Title: Choosing between basic liability and full coverage for your first car—what did you go with?
How do you actually figure out if it’s worth paying for that extra coverage? Is it just a gut feeling, or do people actually crunch the numbers?
Honestly, I’m in the same boat trying to figure this out. I keep hearing people say “just do the math,” but it’s not always that simple. Like, yeah, you can look up how much your car is worth and compare it to what you’d pay for comp/collision each year, but there’s always stuff you can’t predict. My car’s maybe worth $3k on a good day, so part of me thinks, why bother? But then I start thinking about random stuff like hail storms or someone sideswiping me in a parking lot and taking off.
I get the logic behind “if you’re in an area where that’s common, it can get expensive fast,” but how do you even know what’s ‘common’? I’ve lived here a couple years and haven’t seen any crazy weather or crime, but who knows if that’ll change next month. Feels like a gamble either way.
I guess what bugs me is that insurance companies always seem to win no matter what. If nothing happens, I’m out a bunch of money for nothing. If something does happen, there’s still deductibles and they never pay out as much as you hope. Maybe that’s just my skeptical side talking.
I’m leaning toward just sticking with liability for now and setting aside some cash in case something happens. At least then I’m not paying extra every month for “what ifs.” But yeah, sometimes I wonder if I’ll regret it if my luck runs out...
I guess what bugs me is that insurance companies always seem to win no matter what. If nothing happens, I’m out a bunch of money for nothing. If something does happen, there’s still deductibles and they never pay out as much as you hope.
Man, I feel this so much. It’s like playing the world’s least fun slot machine—except the jackpot is just getting your own money back (minus a chunk). I’ve had everything from a $1,000 beater to a car that was barely worth more than its tires, and honestly, I usually just stuck with liability once the value dropped below “would actually cry if it got totaled.”
But you’re right, it’s not just about math. Who can predict when a tree branch decides to go full WWE on your hood? Or when some mystery van leaves you with a new “custom” dent in the grocery store lot? I always ask myself: would I be okay walking away if my car got wrecked tomorrow? If the answer’s yes (or at least “meh”), liability it is.
Still, every time I see hail in the forecast, I start questioning all my life choices...
I get where you’re coming from, but I guess I’m just too paranoid to go liability-only. Had a buddy who got rear-ended and the other driver bailed—his car was toast and he was stuck with nothing. Ever since, I’ve paid for full coverage even though it stings every month. It’s not fun watching that money disappear, but my luck’s never been great, so I’d rather have the safety net. Maybe overkill, but peace of mind counts for something... right?
peace of mind counts for something... right?
Definitely feel that. Full coverage has saved me more than once. Years back, I had a deer jump out in front of me on a back road—total fluke, but it wrecked my front end. Insurance covered way more than I’d ever paid in premiums. I get the sting of monthly payments, but honestly, after that, I can’t imagine going back to liability-only. Maybe it’s just my luck, but I’d rather not gamble with my car.
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. I used to think liability was enough, but after seeing a buddy get rear-ended and then stuck with a huge repair bill, I switched to full coverage. It’s not cheap, but honestly, the stress it saves is worth it for me. I’d rather pay a bit more each month than risk a massive hit if something random happens. Guess it depends on how much you rely on your car, too... I need mine for work, so I can’t really afford to roll the dice.