Funny you mention the squirrel thing—last year, I had a deer literally bounce off my hood on a back road. I always tell people, are you really comfortable risking a big out-of-pocket hit just to save a few bucks each month? For some, the math works, but for most folks who drive a lot, low deductible just makes more sense. Do you ever wonder if we’re all just tempting fate with those “I’m a good driver” assumptions?
RIGHT DEDUCTIBLE? IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING A “GOOD DRIVER”
- I drive an S-Class, so yeah, I’m not rolling the dice with a high deductible. One rogue shopping cart and I’m looking at a repair bill that costs more than some used cars.
- People always say “I’m careful, it won’t happen to me.” Right... until a turkey decides to kamikaze your grille at 60 mph. Nature doesn’t care about your driving record.
- Honestly, if you’ve got the savings to cover a $1,000+ deductible without breaking a sweat, fine, take the risk. But most don’t. I’d rather pay a bit more every month and not have to stress when something unpredictable happens.
- Had a friend with a Tesla who thought he was invincible—then a hailstorm shredded his hood and windshield. He’s still mad about that $2,500 deductible.
- For me, it’s peace of mind. I’d rather spend on insurance than gamble with repairs. If you drive something pricey or just drive a lot, low deductible is a no-brainer.
Sure, everyone thinks they’re the exception. Until they’re not.
People always say “I’m careful, it won’t happen to me.” Right... until a turkey decides to kamikaze your grille at 60 mph. Nature doesn’t care about your driving record.
This is exactly it. You can be the safest driver on the road, but you can’t control what everyone (or everything) else does. I used to think I was being “smart” with a higher deductible, but after a deer ran out in front of me last fall, I realized how fast those repair bills add up. Even with a good emergency fund, dropping a couple grand unexpectedly stings.
I get that some folks want to save on monthly premiums, but for me, the peace of mind is worth it. I’d rather budget a little extra each month than stress about coming up with a big chunk of cash after an accident. Especially if you drive something expensive or just have bad luck with parking lots (been there), a lower deductible just makes sense.
It’s not about being paranoid, just realistic. Life throws curveballs, and insurance is supposed to help you sleep at night, not give you more to worry about.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I still lean toward a higher deductible. Not because I think I’m invincible—far from it—but because the math just works out better for me. Yeah, if a deer or turkey decides to play chicken with my car, I’ll be annoyed coughing up the cash. But over the years, the amount I save on premiums adds up to way more than what I’d pay out in one-off repairs.
That said, it’s not for everyone. If you’re driving something new or you know you’d struggle to cover a big bill out of nowhere, then yeah, lower deductible makes sense. But if you’ve got a solid emergency fund and don’t mind taking a calculated risk, why pay the insurance company more than you have to? For me, it’s about balancing risk and reward... and maybe being just a little stubborn about not giving the insurance folks any extra money unless I have to.
I get what you’re saying about the math, and I do agree—if you’ve got a decent cushion set aside, a higher deductible can make sense over time. For me, though, I always run through a quick checklist: how much could I actually cover in a pinch, how likely am I to need to file a claim, and what’s the real difference in premium? One year I went high on the deductible, then got hit with two repairs in six months... that stung more than I expected. Now I usually split the difference—enough savings, but not so much risk that a random accident would wipe out my emergency fund. It’s a bit of a balancing act, honestly.
