At the end of the day, I’d rather grumble about paying too much than stress over a $4k scratch.
That’s honestly what’s tripping me up right now. I’m looking at these full coverage quotes and thinking, “Is my 10-year-old Civic really worth all this?” But then I remember how my friend’s bumper got swiped in a parking lot and the repair cost more than his monthly rent. Wild.
I get the peace of mind argument, but some of the add-ons just feel like fluff. Rental car coverage? I work from home. Roadside assistance? I’ve got AAA already. It’s like they’re bundling stuff I’ll never use, and it barely makes a dent in the price if I drop them.
Still, I keep picturing myself staring at a giant dent and regretting trying to save a few bucks. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but it feels like a lose-lose either way. Insurance is such a racket sometimes... but I guess it’s one of those necessary evils.
Title: Full Coverage for a Beater—Worth It or Nah?
Man, you nailed exactly how I feel every time renewal comes up. My car’s not a Civic, but it’s definitely old enough that I sometimes wonder if I’m just lighting money on fire with full coverage. Last year, I did the math and realized I was paying almost a quarter of my car’s value per year just to keep it “protected.” But then, like you said, all it takes is one idiot in a parking lot and suddenly you’re on the hook for repairs that make you question your life choices.
I’ve had roadside assistance bundled in before too, and honestly, AAA has always been faster and less of a hassle. Rental car coverage is a joke for me since half the time, if my car’s out of commission, I just borrow my partner’s or work from home anyway.
But here’s where I get stuck: I do a ton of long road trips—think cross-state, sometimes into the middle of nowhere. That’s when I start thinking about deer, hail storms, random flying debris... stuff that’s not really my fault but could total an old car in a heartbeat. One time, driving through Nebraska, a chunk of tire from a semi came out of nowhere and cracked my windshield. Insurance covered it, but if I’d been on liability only, that would’ve been all me.
I guess for me it comes down to how much risk you can stomach versus how much you drive and where. If your Civic mostly sits in your driveway and you’re not road tripping or parking in sketchy lots, maybe liability’s fine. But if you’re out and about a lot, especially in places where stuff just happens (nature or otherwise), full coverage starts to make more sense—even if it stings to pay for.
Curious—has anyone actually dropped to liability and then regretted it? Or the opposite—kept full coverage and felt like it was a waste?
Had a similar debate with myself last year. My driving record isn’t great, so my rates are already high. I dropped to liability on my old Accord to save cash, then—of course—got rear-ended at a light. Other driver’s insurance covered it, but if it’d been a hit-and-run, I’d have been screwed.
That line hits hard. Still, for me, the savings usually win out unless I’m driving something worth more than a few grand.“all it takes is one idiot in a parking lot and suddenly you’re on the hook for repairs that make you question your life choices.”
Honestly, that’s the risk that always nags at me too—especially with older cars where the premium for full coverage can almost match the value of the car over a couple years. Have you ever looked into uninsured motorist property damage? Some states offer it, some don’t, but it can help in those hit-and-run situations. Curious—did you factor in how much you’d actually get back if you totaled the Accord, or was it just a “not worth it” call based on age and mileage?
Curious—did you factor in how much you’d actually get back if you totaled the Accord, or was it just a “not worth it” call based on age and mileage?
That’s exactly what tripped me up last time I renewed. I ran the numbers and realized the payout would barely cover a decent down payment on another beater. It’s tough to justify full coverage when the math just doesn’t add up, but that “what if” feeling never totally goes away. Uninsured motorist property damage is a good call though—worth checking if your state even offers it.