Why California’s minimum car insurance might not be enough

Honestly, I used to think the same way—just get the bare minimum and hope for the best. Then my neighbor got rear-ended by someone with no insurance, and suddenly she was on the hook for thousands. It’s wild how fast those “extras” start to look necessary when you see it up close. I get that money’s tight, but sometimes the risk is just bigger than it seems on paper.

Had a similar wake-up call a few years back. My brother-in-law got into a fender bender and the other guy barely had coverage—ended up dragging on for months and cost way more than he thought. I used to only pay for the basics too, but after seeing that mess, I started adding uninsured motorist. It’s not cheap, but neither is getting stuck with someone else’s bill. Sometimes saving a few bucks just isn’t worth the gamble.

I get where you're coming from, but honestly, I still stick with the minimums.

Sometimes saving a few bucks just isn’t worth the gamble.

I totally get the budget thing—insurance can feel like just another bill you barely see any return on. I used to roll with just the minimums too, thinking if I drove smart, nothing bad would happen. But last year, I got rear-ended at a stoplight (wasn’t even my fault), and the other driver’s insurance barely covered my medical bills, let alone the car repairs. That’s when it hit me how fast costs can add up, even if you’re careful.

I know it’s tough to justify spending more when money’s tight, but sometimes it’s not about your driving—it’s about everyone else out there. Ever thought about what would happen if someone hit you and they didn’t have enough coverage? Or worse, no insurance at all? Just curious how you’d handle that kind of situation.

Title: Why California’s minimum car insurance might not be enough

Honestly, your story hits close to home. I’m just getting into the whole car insurance thing and it’s wild how many details there are to figure out. The minimum coverage seemed like the obvious choice at first—I kept thinking, “I’m a careful driver, what could go wrong?” But hearing stories like yours makes me second-guess if that’s actually smart or just wishful thinking.

One thing I keep wondering about is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Did you have that when you got rear-ended? It seems like that’s the safety net for exactly those situations where someone else doesn’t have enough coverage, but I can’t tell if it’s really worth the extra cost or just another add-on companies push. If you didn’t have it, would it have made a difference in your case?

Also, is it common for people to get stuck with bills even when they’re not at fault? That part freaks me out... The idea that you can do everything right and still end up paying out of pocket. Makes me wonder if there’s ever such a thing as being “over-insured” or if more coverage is always better.

It feels weird to spend more on something I hope never to use, but maybe that’s the point? Kind of like an umbrella—you don’t want it until suddenly you do. Still, with how tight things are financially, every extra dollar matters. How did you decide what was “enough” after your accident? Did your rates go up or did you switch providers?

Appreciate your perspective—it’s helping me think through all this stuff before I just default to the cheapest option.