Yeah, I hear you. I used to think my car was “just a car” until a tiny fender bender set me back almost two grand—just for a busted sensor and a scratched bumper. The tech in these things is wild. I get why people want to save, but honestly, minimum coverage feels like playing roulette with your wallet. Still, I kinda wish insurance companies didn’t make it feel like you’re paying for a spaceship, not a car...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Last year, a friend of mine rear-ended someone at like 10 mph—barely a tap. The other car had all these sensors and cameras, and the repair bill was insane. Her insurance only covered the bare minimum, so she ended up paying thousands out of pocket. It’s wild how even a minor accident can spiral into a financial mess. I know full coverage isn’t cheap, but with all the tech packed into cars now, minimum just feels risky. Sometimes I wonder if we’re insuring computers on wheels more than cars...
It’s wild how much the tech in cars has changed the whole insurance game. I totally get what you mean about feeling like we’re insuring computers more than cars now—sometimes it feels like a fender bender is more about fixing sensors and cameras than actual metal. I had a similar experience last year. Someone backed into my parked car in a lot, and even though the bumper just looked scratched, the shop said the backup camera and some parking sensors were shot. The bill was way higher than I expected, and my insurance barely covered any of it because I’d gone with the minimum to save money.
Here’s how I started looking at it:
1. First, I checked what the minimum liability actually covers in California. Turns out, it’s really just for the other person’s car and injuries—not yours.
2. Then, I looked at what it would cost to repair or replace all the tech in my own car if something happened. Even a side mirror with a blind spot sensor is hundreds of bucks now.
3. After that, I compared how much extra per month it’d be to bump up to comprehensive or collision coverage. It wasn’t cheap, but when I did the math, one accident could wipe out years of “savings” from having minimum coverage.
I get that not everyone can afford full coverage, and sometimes it feels like you’re paying for stuff you’ll never use. But with how complicated cars are getting, the risk of a small accident turning into a huge bill is just so much higher now. I guess the only upside is that all this tech might make accidents less likely... but when they do happen, yeah, it’s a mess.
Honestly, sometimes I miss the days when a bumper was just a bumper and you could pop it back into place yourself. Now, it’s like you need an IT department just to fix a taillight.
I totally get where you’re coming from about the tech making repairs so much pricier, but I do wonder if full coverage is always the right move for everyone. Have you thought about how much your car is actually worth right now? Sometimes, especially with older cars, the cost of comprehensive or collision can add up to more than what you’d get back if something happened. I’ve seen folks pay for years and then realize their payout wouldn’t even cover a decent down payment on a replacement.
Also, not every driver racks up the same risk. If you barely drive or mostly park in a garage, is it worth paying extra every month? There’s definitely a balance between peace of mind and over-insuring. I’m not saying minimum is always enough, but sometimes it makes sense to run the numbers based on your own situation instead of just assuming more coverage is better. The tech is wild, though... I miss when a cracked taillight was a $20 fix at the auto parts store.
Sometimes, especially with older cars, the cost of comprehensive or collision can add up to more than what you’d get back if something happened.
That’s exactly what happened with my old Corolla. I crunched the numbers and realized I was shelling out more for full coverage every year than the car was even worth. Dropped it down to liability only and just kept a rainy day fund for repairs. Not saying it works for everyone, but sometimes you’re just throwing money away on coverage you’ll never really use. Newer cars, though...that tech is a wallet killer if anything goes wrong.
