It does feel random sometimes, but there’s actually a lot going on behind the scenes with how rates are set. Even a “nicer” neighborhood can mean higher claims for vandalism or theft, oddly enough. And certain car models—especially if they’re pricier—tend to cost more to repair or are more attractive to thieves, which can drive up premiums regardless of your driving record. It’s frustrating, especially when you’ve done everything right. Sometimes, shopping around or tweaking coverage can help, but I get why it feels like the system’s just rolling dice...
Sometimes, shopping around or tweaking coverage can help, but I get why it feels like the system’s just rolling dice...
Yeah, it really does feel like that. I actually called my agent last year when our rate jumped and found out it was partly because repair costs for our minivan went up across the board, not anything we did. Have you tried raising your deductible or dropping some extras? Sometimes that shaves off a bit, though it’s a tradeoff if you ever need to file a claim.
Have you tried raising your deductible or dropping some extras? Sometimes that shaves off a bit, though it’s a tradeoff if you ever need to file a claim.
That’s the part that always makes me nervous—raising the deductible sounds good until something actually happens. Has anyone here actually had to pay out a higher deductible after making that change? Did it end up being worth it, or did you regret it?
I bumped my deductible up a couple years ago to save on premiums, thinking I’d just drive extra careful. Didn’t work out—rear-ended someone in stop-and-go traffic. Ended up paying way more out of pocket than I saved on the premiums. Honestly, it stung. The savings looked good on paper, but when you’re actually writing a check for a couple grand, you start questioning if it was worth it. If you’ve got a spotless record, maybe it’s fine, but if you’ve had a few close calls or tickets like me, it’s a gamble. I’d call it a lesson learned... not sure I’d do it again.
If you’ve got a spotless record, maybe it’s fine, but if you’ve had a few close calls or tickets like me, it’s a gamble. I’d call it a lesson learned...
Yeah, that’s the tough part—on paper, a higher deductible seems like a smart play, but when you’re actually forking over the cash, it’s a different story. I see this a lot with folks thinking, “I’ll just be extra careful,” but accidents can happen to anyone, even with a clean record.
Curious if you looked into how much your premium would’ve gone up if you’d kept the lower deductible? Sometimes the difference isn’t as big as people expect, especially after factoring in the risk of out-of-pocket costs.
