Honestly, I see both sides here. If you’ve got a tight budget, a high deductible can feel like playing with fire—one fender bender and suddenly you’re scrambling for cash. On the flip side, if you drive a lot or park on the street often (hello, city life), the peace of mind from a lower deductible is hard to beat, even if it means paying a bit more each month.
But here’s the thing most folks don’t realize: sometimes the monthly savings from raising your deductible aren’t as big as you’d expect. Like, bumping it from $500 to $1000 might only shave off $10-15/month depending on your record and car. Worth running the numbers before making the jump.
Personally, I tell friends to keep their deductible low if they know they’d stress about covering it after an accident. But if you’re good at saving and not prone to small claims, upping it can make sense. Guess it really comes down to how much risk keeps you up at night—or doesn’t.
Honestly, as someone who’s had more than a few “oops” moments behind the wheel, I’m pretty skeptical about high deductibles. I get the logic—save a bit each month—but man, when you’re the type who seems to attract bad luck (or bad drivers), that extra $500 or $1000 can sting hard. I tried upping mine once and, wouldn’t you know it, got rear-ended two months later. Ended up regretting it big time. For me, peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks a month... especially with my track record.
