“the repair bill was almost double what I’d saved all year”
Honestly, that’s the risk. You can go years without a claim, then bam—one accident and you’re out a chunk of cash. I get the temptation to save on premiums, but random stuff does happen. I drive a lot for work and thought I’d never need it... until a deer jumped out last fall. Didn’t see that coming. Sometimes it’s just bad luck, not your driving.
I hear you—stuff just happens, no matter how careful you are. Personally, I keep my deductible a bit lower, especially with the old cars. Parts and labor can get pricey fast, and finding replacements for classics isn’t always straightforward. Saving a little on premiums is nice, but getting hit with a massive bill after a fender bender? That stings way more in my experience. For me, peace of mind’s worth the extra few bucks a month.
I get where you’re coming from—old cars can be a headache when it comes to repairs. But I’ve seen folks save a decent chunk by bumping up their deductible, especially if they’re not prone to accidents or have a good driving record. One guy I worked with had a ‘72 Chevelle and went with a higher deductible just because he barely drove it, mostly just to shows and back. He figured the risk was low enough that the savings on his premium made more sense for him.
It’s definitely not for everyone, though. If you’re using your classic as a daily driver or you know parts are impossible to find, keeping the deductible low is probably safer. But for those who only take their cars out on sunny weekends? Sometimes rolling the dice on a higher deductible isn’t as risky as it sounds... just depends on your comfort level and how much you actually drive.
It’s definitely not for everyone, though. If you’re using your classic as a daily driver or you know parts are impossible to find, keeping the deductible low is probably safer.
I get the logic behind upping the deductible, but honestly, I’ve seen it backfire. Even if you’re just driving to shows, all it takes is one distracted driver or a runaway shopping cart and suddenly you’re out a big chunk of cash before insurance even kicks in. Those “sunny weekends” can get expensive fast if you’re unlucky. For me, peace of mind’s worth a little extra on the premium.
all it takes is one distracted driver or a runaway shopping cart and suddenly you’re out a big chunk of cash before insurance even kicks in.
That’s exactly what worries me too. I get tempted by the lower monthly bill, but then I think about how unpredictable people are on the road (or even in parking lots). I had a friend who bumped up his deductible to save some cash, and then someone sideswiped his car at a stoplight. He ended up paying way more out of pocket than he’d saved over the year.
I guess if you’re really confident you won’t need to file a claim, it might make sense, but for most folks, that peace of mind is hard to put a price on. Sometimes paying a bit more upfront just feels safer, especially with older cars where repairs can get pricey fast.
