Deciding between just liability or going all-in with full coverage on Liberty Mutual

“we’d paid more in comp/collision premiums over five years than the car’s worth now.”

Man, I’ve seen people pay for full coverage on a car that’s basically worth less than their phone. But I get that little voice - mine usually pipes up right after I see a freak hailstorm on the news. Honestly, it comes down to whether you could stomach buying a replacement if the van gets wiped out. If you’d be stuck carless and scrambling, maybe keep comp. If not, liability might be all you need. Risk tolerance is a weird beast... sometimes it’s practical, sometimes it’s just nerves.

Honestly, I see this all the time - people paying more in premiums than their car’s blue book value. But here’s the kicker: if you’re in a spot where a total loss would wreck your finances, comp/collision can still make sense. Sometimes peace of mind is worth a little extra, even if it’s not the “smartest” math on paper. Just don’t let fear drive the decision... run the numbers and see if it actually adds up for you.

I get where you’re coming from, and honestly, I’ve wrestled with this myself. My rates are already sky-high thanks to a couple of tickets, so full coverage feels like throwing money away some months. But then I think about how one bad accident could wipe me out financially... It’s not just about the car’s value, it’s about what you can actually handle if things go sideways. Still, I wish premiums weren’t so brutal for folks with less-than-perfect records. Sometimes it feels like a no-win situation.

My rates are already sky-high thanks to a couple of tickets, so full coverage feels like throwing money away some months.

- Been there. My ‘72 Chevelle isn’t exactly cheap to insure, and I’ve had my share of “spirited driving” tickets over the years.
- I tried dropping to liability-only once, thinking I’d save a ton. Then a hailstorm rolled through and trashed my hood and roof. Out-of-pocket repairs were way more than the difference in premiums for that year.
- For me, it’s not just about the car’s value - it’s peace of mind. If something happens (theft, fire, random tree branch), I know I’m not totally sunk.
- That said, yeah, the premiums sting. Especially when you’re already paying extra for past mistakes. Feels like you’re getting punished twice.
- Sometimes I wish there was a middle ground - like partial coverage for stuff besides collisions. But insurance companies don’t really do “custom orders,” do they?
- End of the day, I’d rather grumble about high rates than stress about losing my ride or draining my savings if disaster hits.

Not saying it’s right for everyone, but after that hailstorm...I’m not rolling those dice again.

I get where you’re coming from. I’ve wrestled with the same decision, especially when rates jump after a ticket or two. Honestly, I’ve always felt like insurance is a bit of a gamble - paying for something you hope you never need. But after seeing a friend’s car get totaled by a hit-and-run (and he only had liability), I started thinking twice. The peace of mind is worth something, even if it stings every month. Still, I wish there were more flexible options - like coverage for just theft and weather, but not collision. Seems like the industry isn’t interested in making it easy for us.