Yeah, that’s the thing—minimums are just a legal checkbox, not actual protection. I see folks all the time who think they’re covered until something goes sideways. Ever looked at how much it’d cost to fix a bumper with all those sensors? It’s wild. Curious if anyone here’s actually bumped up their coverage after seeing a repair bill?
Ever looked at how much it’d cost to fix a bumper with all those sensors? It’s wild.
Tell me about it. Last year, I tapped a curb in my Outback—barely a scratch, but the backup sensor got messed up. Dealer wanted over $1,200 just for that tiny fix. Minimum coverage wouldn’t have touched it. Upped my policy right after. Honestly, with the tech in cars now, minimums are just asking for trouble. Not worth the risk if you actually drive anywhere.
Yeah, those “minor” fender benders aren’t so minor anymore. My neighbor’s Camry needed a new headlight after a parking lot mishap—just the part was $900 because of some fancy adaptive thing. She thought her insurance would cover it, but with the deductible and her basic policy, she was still out almost the whole amount. Sometimes I miss the days when a bumper was just a hunk of plastic and not a science project.
I get what you’re saying about the cost of repairs these days—stuff’s gotten wild. But I’m not totally convinced that the insurance minimums are always the problem. Like, in your neighbor’s case, it sounds like the issue was more about her deductible and maybe not having comprehensive coverage, right? I’ve been shopping around for my first policy and noticed that even with higher coverage, you’re still on the hook for a lot if you pick a high deductible to keep premiums down.
Honestly, it feels like a trade-off no matter what you do. You pay more every month for lower out-of-pocket costs, or you gamble with a bigger deductible and hope nothing happens. The tech in cars is definitely making things pricier to fix, but I wonder if it’s more about picking the right coverage for your situation than just bumping up the minimums across the board. Not sure there’s a perfect answer... insurance always feels like a bit of a gamble.
Why California’s minimum car insurance might not be enough
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the trade-offs. I remember when I first got my own policy, I went for the lowest premium possible—felt like a genius until a fender bender set me back way more than I’d saved. Turns out, those minimums barely covered anything once the dust settled. The deductible was just the start... then there were all these little things that weren’t included because I’d skipped comprehensive and collision to save a few bucks.
It’s wild how much repairs cost now, too. My mechanic joked that replacing a bumper on my old Civic costs more than his first car did. And with all the sensors and cameras in newer cars, even a minor scrape can turn into a wallet-buster.
I guess it really does come down to figuring out what you can handle if something goes wrong. Minimums might keep you legal, but they don’t always keep you protected. It’s like rolling the dice—sometimes you win, sometimes you end up eating ramen for a month to pay off your deductible.
