Honestly, I’ve seen folks skip comp thinking they’re saving money, then a freak hailstorm or a runaway shopping cart comes along and it’s a different story. It’s not always about the car’s value—sometimes it’s just peace of mind. But yeah, if you’re paying more in premiums than you’d ever get back, that stings. Just depends on your risk tolerance and how much you rely on your ride, I guess.
Title: Hailstorms Aren’t Exactly Rare Out Here…
It’s not always about the car’s value—sometimes it’s just peace of mind.
That right there hits home for me. I used to think comp was just for folks with brand new cars, but after seeing a neighbor’s 10-year-old sedan get absolutely destroyed by hail last spring, I changed my tune. The guy figured he was being smart by dropping comp, since his car wasn’t worth much and the premiums felt like a waste. When the storm rolled through, though, he was left with a busted windshield, dented roof, and no way to get to work. Ended up paying out of pocket for a beater just so he could keep his job.
I get the argument about not wanting to overpay for coverage you might never use, especially if you’re scraping by or driving something with more rust than paint. But honestly, stuff like hail or even random vandalism isn’t as rare as people think. I’m in Kansas too and we see crazy weather every year—tornadoes, hail, you name it. For me, comp is kind of like locking your door at night. Odds are nothing will happen, but if it does, you’ll be glad you did.
That said, I do shop around every renewal and raise my deductible to keep premiums in check. Not saying everyone needs comp on a $1,000 car, but if losing your ride would really screw up your life (and your budget), it’s worth running the numbers at least. Peace of mind is hard to put a price on when you’re counting on your car for everything.
Just my two cents—sometimes “saving” money isn’t really saving if you end up stranded or shelling out way more down the road.
That story about your neighbor sounds way too familiar. We had a hailstorm a couple years back—nothing like Kansas, but enough to leave golf-ball dents all over my old minivan. I remember standing in the driveway, just staring at the mess and thinking, “Well, there goes summer vacation.” Insurance covered most of it, but if I’d dropped comp to save a few bucks, I’d have been in deep trouble with three kids and no backup ride.
I get why folks want to cut costs, especially when every bill feels like it’s creeping up lately. But for us, losing the family car would mean scrambling for rides, missing work, and probably a lot more stress than just paying the premium. Out of curiosity, has anyone actually run the numbers on how much you really save by dropping comp versus what you risk? Sometimes it feels like a gamble either way...
I hear you on the peace of mind, but I’ll admit, I’ve dropped comp on a couple of my older rides. For anything worth less than a few grand, the math just didn’t work for me—premiums ate up too much compared to the payout if something happened. Guess it depends how attached you are to the car and how much risk you’re willing to shoulder. Still, watching hail bounce off my old Chevelle would probably give me a heart attack...
That’s a fair point—when the car’s not worth much, comp can feel like throwing money away. I do a quick cost-benefit every renewal: check current value, estimate comp premium, and weigh it against my risk tolerance. If I’m parking outside in hail country, though, I’ll usually keep comp just for the “sleep at night” factor. Lost an old Accord to a freak hailstorm once...regretted dropping coverage that year. It’s always a bit of a gamble.
