Honestly, I used to roll my eyes at uninsured motorist coverage too. It just felt like one more thing they tack on to jack up the bill. But after my neighbor got rear-ended by someone who just took off, I started looking at it differently. She was stuck with repairs for months, and her own insurance barely helped since she didn’t have that extra coverage.
I get frustrated with the rate hikes, especially when you’re not the one at fault. It’s like, why am I paying for someone else’s bad decisions? Still, when you crunch the numbers, the cost of adding UM/UIM is pretty low compared to what you’d pay out of pocket if something goes sideways. I’d rather be annoyed by a few extra bucks a month than suddenly owe thousands because someone else bailed.
Insurance is weirdly backwards sometimes... You pay hoping you’ll never need it, but if you do, you’re glad it’s there. Doesn’t make it any less annoying when the renewal letter comes, though.
I hear you on the frustration with rate hikes—it feels like you’re getting dinged for just existing sometimes. But honestly, after years of seeing claims come across my desk, I’d never skip UM/UIM. I’ve watched people who thought they were “safe drivers” get burned by someone else’s mess, and it’s never pretty. One case sticks with me: a guy got T-boned by a driver who had no insurance, and it turned into a nightmare. He was out of work for months, medical bills piling up, and there was basically nothing we could do because he’d waived that coverage to save a few bucks.
I get why people grumble about paying for something they might never use—it feels like a waste until it’s not. The truth is, you can’t control what the other guy does. You can only control your own safety net. The peace of mind is worth a lot more than the couple bucks it adds to the monthly bill, at least in my book. Still, I’ll never get used to those renewal letters either... always feels like a little punch in the gut.
Couldn’t agree more about the peace of mind. I drive a car that costs more than my first apartment, so skipping UM/UIM just isn’t an option for me. The idea of some random uninsured driver totaling my ride and leaving me with the bill? No thanks. Sure, the extra cost stings, but it’s nothing compared to the headache (and wallet-ache) if something goes wrong. I’d rather grumble at renewal time than gamble with a six-figure repair bill...
I hear you, but man, those premiums do add up—especially if you’re already stretching the budget just to keep the car running. Still, I’ve seen what happens when someone gets hit by a driver with no insurance. My neighbor’s old Camry got sideswiped and the other guy just vanished. Took months to sort out, and he still lost money. I’d rather pay a bit more now than get stuck with a mess later... even if it means fewer takeout nights.
Totally get where you’re coming from about the premiums—nobody likes seeing that monthly bill, especially when you’re already pinching pennies to keep the car on the road. But you nailed it with your neighbor’s story. That’s exactly the kind of headache uninsured motorist coverage is meant to prevent. I’ve seen folks think, “Eh, what are the odds?” and then get burned when someone without insurance (or who just takes off) wrecks their ride.
It’s wild how often people assume everyone else on the road is covered, but honestly, there are more uninsured drivers out there than most realize. Ever looked at your state’s stats? Some places, it’s like one in eight drivers—or worse. Makes you wonder if it’s worth rolling the dice.
One thing I always ask people: if your car got totaled tomorrow by a hit-and-run, could you afford to replace it out of pocket? Or pay those medical bills if you got hurt? For a lot of folks, that answer is a hard no. Suddenly, that extra $10 or $20 a month doesn’t seem so bad compared to the alternative.
I do get that it feels like you’re paying for “what-ifs,” and sometimes insurance just seems like this black hole for your money. But when those what-ifs actually happen... man, it’s a whole different story. Had a client once who was rear-ended by someone who’d let their policy lapse. She was frustrated about her premium before, but after that accident? She was relieved she’d kept the coverage.
Not saying everyone needs to max out every option, but uninsured motorist is one of those things that can really save your bacon when things go sideways. It’s not glamorous, but neither is being stuck with a busted car and a pile of bills because someone else bailed.
Curious—has anyone here ever actually had to use their uninsured motorist coverage? Or maybe decided to drop it and regretted it later?
