I used to go with the lowest deductible I could afford because, let’s be real, my driving record isn’t exactly spotless. After my third fender bender in two years (yeah, not proud), that “bet...
Totally get what you mean about “damage control.” I’ve been there—two kids, a minivan, and let’s just say my parking lot skills aren’t award-winning. For me, I’ve actually crunched the numbers and, weirdly enough, the higher deductible made more sense.
- Fewer claims in the last five years (knock on wood)
- Premiums dropped enough to make the risk worth it
- Stashed some “just in case” cash for emergencies
But yeah, if I was dealing with “third fender bender in two years,” like you mentioned, I’d probably go low too. Guess it really is about knowing your own luck... or lack thereof.
Funny, I actually see it a bit differently. You mentioned,
—but for me, the peace of mind with a lower deductible is worth a little extra in premiums, even if I haven’t had an accident in years. Maybe it’s just my luck on long road trips—random stuff always seems to happen. Ever get that feeling that as soon as you up your deductible, Murphy’s Law kicks in?“the higher deductible made more sense”
I get where you're coming from, but I always look at the numbers. If I go years without a claim, that extra premium for a lower deductible is just money down the drain. I’d rather stash those savings in an emergency fund—if something does happen, at least I’m not out both ways. Maybe it’s just my luck, but I’ve had more “close calls” than actual accidents. Do you ever run the math on how much you’d save over five or ten years? Sometimes the peace of mind comes from knowing you’re not overpaying...
I get what you’re saying about the numbers, and honestly, I’ve tried to do the math a few times myself. The thing that always trips me up is that one “what if” scenario—like, what if I finally have that big accident after years of nothing? I know statistically it’s rare, but my luck’s been weird before. Had a friend who went almost a decade without a single claim, then got rear-ended twice in the same year. He was glad he’d stuck with the lower deductible, even though he’d grumbled about the premiums for ages.
I guess for me it comes down to how much risk I’m willing to take on. I’m not super comfortable with big out-of-pocket costs all at once, so paying a bit more each month feels like buying some breathing room. But yeah, sometimes I look at how much extra I’ve paid over the years and wonder if it’s really worth it... especially when nothing happens.
Do you factor in stuff like rising repair costs or changes in your driving habits? Like, if you start commuting less or your car gets older, does that change how you think about your deductible? I keep thinking maybe I should revisit mine now that my car isn’t worth as much as it used to be.
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. It really does feel like a gamble sometimes—like you’re betting against your own luck. I’ve had years with nothing, then a random fender bender out of nowhere. Honestly, once my old truck started losing value, I did rethink the deductible. Didn’t make sense to pay for coverage that’d barely pay out if something happened. But man, those repair costs keep creeping up... it’s tough to know what’s “right.” You’re not alone in second-guessing it.