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

Sometimes peace of mind is worth a little extra cash, even if it feels like overkill.

I hear you, but I dunno... I drive an old Corolla and the premiums for full coverage are creeping up every year. At some point, I feel like I’m just throwing money away. If I totaled it, insurance probably wouldn’t give me much anyway. I do worry about lawsuits and medical bills, but isn’t that what liability covers? Maybe I’m missing something, but I’d rather save the cash for repairs or a new (used) ride down the line.

Honestly, I think you’re making a pretty reasonable call. Once a car gets up there in age and value drops, full coverage starts to feel like a losing game. I had a ‘99 Civic that I kept liability-only on for years - never regretted it. The payout if it got totaled would’ve barely covered a decent set of tires, and the premiums just didn’t make sense anymore.

Liability is really the big one for protecting yourself from those scary “what if” scenarios, like accidents with injuries or expensive property damage. As long as you’re not financing the car and can handle repairs or worst-case replacement out of pocket, sticking with liability seems practical. I get why some folks want the extra peace of mind, but at a certain point, you’re just padding the insurance company’s pockets.

If you’re disciplined enough to set aside what you’d be spending on full coverage, you’ll probably come out ahead in the long run. Just my two cents, but it sounds like you’re thinking about it the right way.

I get where you’re coming from, but with higher-end cars, even older ones, repairs can get wild - like, a fender bender can cost thousands. I usually weigh the repair costs vs. premiums every year. Sometimes full coverage still makes sense if parts are pricey or theft risk is high.

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

- Totally get the sticker shock on repairs, especially for anything European or classic. Even a side mirror can cost more than my first car.
- I always ask myself: if someone keyed the paint or a hailstorm hit, would I be cool paying out of pocket? Usually... nope.
- Theft risk is a big one too. Had a buddy lose his ‘89 911 last year - insurance saved him from a total meltdown.
- On the flip side, if your car’s not a daily driver and mostly sits in the garage, sometimes liability is enough. But then again, all it takes is one distracted neighbor with a lawnmower...
- I tend to err on the side of caution. Full coverage isn’t cheap, but neither are rare parts or specialty paint jobs.
- Guess it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to eat. For me, peace of mind usually wins out, even if my wallet grumbles about it.

if someone keyed the paint or a hailstorm hit, would I be cool paying out of pocket? Usually... nope.

That’s the question, right? I always think about the “what ifs” - like, what if some kid on a bike clips my fender, or a tree branch decides to drop in for a visit? Had a similar debate when I picked up my old E46. Full coverage felt like overkill at first, but then I remembered how much a single headlight cost me last year. Still, if your car’s not worth much or barely leaves the garage, liability can make sense. Just depends how much sleep you lose over those random accidents.