Minimum coverage sounds good on paper, but yeah, Arkansas potholes and mystery dings will eat your savings alive. I used to think “it won’t happen to me,” then a deer decided my hood was the place to be. Full coverage hurt my wallet, but not as much as the repair bill would’ve. Guess you pay either way—just depends when.
Yeah, that “it won’t happen to me” mindset is a tough one to shake. I used to drive around with just the minimum too—figured I was being smart with my money. Then, out of nowhere, a hailstorm rolled through while my car was parked outside a friend’s place in Little Rock. Dents everywhere, windshield cracked... The repair estimate made me seriously reconsider my coverage choices.
I get that full coverage isn’t cheap, but after that mess, I started seeing it more like paying for peace of mind. Still, it’s not always an easy call—especially if your car isn’t worth a ton or you’re trying to save every dollar.
Curious if anyone here has actually dropped down to liability only and then regretted it? Or maybe had the opposite experience and felt like full coverage was overkill? Seems like there’s no one-size-fits-all answer with Arkansas roads and wildlife doing their thing.
That “it won’t happen to me” mindset is everywhere, and honestly, I used to have it too. I’ve been labeled a high-risk driver after a couple of fender benders and a speeding ticket, so my insurance rates are already up there. For a while, I thought about dropping down to liability only, just to save some cash. But after seeing what a single accident can cost—especially if you’re at fault or if something random like hail or a deer comes out of nowhere—it made me think twice.
“Curious if anyone here has actually dropped down to liability only and then regretted it?”
I did, for about six months. Then I got rear-ended by someone who didn’t have insurance. My liability-only policy didn’t help with my own car’s damage, and I was stuck paying out of pocket. That was a wake-up call. Full coverage isn’t cheap, but for folks with higher risk (like me), it’s almost a necessity unless your car’s really not worth much.
That said, if your car’s older and you could afford to replace it, liability might make sense. But with Arkansas weather and all the wildlife, it feels like rolling the dice every time you get behind the wheel.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve crunched the numbers a few times myself, especially when my premiums jumped after a minor accident last year. Here’s how I usually break it down:
1. Figure out your car’s current value. If it’s worth less than what you’d pay for a year or two of full coverage, liability might make sense.
2. Consider your risk tolerance. Arkansas weather is unpredictable—hail, deer, flash floods... it’s not just about other drivers.
3. Look at your savings. If you could cover repairs or even replace your car without too much pain, liability is less risky.
4. Don’t forget uninsured motorist coverage. Even with liability only, adding that can help if someone else hits you and they’re not insured (which happens more than you’d think).
I dropped to liability on an old Civic once and lucked out, but I was sweating every time a storm rolled in. If you’re high-risk and your car’s still got value, full coverage is probably the safer bet—even if it stings at renewal time.
Yeah, I hear you on the weather—Arkansas really does keep you guessing. I’m always a little skeptical about dropping to liability, though. Had a buddy who did that and then a tree branch took out his windshield during one of those “surprise” storms. Ended up costing him way more than the difference in premiums. Guess it’s all about how much risk you’re willing to stomach... but man, those renewal bills do make you think twice.
