Choosing between basic liability and full coverage for your first car - what did you go with?

I get what you mean about not wanting to over-insure a beater. I’m in the middle of figuring this out for my first car, and it’s honestly more confusing than I expected. Here’s how I’m breaking it down for myself:

1. What’s the car worth? If it’s only a couple grand,

“if the payout after a wreck wouldn’t even cover a decent used bike, why pay more?”

makes a lot of sense.
2. Is there a loan on it? If the bank owns most of it, full coverage isn’t really optional.
3. How much could I actually afford to lose? Like, if my car got totaled tomorrow, could I swing another one or would I be stuck?
4. What’s my driving situation? I’m in a city with lots of traffic and, honestly, some pretty bad drivers.

I’m leaning toward liability for now since my car isn’t worth much, but part of me worries about those “what if” scenarios. Has anyone ever regretted going with just liability on an older car? Or maybe wished they’d saved that money instead?

I’ve wrestled with this too, especially after we picked up a second car that’s, well, seen better days. Here’s how I looked at it: when our old minivan hit the 200k mile mark, I dropped everything but liability. The premiums for full coverage were creeping up, and honestly, if it got totaled, the payout wouldn’t have covered much more than a set of tires.

But I get the “what if” anxiety. Once, a neighbor’s kid sideswiped us in a parking lot and their insurance covered it, but if it had been my fault? I’d have been out of luck. Still, over the years, the money saved on premiums has added up - enough to help with repairs or even put toward a replacement.

One thing I wonder about: does anyone factor in how often they actually drive? Like, if you’re only using your car for short trips or weekends, does that change your risk calculation? Or is it more about peace of mind regardless of mileage?

I keep going back and forth on this, honestly. I’m about to buy my first car (it’s a 2012 Civic with, like, 140k miles - so not exactly a collector’s item), and I’ve been spreadsheeting the heck out of insurance quotes. The “what if” scenarios are kind of driving me nuts. I keep thinking, “What’s the actual risk here?” Like you said:

One thing I wonder about: does anyone factor in how often they actually drive? Like, if you’re only using your car for short trips or weekends, does that change your risk calculation? Or is it more about peace of mind regardless of mileage?

I’m planning to use mine mostly for errands and maybe the occasional road trip. Part of me thinks, “Hey, low mileage = lower chance of something bad happening.” But then I read stories about people getting rear-ended at a stoplight five minutes from home... so maybe it doesn’t matter how much you drive, just that you’re out there at all.

I’ve noticed the premiums for full coverage are almost half what I paid for my last phone (which is honestly wild), but the payout if something happens isn’t much more than what I’d get selling the car as-is. Is it weird that I’m more worried about random stuff like hail or a tree branch than actually crashing? Maybe that’s just me overthinking.

Do people ever just set a “mental deductible” - like, if something happens and it costs less than X to fix, I’ll just pay out of pocket? Or is that just asking for trouble? I’m trying to figure out if I’m being too cautious or not cautious enough.

Anyway, I’m leaning toward liability only, but there’s still a little voice in my head that keeps saying, “But what if...?” Maybe that never really goes away.

Honestly, I totally get where you’re coming from - this stuff gets in your head. I was in the same boat with my first car (also an older Honda, weirdly enough). I ended up going liability only and just kind of accepted that there’s always going to be that little “what if” voice. For me, it helped to think about how much I’d actually lose if something happened, and whether I could handle it. You’re definitely not alone in worrying more about random stuff like hail than a big crash… I do the same. It’s all just a risk balance, and honestly, nobody ever feels 100% sure.

I get the “what if” voice too, especially when it comes to stuff like hail or random acts of nature. It’s weird how those feel more likely than a big accident sometimes, even though statistically it’s probably the other way around. When I was deciding between liability and full coverage for my first car (a ‘99 Civic that had definitely seen better days), I tried to break it down step by step:

1. **Value of the Car**: First thing I did was check what my car was actually worth. If your car’s only worth a couple grand, paying for full coverage can add up fast and might not make sense. For me, the insurance payout wouldn’t have been much more than what I’d pay in premiums over a couple years.

2. **Deductible vs. Savings**: I looked at how much I’d save each month with liability only, then compared that to the deductible on full coverage. If you’re not saving much, maybe full coverage is worth it for peace of mind. But if you’re saving a lot, it’s something to think about.

3. **Emergency Fund**: This one’s huge. I asked myself if I could afford to just walk away from the car if it got totaled. If you’ve got a little cushion saved up, liability feels less risky.

4. **Driving Habits & Location**: Where you live matters too - if you’re parking on the street in a city with lots of theft or storms, that tips things toward full coverage. But if you’re in a quiet suburb or have a garage, maybe not as much.

5. **Personal Risk Tolerance**: Some people just sleep better knowing they’re covered for everything. Others are fine rolling the dice. There’s no right answer here, but knowing your own comfort level helps.

I ended up going with liability only, but I totally get why some folks stick with full coverage even on older cars. Sometimes it’s just about what lets you sleep at night. One thing I’d add - don’t forget about uninsured motorist coverage if it’s an option where you live. That’s one thing I wish I’d paid more attention to back then.

It’s never a perfect science, but thinking through these steps helped me feel like I was making an informed choice instead of just guessing.