That’s a pretty common story these days—tech-packed cars definitely changed the game. I get why folks hesitate to bump up their coverage, especially if you’re used to wrenching on your own ride and keeping costs down. But like you said, all it takes is one fender bender with a luxury car and suddenly you’re looking at a repair bill that makes no sense for how little damage there was.
I’ve seen some people try to split the difference by raising liability limits but skipping comprehensive or collision if their own car isn’t worth much. It’s not perfect, but it does help avoid those “surprise” bills when you’re at fault. Out of curiosity, have you looked into what it’d actually cost to up your liability just a notch? Sometimes it’s not as pricey as people think, especially compared to what you could be out of pocket if something goes sideways.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d actually argue that skipping comprehensive or collision isn’t always the best move, even if your car isn’t worth much. I’ve seen a few folks in my classic car circles get burned by things like theft or hail damage—stuff that liability alone won’t touch. Sure, it’s tempting to save a few bucks, but sometimes those “unlikely” scenarios sneak up on you. Just something to chew on, especially with how unpredictable things can get these days.
sometimes those “unlikely” scenarios sneak up on you
That’s fair, but how do you weigh the cost of adding comp/collision against what you’d actually get back if your car’s not worth much? I’ve seen people pay more in premiums over a couple years than their car’s even worth. Is it just peace of mind, or is there a point where it’s not really worth it? Curious if anyone’s run the numbers for older cars.
Is it just peace of mind, or is there a point where it’s not really worth it?
I hit that wall with my old Civic. Kept paying for comp/collision, then realized after a fender bender that the payout would've barely covered the deductible. At some point, you’re just handing money to the insurance company. For me, once repairs would cost more than the car’s worth, I dropped those extras. Peace of mind is great, but not if it’s just draining your wallet for nothing.
I get where you’re coming from—my old Corolla was basically worth less than my phone by the end, so I ditched comp/collision too. But I still kept a little more than the bare minimum liability. California’s “minimum” is like wearing flip-flops in a construction zone... technically something, but not really enough if things go sideways. One bad day and you could be on the hook for way more than you’d think. Peace of mind’s great, but I’d rather not gamble with my bank account, you know?
