Honestly, you’re not alone in feeling that way. The “one bad day” scenario is exactly why a lot of people stick with lower deductibles, even if the monthly premium is a bit higher. Here’s how I usually break it down for folks:
- If you’re the type who’d rather pay a little more each month for peace of mind, that’s totally valid. Not everyone wants to gamble with their emergency fund.
- The math on higher deductibles only really works out if you go years without a claim. But life’s unpredictable—hail, deer, distracted drivers... stuff happens.
- Some people are comfortable taking that risk because they’ve got a big cushion saved up. Others just don’t want the stress.
I’ve seen clients regret going too high on their deductible after a minor accident left them scrambling for cash. On the flip side, some never file a claim and pocket the savings. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it really comes down to your comfort level and how much risk you want to carry. Your approach makes sense if you’d rather avoid surprises.
Yeah, picking a deductible really does feel like rolling the dice sometimes. I get why you’d want to avoid surprises—especially if you’re driving something expensive. I’ve gone with lower deductibles myself after getting hit by someone who just took off. The peace of mind is worth the extra cash each month for me. You’re not overthinking it; sometimes it’s just about what helps you sleep at night.
I totally get that—peace of mind is a big deal. I keep going back and forth because I’ve never had to file a claim before, so I have no idea what’s “normal.” My car isn’t super fancy, but repairs can still get pricey. Has anyone ever regretted picking a higher deductible when something actually happened? I keep worrying I’ll try to save money now and end up paying way more later...
Honestly, I always go with the higher deductible. In my experience, I’ve only needed to file a claim once in over a decade. The money I saved on premiums more than covered that one bigger hit. If you’re not accident-prone, it’s usually worth it.
Honestly, I always go with the higher deductible. In my experience, I’ve only needed to file a claim once in over a decade.
That makes sense, but I always get stuck thinking through the “what ifs.” Here’s how I usually break it down: 1) Estimate how much you could actually afford to pay out of pocket in a worst-case scenario. 2) Check how much you’d save on premiums with a higher deductible—sometimes it’s not as much as you’d think. 3) Look at your driving habits and where you live (city vs rural, etc). Even though I’m careful, there’s always that random hailstorm or someone backing into you at the grocery store... Just feels like there’s no perfect answer, but running the numbers helps me feel a little less like I’m just rolling dice.
