Honestly, I’ve gone back and forth on this for years. One time I tried to “outsmart” the system with a higher deductible, then my neighbor’s kid clipped my mirror and suddenly the savings didn’t feel so smart. Has anyone actually done the math on how many years you’d need to go accident-free for the higher deductible to pay off? I always get lost in the numbers and end up just picking whatever feels less stressful at the time...
I’ve wondered about this too, especially after a fender bender a couple years back. I tried to crunch the numbers once—like, if you save $200 a year with a higher deductible, but then have to pay an extra $500 out of pocket after an accident, you’d need at least three years accident-free just to break even. But then there’s peace of mind... I always end up leaning toward the lower deductible just because I hate surprises. Does anyone actually stick with the high deductible long-term?
I keep going back and forth on this. The math makes sense, but I wonder if it changes depending on how likely you are to file a claim at all. Like, what if you’re a super cautious driver and almost never have accidents? Wouldn’t a higher deductible actually save you more in the long run? I get the peace of mind thing, but sometimes I feel like I’m just paying for “what ifs” that might never happen...
That’s a fair point. If you’re the type who rarely files claims, a higher deductible can definitely make sense—lower premiums, and you’re basically betting on your own safe driving. I’ve done the math for myself before and realized I’d have to file a claim every few years just to break even with the lower deductible. Of course, there’s always that nagging “what if,” but sometimes it feels like you’re just paying extra for peace of mind you might never need. It really comes down to your risk tolerance and how much you want to budget for surprises.
I get what you’re saying, but I just can’t bring myself to go with a super high deductible. With two kids and a dog, it feels like chaos is always around the corner. I’d rather pay a bit more each month than get hit with a huge bill if something happens. Maybe I’m just overly cautious, but that peace of mind is worth it for me.
