I get where you’re coming from, but I’d argue there’s a bit of risk in going with just the basics. You mentioned,
That’s great if nothing goes wrong, but I’ve seen folks get hit with unexpected costs—like rental car coverage or windshield repairs—that weren’t included in their “basics.” Sometimes those add-ons seem unnecessary until you actually need them. I tend to weigh the potential out-of-pocket costs against the add-on price, even if it means spending a little more upfront. Peace of mind is worth something, too.“only pay for insurance basics. Definitely saved me some cash for gas station snacks.”
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d argue there’s a bit of risk in going with just the basics. You mentioned, That’s great if nothing goes wrong, but I’ve seen folks get hit with une...
I get what you mean about peace of mind. We went with just the basics when our kids were younger, but after a cracked windshield and a rental car fiasco, I realized those “unnecessary” add-ons can really save you. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit more upfront.
Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit more upfront.
That’s a fair point, and honestly, I’ve seen both sides of this play out. On one hand, the “bare bones” approach can seem appealing—why pay for coverage you might never use? But like you said, when something unexpected happens (cracked windshield, rental car headaches), those add-ons suddenly don’t feel so unnecessary.
I’ll admit, I used to be pretty skeptical about all the extras. It felt like just another way to pad the bill. But after watching a client deal with a rental car accident out-of-state—no coverage for loss of use, ended up paying out of pocket for weeks—I started to rethink things. Sometimes the peace of mind is genuinely worth it.
Still, I think there’s a balance. Not every add-on is essential for everyone. It really depends on your risk tolerance and what you’re comfortable handling if things go sideways. No one wants to pay for stuff they’ll never need, but sometimes it’s better to have it and not need it than the other way around...
Title: Things I wish I'd known before picking my first insurance
Couldn’t agree more about finding that balance. I’ve seen folks save a few bucks by skipping glass coverage, then get hit with a $600 windshield replacement. On the other hand, some extras really are overkill depending on your situation. It’s tricky—sometimes you don’t know what you’ll actually need until you’re in the thick of it.
Skipped glass coverage once, thinking it was just another upsell. Then a rock took out my classic’s windshield—turns out, those aren’t cheap or easy to find. Lesson learned the hard way. Some “extras” aren’t so extra when you actually need them.