Written by Mark Lopez

Deer Hit Your Car? How Comprehensive Deductibles Work for Animal Collisions

The deer leaps in front of your vehicle on the highway in the middle of the night. There isn’t enough time to apply brakes and the accident leaves you without a hood, a cracked windshield, and headlamps. You are stranded now. Will the insurance policy cover you? How much is your car hit by deer comprehensive deductible? And does it differ from your collision deductible?

According to State Farm, there were about 1.7 million claims for animal collisions made by the insurers operating in the U.S. over the July 2024-June 2025 period. The risk that an average American driver hits any animal is 1 in 139 per year and the average cost of an auto comprehensive claim stands at $2,042. However, the crucial point is that your vehicle was damaged in a comprehensive claim, not a collision. And according to the Insurance Information Institute's guide to deductibles, your comprehensive deductible is often lower than your collision deductible, sometimes by hundreds of dollars.

This guide explains which coverage applies, why the type of claim matters for your wallet and your rates, and what to do if a deer collision insurance deductible situation happens to you.

Table of Contents

• Ding-Dong! You Just Bashed That Deer with Your Car: Is This an At-Fault Claim?

• Cost of Deer Accidents (and Insurance Payments)

• What Do You Do When You See a Deer: Hit or Swerve?

• Could a Deer Accident Increase Your Premiums?

• The Deer Accident Time and Place

• 3 Smart Money-Saving Tips from a Car-Animal Accident Attorney

• How PillowPays Helps

• Summary

• Questions and Answers

• Sources
  

Deer Hit Car Comprehensive Deductible: Why It's Not a Collision Claim

If the claim is regarding an accident involving your car being struck by a deer, the claim will fall under the comprehensive policy because animal collision claims are considered unpredictable occurrences along with such things as vandalism, theft, hail, and fire. The car must come into physical contact with the animal.

This distinction matters for two reasons:

• The overall amount will usually be smaller. Some people have a $250 or $500 comprehensive deductible as well as a $1,000 collision deductible. For a deer collision, the deductible would be either $250 or $500, not $1,000

• There's no chance that your premiums will increase due to comprehensive claims. There's no way for fault to be found with a comprehensive claim as animals move around at random.

For a broader look at deductible protection, see our guide to how deductible reimbursement works.

How Much Does a Deer Collision Cost (and What Does Insurance Pay)?

The average comprehensive damage claim is said to be around $2,042 based on industry information, but a collision involving deer reportedly averages more than $4,100 according to State Farm, because the collision typically does damage to several components at once.

Notice the first row: if your deer strike causes $500 in damage and your comprehensive deductible is $500, your insurer pays $0. You cover the entire repair yourself. That's why the damage-vs-deductible math matters. A 2024 Federal Reserve survey found 37% of Americans couldn't cover a $400 emergency. Even a $500 comprehensive deductible is a real burden for many families.

"Deer strikes are one of the most misunderstood claims in auto insurance," says Linda Park, Certified Financial Planner at Horizon Wealth Advisors. "Drivers assume the $1,000 collision deductible applies. When they learn it's comprehensive at $250 or $500, that's a relief. But when the damage is $400 on a $500 deductible, the relief turns to frustration because insurance pays nothing."

Hit the Deer or Swerve? Why Your Choice Changes the Claim Type

In case you strike the deer, then it is an all-peril claim (low deductible, no-fault claim, and usually no increase in premium). However, when you swerve from the impact of the deer and end up colliding with a guardrail, a tree, or even another vehicle, it is classified as a collision claim (high deductible, may be assigned fault, and rate increase).

Safety experts usually recommend that one apply brakes strongly and stick to his lane instead of swerving. The reason is that swerving into oncoming traffic or off the road may result in a more catastrophic crash compared to a collision with the deer. Financially speaking, the comprehensive claim is invariably cheaper than the collision claim.

Will a Deer Accident Raise Your Insurance Rates?

In most cases, no. Animal damage car deductible claims filed under comprehensive coverage typically don't raise your rates because no fault is assigned. Comprehensive claims cover unpreventable events. Your insurer doesn't consider a deer strike to be a driving error. J.D. Power's 2025 auto claims satisfaction study found that 7% of drivers avoid filing legitimate claims because they fear the cost. For deer strikes under comprehensive, that fear is usually unnecessary.

But there are exceptions:

• Several comprehensive claims within a short time span (at least two within a year) can lead to an investigation.

• Some insurance companies operating in areas known for heavy deer populations incorporate comprehensive claims into their rates.

• The rate hike might occur because the claim becomes collision if you take evasive action.

