"Deductibles aren't just about driving skill or caution—there's always that random factor like weather or other drivers."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Had a similar experience last winter when a tree branch fell on my parked car during a storm... talk about bad luck. Personally, I think once your car hits a certain age or lower value, it doesn't make much sense to keep a super low deductible. Better to stash away that extra cash each month in case something happens, instead of paying higher premiums for coverage you might never use.
Haha, a tree branch? Man, that's rough... Mother Nature really has it out for parked cars, huh? But yeah, totally get your point—why pay extra for coverage on a car that's seen better days anyway?
"Mother Nature really has it out for parked cars, huh?"
Haha, seriously... reminds me of a client I had a while back whose car got hit by hail twice in one summer. Talk about bad luck. But yeah, you're right—no sense paying extra for coverage on an older car that's already been through the wringer. Usually, I suggest folks pick a deductible they're comfortable paying out-of-pocket without losing sleep. It's all about balancing risk tolerance with your wallet, you know?
"Usually, I suggest folks pick a deductible they're comfortable paying out-of-pocket without losing sleep."
That's a sensible approach. I've always leaned toward lower deductibles myself, mostly because I had one nasty experience a few winters back. A tree limb snapped under heavy ice and landed squarely on my parked car—talk about frustrating. Since then, I'd rather pay a bit more each month just for peace of mind...though I can see why someone with an older vehicle might choose differently.
I get the logic behind choosing a deductible you're comfortable with, but honestly, as someone who's had my share of fender-benders, I tend to go for a higher deductible just to keep my monthly payments down. A few years back, I was paying for low deductibles thinking it was safer, but after a couple speeding tickets and one minor accident (totally my fault, I'll admit), my premiums shot up anyway. Felt like I was throwing money away every month.
After that, I switched tactics—went with a higher deductible figuring I'd just bite the bullet if something happened. And yeah, it was painful when I did have another small scrape and had to pay out-of-pocket...but overall, I still feel like I'm saving in the long run. Plus, knowing that any claim might jack up my rates even more makes me hesitant to file unless it's something major.
Still, your tree limb story does make me reconsider a bit. Random stuff like that can happen anytime, no matter how careful you are behind the wheel. Maybe there's a middle ground somewhere...
