Bumping up the deductible does make sense if you’re really trying to cut costs, but honestly, I’m not sure it’s worth it unless you’ve got some cash set aside for emergencies. I looked at dropping roadside too, but then my friend got stranded last winter and paid way more out-of-pocket than the coverage would’ve cost. Kinda made me rethink that one.
Accident forgiveness sounds great until you realize most companies just won’t give it to you if you’ve had tickets recently. It’s almost like a carrot they dangle for people with clean records. I’ve noticed that the “ticket forgiveness” thing is even more rare—most agents I talked to hadn’t even heard of it.
Shopping around is a pain, but I did get quotes from like five places and the rates were all over the place. Some were double what I’m paying now, others were way less. It’s annoying, but clearly worth the hassle. Just gotta brace yourself for all the follow-up calls and emails...
Man, I hear you on the roadside thing. I dropped it once thinking I’d never need it, then my battery died in a random parking lot and I ended up paying way more than the yearly coverage. It’s wild how much those little “savings” can backfire. Shopping around is a headache, but yeah, sometimes you just gotta grit your teeth and deal with the spam for a bit. At least you know you’re not leaving money on the table.
Totally get what you mean about those “savings” biting you later. I tried to cut corners by skipping roadside too, thinking my car was “reliable enough.” Ended up stranded in a grocery store lot with a dead alternator and had to cough up for a tow at midnight. That bill stung way more than the annual fee would have.
Shopping around for insurance really is a pain, especially after a couple tickets. The spam calls are relentless—sometimes I wonder if it’s worth just sticking with the devil you know. But honestly, I’ve found that every couple years, it pays to do the whole quote dance. Last time, I used one of those aggregator sites (the legit ones, not the sketchy pop-up ads) and ended up saving around $300 a year. Still had to wade through some nonsense, but it was worth it.
One thing that helped me: raising my deductible a bit. Not crazy high, but just enough to bring down the premium without making me nervous about out-of-pocket costs if something does happen. Also, some companies actually give a discount if you take an online defensive driving course—even with tickets on your record. It’s a couple hours of your life, but sometimes it knocks off more than you’d expect.
I don’t always buy all the add-ons either, but roadside is one I keep now. Just not worth the hassle when something goes wrong at the worst possible moment. Funny how those little decisions end up costing or saving you big time down the road... literally.
Anyway, yeah, shopping around is annoying, but sometimes the hassle pays off more than you’d think. Just gotta brace yourself for a few weird phone calls and emails for a while.
Honestly, I get the whole “shop around and save” idea, but sometimes it just feels like a waste of time. I’ve gone through the aggregator sites and yeah, maybe you save a couple hundred, but then you’re stuck with some random company that’s a nightmare when you actually need them. I’d rather pay a bit more for a company that actually picks up the phone and doesn’t make you jump through hoops for every little thing. Roadside’s hit or miss too—sometimes it’s faster just to call a local tow yourself. Guess it all depends on how much hassle you’re willing to put up with.
I hear you on the aggregator sites. They’re great for a ballpark figure, but I’ve seen way too many folks end up with a company that looks good on paper, then ghosts you when you actually need help. It’s like, sure, you saved $200, but now you’re on hold for an hour after a fender bender... not exactly a win.
Honestly, with a couple tickets, the “cheap” companies can get real picky about claims and coverage. Sometimes they’ll lowball you on repairs or just make you jump through endless hoops. Paying a bit more for a company that actually has decent service can be worth it, especially if you’ve already got some marks on your record. I’d rather not gamble when it comes to claims, personally.
And yeah, roadside assistance is all over the place. I usually just keep the number of a local tow guy handy—half the time he beats the insurance service anyway. In the end, it’s about what kind of hassle you’re willing to deal with, but peace of mind’s worth something too, right?
