromising your financial condition. It should be an amount that will not be a disaster for you, but that will provide protection against really large expenses.
⚠️ Attention: When calculating the cost of the policy, keep in mind that the deductible applies to each insurance event separately. If there were two accidents during the year with damages above the franchise, the payment for both will be full (with a conditional deductible), but if the damage is lower - you pay yourself.
Useful tip: If you are buying a car on credit, check the bank’s requirements. Often, banks require a CASCO policy without a franchise or with a limited size, which may make it impossible to use a high conditional franchise.
Features of application in various types of insurance
Although the term “conditional deductible” is most commonly associated with auto insurance (CASCO), this tool is widely used in other RESO products, for example, VHI (voluntary health insurance) or property insurance. In health insurance, a conditional deductible may mean that the insurance company pays for treatment only if the cost has exceeded a certain limit, or does not pay for outpatient treatment up to a certain amount. This allows the creation of VHI budget programs for employees of enterprises.
In property insurance (apartments, houses), the conditional franchise works similarly to the car: minor household damage, leaks with minor damage, the client eliminates himself. Major fires, flooding or natural disasters that cause damage above the franchise threshold are compensated in full. This is a rational approach for property owners who want to protect themselves from catastrophic events, but are not willing to pay for insurance for minor cosmetic defects.
It is important to understand that the terms of use of the franchise may vary depending on the program. In some cases, the franchise may not apply to certain risks, such as theft of a car or total loss of a vehicle (total). In RESO, such exceptions are usually written in an individual policy or in the rules of a particular insurance program. Always check whether the franchise covers all risks or only damages.
Practical tips for choosing a franchise size
Choosing the optimal franchise size is the process of assessing your own risks and financial condition. There is no universal sum suitable for everyone. For a new driver who does not yet feel the dimensions of the car, a high deductible can become a trap: the probability of minor accidents is higher, and he risks often being left without payment, while the amount saved on the policy will not cover the costs of repairs. For an experienced driver with more than 10 years of experience, a high conditional franchise is a great way to save money.
When choosing the amount, focus on the cost of spare parts for your car. If for your model even replacing the bumper costs 50 000 rubles, the franchise of 15 000 rubles may be too low and will not give a significant discount, but from small risks will not protect the insurance. If the average body repair intervention costs 100,000 rubles, then a franchise of 30-50 thousand will be a reasonable compromise.
☑️ Checklist before franchise selection
The geographical factor should also be taken into account. In large metropolitan areas with dense traffic, the risk of small contacts is higher than in regions with less heavy traffic. In the city, the high density of parking and traffic jams increases the likelihood of “parking” accidents, which often fall under the threshold of a conditional franchise. If you live in downtown Moscow or St. Petersburg, it may be worth choosing a smaller franchise size or forgoing it in favor of more complete coverage.
Procedure for registration and payment with franchise
The procedure for issuing a franchise policy in RESO is standard and does not require additional complex actions. The manager adds the selected franchise size to the database and the system automatically recalculates the premium. The main thing is to make sure that the size of the franchise is indicated in the policy in numbers and lettering to exclude errors. In the electronic policy, this information is also reflected in the “Franchise” or “Special Marks” section.
When an insured event occurs, the algorithm of actions does not change: you report the incident to the RESO, provide documents and the car for inspection. The expert shall assess the damage. If the value exceeds the size of your conditional deductible, the payment is made in full. If not more, you will receive a notification of denial of payment due to the franchise. In this case, you have the right to organize repairs or contact the service with which you have an agreement.
⚠️ Attention: Don’t try to artificially inflate damage to exceed the franchise threshold. RESO insurance companies have databases and experienced experts who will easily detect fraud attempts, which can lead to denial of payment throughout the case and entry into the database of unscrupulous customers.
What if the amount of damage is borderline?
If the expert counted the amount slightly less than the deductible, you have the right to disagree with the assessment and order an independent examination. However, you pay the costs of independent expert services yourself. If the difference between the amount of damage and the deductible is less than the cost of an independent examination, it is more economically expedient to accept the terms of the insurance or try to negotiate with the service station for a discount on repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can the franchise size be changed in the middle of the policy term?
As a rule, changing the essential terms of the contract, such as the size of the franchise, in the middle of the term of the policy is impossible without recalculating the premium and formalizing a new contract. This usually requires you to terminate your old policy and buy a new one, which may result in a loss of a portion of the premium paid or additional fees. It is recommended to determine the size of the franchise before buying.
Does the franchise extend to car theft?
In most standard CASCO programs, the deductible (especially the conditional) applies only to the Damage risk. The risk of “Stolen” and “Total Death” is often insured without a franchise or with separate, higher terms. You should see the exact information in your policy in the section “Risk Franchise”.
What happens if several cars are damaged in one accident (massive accident)?
The franchise applies to every insurance event. If your car was involved in a single event (even a mass accident), it is considered a single insured event and the deductible applies once to the total amount of damage to your car. If there are several separate events on different days, the franchise applies to each of them separately.
Does the deductible payout affect the bonus-malus ratio (MBM)?
If the damage did not exceed the size of the franchise and the payment was not made, such a case is not considered insurance in the PSA (for CTP) or internal insurance base (for CASCO), and MSC does not worsen. If the payment was made (damage above the franchise), then this is a full-fledged insurance event that may affect the cost of the policy in the next year.
Can I give up the franchise after buying the policy?
It is impossible to refuse the franchise and receive back part of the award unilaterally. It's a change in the terms of the contract. You can terminate the contract and enter into a new one, but this will entail recalculation at current rates, which may be higher, and withholding part of the premium for the duration of using the insurance.