We went through something similar—upped our deductible to save a few bucks, then BAM, hailstorm hits two months later. Car looked like a golf ball afterward...lesson learned the hard way. Now we stick with mid-range deductibles and cross our fingers.
I've been debating this deductible thing myself lately. I get the logic behind mid-range deductibles, but honestly, as someone who's had a few too many close calls (and one not-so-close call that ended with a mailbox in my passenger seat...), I'm always torn between saving money upfront and worrying about the "what ifs."
I mean, how do you guys factor in your driving habits when choosing a deductible? Like, if you're someone who knows you're prone to minor scrapes or parking lot dings (guilty here), does it make sense to just bite the bullet and pay more monthly for a lower deductible? Or do you still roll the dice and hope nothing major happens?
A buddy of mine swears by keeping his deductible super high because he figures he'll save enough over time to cover any mishaps. But he's also the guy who drives like my grandma and parks at the far end of every parking lot. Me, on the other hand... let's just say parallel parking isn't exactly my strong suit.
Also, does anyone else feel like insurance companies kinda bank on us being overly cautious or overly optimistic? Feels like no matter what deductible I pick, I'm always second-guessing myself afterward.
Yeah, this is always a tricky one for me too. I've done both extremes—had a high deductible thinking I'd save cash, then ended up sideswiping a pole at a gas station (don't ask...). Ended up paying out-of-pocket, and it hurt. Now I stick with something mid-range. I'd rather pay a bit more monthly than stress every time I squeeze into a tight parking spot on a road trip.
Totally get you on this one. I used to go for the cheapest monthly rate possible because, honestly, I figured I'd never need it. Big mistake. One rainy night, hydroplaned right into someone's mailbox... mailbox was fine, my bumper wasn't. Paying that deductible stung way more than the monthly savings felt good. Now I just bite the bullet and pay a little extra each month—peace of mind is worth it when you're prone to "adventures" like mine, haha.
Yeah, learned that lesson myself too. But do you guys think the type of car matters when choosing your deductible? I drive a luxury car, and even minor repairs can get pricey fast. I used to think higher deductibles made sense since I rarely had issues, but one cracked headlight later... ouch. Now I'm wondering if it's smarter to factor in your car's make and model more heavily when deciding on deductibles. Thoughts?