Where and When Deer Collisions Are Most Likely

State Farm's annual analysis shows clear patterns:

Highest-Risk States

• West Virginia: One in 40 chances of colliding with an animal

• Montana: One in 53

• Wisconsin: One in 58

• Nationwide average: One in 139

Peak Months

The months of November, followed by October and December are high-risk months because of the rutting period of the deer in which the animals become more aggressive and often move across the road.

Peak Hours

Sunset to midnight and the hours near dawn are the highest-risk periods, when deer are most active and visibility is lowest. For more on auto deductible strategies, see our guide to auto deductible reimbursement by insurer.

Three Tips to Protect Your Wallet From Animal Collisions

Tip 1: Carry Comprehensive Coverage (Even on Older Cars)

Comprehensive coverage is optional, and many drivers drop it on older vehicles to save money. But if you drive in a deer-prone area, the $50 to $150 per year for comprehensive coverage could save you $2,000 to $4,000+ on a single deer strike. Check your policy to confirm you have it, and review your comprehensive deductible amount. The Insurance Information Institute's guide to lowering homeowners insurance costs explains how deductible choices affect premium pricing across all policy types.

Tip 2: Set Your Comprehensive Deductible Lower Than Your Collision Deductible

It is perfectly okay to have varying deductibles for comprehensive coverage and collision. For instance, having a $250 comprehensive deductible with a $1,000 collision deductible translates to saving of $750 for every claim caused by a collision accident with a $1,000 comprehensive deductible and $1,000 collision deductible. There is only a slight difference in premiums (about $20 - $50 per year) owing to the infrequency and low severity of comprehensive claims.

Tip 3: Go for Comprehensive Coverage Plus Deductible Reimbursement Program.

Even with a relatively modest $250 comprehensive deductible, there will be cumulative costs incurred after several incidents or in combination with the collision and homeowner deductibles. Deductible reimbursement plans will refund your comprehensive deductible within days.

 For homeowners strategies, see our homeowners deductible reimbursement guide. For more strategies, visit more deductible protection strategies.

Key Takeaways

• A car accident with a deer is considered comprehensive coverage, not a collision claim. You pay the comprehensive deductible (ranging from $250 to $500), which is less compared to collision deductible ($500 to $1,000).

• If you swerve off the road to avoid the animal, you will end up making a collision claim with a high deductible and increased premiums. Brake hard and drive on your lane.

• Your rate will not go up since there is no fault involved in a comprehensive claim. The 7% of people who refrain from making a claim due to cost will find it worthwhile in deer accidents.

• There were one million seven hundred thousand animal collision claims filed in 2024-2025. Most dangerous months are November, October, December, and the night-time hours.

• Make sure that the comprehensive deductible is lower than the collision deductible ($250 compared to $1,000, save $750 on each deer accident). Use the reimbursement program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would striking a deer fall under comprehensive or collision coverage?

Comprehensive. Deer strikes are considered to be unavoidable events that do not fall into the collision coverage category. There should be direct contact with a deer for a claim to be eligible.

If a deer hits me, do I have to pay the deductible?

Yes. The deductible applies to your comprehensive coverage and is usually smaller than your collision deductible. Your insurance company will pay nothing towards repairs in case the damage is below your deductible amount.

Can a car insurance provider increase my premiums following a deer collision?

Generally, no. Comprehensive claims involve no fault on your part, so there would probably be no change in your premium. However, several comprehensive claims made in a short period may influence your car insurance rates.

What is the average cost of a car accident with a deer?

State Farm reveals that a typical deer collision claim is over $4,100, with claims varying from $500 for bumper damage to over $10,000 for extensive front-end repair or totaled vehicle. The average comprehensive claim amount, accounting for all forms, stands at $2,042.

Should I collide with the deer or try to avoid it by swerving?

In general, safety professionals advise against trying to dodge the deer and strongly urge slamming on the brakes without veering. This action is dangerous since swerving increases chances of collision with an oncoming vehicle, rolling the vehicle, or crashing into an immobile object. If one takes a financial view, running into the deer leads to a comprehensive claim (low deductible), whereas swerving causes a collision claim (high deductible).

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is solely for educational purposes and should not be considered insurance or financial advice. Policies, deductibles, and the claims process differ from state to state and from insurance company to insurance company.

Sources and References

• Insurance Information Institute (III). (2025). Understanding Your Insurance Deductibles.

• J.D. Power. (2025). U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.

• Federal Reserve Board. (2025). Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024. 

• Insurance Information Institute (III). (2025). 12 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs.

• Insurify. (2026). What Is a Vanishing Deductible in Car Insurance?