That's an amusing story, but honestly, I'd guess insurers probably lump bear incidents under general wildlife damage rather than snack-specific attacks. From what I've seen, insurance companies tend to keep their categories broad enough to cover a wide range of animal-related mishaps without getting too granular. I once had a windshield cracked by a moose kicking up gravel near Denali—no snacks involved—and my premium still went up slightly afterward. It seems like insurers just factor in the general wildlife risk for certain regions rather than tracking specific triggers like leftover granola bars or beef jerky wrappers. Although, who knows... maybe somewhere deep in an insurance office there's an Excel spreadsheet labeled "Snack-induced Bear Incidents – Alaska." Wouldn't surprise me at all if someone actually tried crunching those numbers.
Haha, as someone who's spent way too many hours staring at insurance spreadsheets, I can confirm there's no "Snack-induced Bear Incidents" column—at least not yet. You're right though, insurers typically group wildlife incidents broadly. But here's a tip: some companies offer discounts if you take wildlife safety courses or install animal deterrents on your vehicle. Might be worth checking out if you're regularly dodging moose gravel or snack-hungry bears...
Good tip on wildlife safety courses—definitely worth it if you're driving in moose-heavy areas. Another overlooked one is mileage tracking apps; insurers sometimes give discounts if your annual mileage is lower than average. Anyone tried that route yet? Curious if it's worth the hassle...
Mileage tracking apps sound good on paper, but honestly, they're not always worth the trade-off. I gave one a shot last year because my mileage was decently low, but the savings turned out pretty minimal. Plus, having the app constantly running drained my phone battery and felt a bit intrusive privacy-wise. I'd personally stick to defensive driving or wildlife safety courses—more straightforward, immediate discounts without the hassle of constant monitoring...
I get your point about the privacy thing—I was skeptical too at first. But honestly, as someone who's stuck paying higher premiums (thanks to a couple speeding tickets...), the mileage app actually made a noticeable dent for me. Sure, it's a bit intrusive, but after a month or two I barely noticed it running. Battery drain wasn't awful either, at least not on my phone. Defensive driving courses are great, but if you're already labeled high-risk, every little bit counts...
