That “smart bumper” price tag is wild, but honestly, it’s not just luxury cars anymore—almost every new-ish car has some kind of sensor or camera tucked away. I learned the hard way with my last car (an E-class) after a minor scrape. The repair shop quoted me more for a headlight assembly than I paid for my first used car. Since then, I’ve always gone through my policy line by line every renewal.
Here’s how I look at it: First, check what your liability limits actually cover. Then, think about the cars you see around you every day—Teslas, BMWs, even loaded SUVs. If you rear-end one of those, the minimums might not even scratch the surface of the repair bill. I always ask myself: could I pay out of pocket if insurance didn’t cover it? If not, I bump up my coverage.
Curious—has anyone here actually had to use their uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage? That’s one area I’m never sure if I’m overdoing or underdoing...
Curious—has anyone here actually had to use their uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage?
Had to chime in on this one because I’ve actually used my underinsured motorist coverage—twice, unfortunately. Both times, the other driver either had the bare minimum or nothing at all. The first time, it was a fender bender with a guy who had no insurance. My own policy ended up covering my medical bills and some car repairs, but it took months to sort out. The second time, the other driver’s insurance barely covered half of what it cost to fix my car (and it wasn’t even a fancy model).
I get the urge to save money by sticking with minimums, but after those headaches, I started doing a step-by-step check every renewal:
1. Look at what your state minimums actually are (in CA, they’re pretty low).
2. Compare that to the cost of repairs for newer cars—like you mentioned, even “basic” models have expensive parts now.
3. Figure out if you could really pay the difference if someone else hit you and didn’t have enough coverage.
Honestly, I’d rather pay a little more each month than risk getting stuck with a bill I can’t handle. It’s not just about luxury cars anymore.
Honestly, I’d rather pay a little more each month than risk getting stuck with a bill I can’t handle. It’s not just about luxury cars anymore.
Totally hear you on that. I used to think, “Eh, my minivan’s not exactly a Ferrari—why bother?” But then my neighbor’s Prius got rear-ended and the repair bill was wild. Even basic bumpers cost more than my first car did. I’d rather spend a few extra bucks now than have to explain to my kids why we’re eating ramen for a month because someone else skimped on coverage.
- I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes I wonder if we’re just getting squeezed by the insurance companies.
- My last fender bender was barely a scratch and the shop still quoted me over $1,200.
- Is it just me, or have repair costs gone up way faster than everything else?
- Anyone actually had to use their insurance for something “minor” and still got hit with a big bill?
- Makes me question if the minimum coverage is even worth it anymore...
Honestly, I get the frustration—repair costs are wild lately. But I wouldn’t put all the blame on insurance companies. Body shops have jacked up labor rates, and even a tiny sensor in a bumper can cost hundreds to replace now. Minimum coverage might seem like a good deal, but if you actually need it, you could end up paying way more out of pocket than you’d expect. Seen folks get burned thinking “it’ll never happen to me,” then regret not bumping up their limits. Just my two cents...
