I’ve seen people get burned by going too high on the deductible, thinking “I’ll never need it,” and then something random happens—hailstorm, fender bender, whatever.
Man, that hits close to home. I thought I was being clever bumping my deductible way up on my ‘72 Chevelle, figured I’d just stash the difference. Fast forward a year—tree limb outta nowhere, big ol’ dent. The “savings” didn’t even make a dent in the repair bill (pun intended). Makes you rethink what peace of mind is worth, honestly. Sometimes it feels like insurance is just one big guessing game…
That’s rough. It’s wild how you can do all the “smart” math and it still doesn’t work out the way you expect. I’ve wrestled with the same thing—do you play it safe and pay more every month, or risk it and hope nothing happens? For me, the anxiety of a big, unexpected bill just isn’t worth the few bucks I’d save. Do you feel like you’d go lower next time, or is it just a roll of the dice either way?
That’s rough.
Honestly, I kinda see it the other way. I get that “the anxiety of a big, unexpected bill just isn’t worth the few bucks I’d save,” but for me, those monthly payments add up fast. I’d rather take my chances and keep more cash in my pocket unless something actually happens. Maybe it’s just because I’ve never had to file a big claim (knock on wood), but paying extra every month feels like money down the drain. Guess it depends on your luck—or maybe just your tolerance for risk.
Picking a deductible really does feel like betting on yourself, doesn’t it? I’ve been driving for decades and, honestly, I’ve flip-flopped between high and low deductibles more times than I care to admit. You’re not wrong—paying extra every month stings, especially if you never end up using it. But then again, the one time I did have a fender bender, I was pretty happy my deductible wasn’t sky-high. It’s kind of like paying for gym membership you hope you never need... except with less sweating.
It’s kind of like paying for gym membership you hope you never need... except with less sweating.
Honestly, I’d rather pay a bit more and not have to stress if something happens to my car. Repairs on these things aren’t cheap. Have you ever tried getting a scratch buffed out on a luxury paint job? Not fun. But yeah, it does feel like a gamble—just depends how much risk you’re willing to take.