Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I drive about 60 miles round trip every day for work, so I’ve thought about this a lot. Here’s how I landed on my deductible:
- Had a $1000 deductible for years because it made my monthly payment way cheaper. Figured I was a careful driver, never had an accident, why not save the cash?
- Then last winter, I hit black ice and slid into a guardrail. First time anything like that ever happened to me. The repairs were just over $1200, so after my deductible, insurance barely covered anything.
- That stung. I realized saving $15-20 a month wasn’t worth the stress of having to cough up a grand out of nowhere.
Now I keep my deductible at $500. Yeah, it’s a bit more each month, but I don’t worry as much when the roads get sketchy or if something totally random happens (like your neighbor’s deer situation—those things are everywhere around here).
I know some folks are comfortable rolling the dice, especially if they’ve got a solid emergency fund. But for me, peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks. Plus, with all the miles I rack up, odds are just not in my favor forever.
Guess it really does come down to how much risk you’re cool with. For me, after that guardrail incident, I’m good paying a little more to avoid another nasty surprise.
Now I keep my deductible at $500. Yeah, it’s a bit more each month, but I don’t worry as much when the roads get sketchy or if something totally random happens (like your neighbor’s deer situation—those things are everywhere around here).
I hear you on the deer—had a close call myself last fall. It’s wild how quick things can go sideways even if you’re being careful. I used to think the higher deductible was the way to go too, especially since I’d never filed a claim. But after seeing a coworker get hit with a $900 bill after hail damage (barely over her $1k deductible), I started rethinking things.
I’m with you that peace of mind counts for a lot, especially if you’re driving long distances every day. For me, it’s not just about accidents—it’s those weird, random events you can’t predict. Like one morning, a truck in front of me kicked up a rock and cracked my windshield. Not huge, but still annoying and another thing to shell out for.
Some folks like to gamble and keep their deductible high to save monthly, and I get that if you’ve got enough saved up to cover a big expense on short notice. But honestly, after seeing how fast those “never happens” moments can sneak up, I’d rather budget a little more each month and not stress about it.
It really does come down to what makes you feel comfortable. For me, knowing I won’t have to scramble for cash if something goes wrong just makes the daily grind less stressful. And yeah…with all the miles most of us put in these days, odds catch up eventually.
Honestly, I’m right there with you—peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks a month. Here’s how I look at it:
- If you’ve got a solid emergency fund, a higher deductible might make sense, but only if you’re actually comfortable dipping into those savings.
- For folks like me who drive a lot (and in deer country, no less), the odds of something random happening just feel higher.
- I’d rather pay a bit more each month than get blindsided by a big bill after a fender bender or a rogue rock.
It’s not always about “winning” the insurance game—sometimes it’s just about sleeping better at night.
It’s not always about “winning” the insurance game—sometimes it’s just about sleeping better at night.
Totally get that. I used to go with the lowest deductible just for that peace of mind, but after running the numbers a few years back, I realized I was overpaying. My car’s not brand new, and I’ve got a small rainy day fund, so I bumped my deductible up a notch. It stings a little if something happens, but honestly, the monthly savings stack up. For me, it’s all about weighing how likely I am to actually file a claim versus what I can comfortably pay out of pocket if things go sideways. Everyone’s risk tolerance is a bit different, though.
Yeah, I hear you, but for me it’s a bit of a gamble. My driving record isn’t exactly spotless—couple fender benders and a speeding ticket last year. I tried raising my deductible once to save cash, but the stress of knowing one small accident would cost me big just wasn’t worth it. Now I stick to something in the middle...not the cheapest, but not sky-high either. It’s all about what you can stomach, I guess.
