Yeah, Florida drivers are a whole different breed... I’ve done a few cross-state trips and honestly, every time I’m on I-4 or the Turnpike, it feels like I’m dodging people who think blinkers are optional. I used to carry just the minimum too, mostly because I figured “what are the odds?” But then my cousin got sideswiped near Tampa—her car was totaled and the other guy had no insurance at all. She ended up paying out of pocket for a rental and still owes on her old car. That was enough for me to bump up my coverage.
It’s tempting to save a few bucks, but after seeing how fast things can go sideways, especially with so many uninsured drivers around here, I’d rather pay a bit more for peace of mind. Not saying everyone needs full coverage, but the bare minimum just feels like rolling the dice.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. It’s wild how fast a “just in case” scenario can turn into a real headache. I used to think minimum was fine too, but after seeing a friend get stuck with bills after a hit-and-run, I upped mine. It’s not cheap, but neither is getting caught off guard. Sometimes it feels like overkill, but I’d rather be safe than sorry, especially around here.
Yeah, I totally get the urge to just stick with the minimum, especially with how expensive everything’s gotten. But after my second fender bender (not proud of it), I realized how fast those costs add up.
- First time, I only had the minimum. My car was toast, and the other guy’s damage went way past what my policy covered. Ended up paying out of pocket for months.
- Second time, I’d bumped up my coverage. Still a pain, but at least I wasn’t scrambling to cover someone else’s repairs or medical bills.
Honestly, even if you’re a careful driver, stuff happens—especially in Florida traffic. The peace of mind is worth it for me now. Minimum might look good on paper, but one bad day and you’re wishing you’d paid a little extra. Just my two cents...
Not gonna lie, I’ve run the numbers a few times and still stick with the minimum. I get where you’re coming from—
—but for me, it’s about risk tolerance and what I can actually afford. I drive an old beater, barely worth more than the deductible, and I park it like it’s made of glass. Haven’t had an accident in over a decade (knock on wood). If something happens, yeah, it’ll sting, but I’d rather save that cash month to month. Maybe not for everyone, but it works for me... so far.“one bad day and you’re wishing you’d paid a little extra.”
I totally get where you’re coming from—if your car isn’t worth much, the math really does point toward carrying just the minimum. I used to drive older cars myself and always felt like paying for comprehensive or collision was just throwing money away. But once I upgraded, my perspective shifted a bit.
With a higher-value vehicle, the stakes feel different. Even with careful parking and defensive driving, there’s always that unpredictable element—weather, other drivers, random stuff in the road. Florida’s insurance minimums are pretty barebones too, especially when it comes to liability coverage. If you’re at fault in an accident and the damages go beyond your policy limits (which honestly isn’t hard if you hit a newer car or someone gets injured), you could be on the hook for the difference. That’s what keeps me up at night more than anything else... not so much replacing my own car, but worrying about lawsuits or wage garnishment if something really goes sideways.
I’ve also noticed premiums for extra coverage aren’t always as high as I expected, especially if you shop around or bundle policies. It’s not nothing, but for me it’s worth it for peace of mind. Then again, everyone’s risk tolerance is different, and if you’ve gone a decade without an accident, that’s pretty impressive. Maybe I’m just more paranoid than most.
Funny enough, my neighbor has a similar approach to yours—he drives a 20-year-old pickup and barely insures it. He says he’d rather just scrap it if something happens. Meanwhile, I’m over here treating my car like a museum piece and probably overpaying for insurance... but hey, we all make choices that fit our comfort zone.
At the end of the day, I think it comes down to what you can afford to lose vs. what you want to protect. For some folks, saving every month makes more sense; for others (like me), it’s about minimizing worst-case scenarios. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
