Good points all around. I agree it's about balancing risk and value. My first car was an older Corolla, and I remember debating this exact thing. Ended up skipping comp because the premium was almost half the car's worth, haha. Luckily nothing major happened, but looking back, it was a bit of a gamble...
"Just gotta know your car's value and how much you're willing to gamble..."
Out of curiosity, has anyone here ever regretted dropping comprehensive coverage on an older vehicle?
I see this scenario play out pretty often at work, and honestly, it's always a tough call. Dropping comp coverage can make sense financially, especially if your car's value is low enough that the premiums just aren't worth it. But man, I've seen some folks kicking themselves after a freak hailstorm or a random deer decides to jump out of nowhere... It really comes down to how comfortable you are rolling the dice. Personally, I'd probably do the same thing you did with an older Corolla, but I might lose sleep during storm season, haha.
Totally get that—it's always a bit of a gamble. For me, the deciding factor usually comes down to running some quick numbers. Here's how I typically do it: first, I check the current market value of my car (KBB or Edmunds usually works fine). Then, I look at what my comprehensive premiums cost per year. If the premiums over two or three years add up to more than half the car's value, I usually drop comp coverage.
I did this exact math on my old Civic recently and ended up dropping it. But man, every time there's a storm warning or I spot a deer lurking near the road, I'm second-guessing myself a little...
Speaking of deer—anyone have any good tips for minimizing deer collisions? I've tried those little whistle things but not convinced they really work. Curious if anyone has found something effective.
"Speaking of deer—anyone have any good tips for minimizing deer collisions? I've tried those little whistle things but not convinced they really work."
Yeah, I'm with you on those whistles—I tried them for a while and honestly couldn't tell if they did anything at all. Felt more like wishful thinking than actual prevention. I've had my fair share of close calls (and one actual collision) with deer, so I've looked into this quite a bit.
One thing I've noticed is that deer seem to move around more at dawn and dusk, especially during fall mating season. I try to be extra cautious during those times, slowing down a bit and scanning the sides of the road more carefully. But even then, it's still kind of a crapshoot.
I've also heard people swear by flashing their high beams briefly if they spot deer near the road—supposedly it startles them enough to keep them from darting out. Not sure how reliable that is though... anyone else tried it?
Another thing that's helped me personally is just knowing the local hotspots. Around here, there's a stretch of highway near some woods where deer cross constantly. I make a mental note to slow down there every time, even if it feels overly cautious.
As for comprehensive coverage, your math makes sense. I dropped mine on an older car once too, but after hitting that deer and paying out-of-pocket repairs, I started second-guessing myself big-time. Now I'm back to carrying comp coverage even though my premiums are annoyingly high (thanks to my less-than-perfect driving record). It's definitely frustrating paying extra every month for something you might never use—but man, when you need it...
Anyway, curious if anyone else has found other practical ways to avoid wildlife collisions besides whistles or flashing lights? Seems like there's gotta be something better out there.
I've never really bought into the flashing high beams thing—seems like it could just as easily confuse deer and make them freeze right in your path. Honestly, the best thing I've found is just keeping my eyes peeled and easing off the gas in wooded areas, especially around curves. My car has night vision assist, which sounds gimmicky but actually picks up animals way before I see them. Pricey option, but it's saved me a couple times already...
