Peace of mind is worth skipping one fancy coffee a month.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s wild how just a small bump in coverage can make such a difference, both financially and mentally. I used to think the minimums were enough until a friend had an accident—ended up owing way more than insurance covered. Since then, I don’t mind paying a little extra for that security. It’s not just about your own car, but protecting yourself from the unexpected.
I used to roll my eyes at the idea of “more coverage,” thinking it was just upselling. But then my neighbor’s teenager rear-ended a Tesla and the bill was way more than their basic policy covered. Watching them scramble to pay out of pocket was a wake-up call. I still grumble about every rate hike, but honestly, knowing I’m not one accident away from financial disaster is worth it... most days, anyway.
Yeah, I used to think the same thing—like, why pay more for something you might never use? But then you see what happens when someone actually needs it. The minimums in California are honestly kind of a joke with how expensive cars are now. I mean, $5k for property damage barely covers a fender bender if you hit anything newer than a 2008 Honda.
I get annoyed every time my premium goes up, but I also know if I ever rear-end a luxury car or even just cause a pile-up, that extra coverage is going to save me from years of debt. My cousin had to take out a loan after an accident because his insurance only covered half the damages. He’s still paying it off and it’s been almost three years.
I still shop around every renewal and try to keep my coverage as lean as possible without going bare minimum. It’s a balance, right? Like, I want to save money but not at the risk of losing everything over one mistake. Sometimes I wonder if there’s a sweet spot—just enough coverage to be safe but not so much that you’re paying for stuff you’ll never need. Anyone else feel like the insurance companies make it intentionally confusing?
Anyway, seeing people have to pay out of pocket is enough for me to suck it up and pay for better coverage... even if it stings a little each month.
That’s exactly what I keep coming back to—like, how do you actually figure out what’s “enough” coverage? I keep reading stories like your cousin’s and it makes me nervous about just sticking with the minimums. But then when I look at the higher coverage options, it’s hard to tell what’s just upselling and what’s actually useful.
Has anyone ever actually had to use their higher limits, or is it mostly peace of mind? I’m trying to decide if it’s worth stretching my budget for more than the state minimums, or if that’s just overkill for most people.“Sometimes I wonder if there’s a sweet spot—just enough coverage to be safe but not so much that you’re paying for stuff you’ll never need.”
That’s exactly what I keep coming back to—like, how do you actually figure out what’s “enough” coverage? I keep reading stories like your cousin’s and it makes me nervous about just sti...
Honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing. Like, is “peace of mind” just code for “paying extra for nothing”? I had a fender bender last year and the minimums barely covered the other guy’s bumper. Made me think twice about that “sweet spot” you mentioned. Anyone else ever feel like insurance is just legalized anxiety?
