Raising the deductible can help, but it’s not always the magic fix. Here’s the thing:
- If you don’t have enough saved up to cover that higher deductible after an accident, you’re still in a tough spot.
- Comprehensive and collision are worth keeping if your car’s newer or you rely on it for work/school. Liability alone won’t help if a tree falls on your car or you hit a deer.
- Sometimes bundling renters or home insurance with auto gets you a better deal than just tweaking deductibles.
I get wanting to save, but sometimes those “savings” come back to bite you when you least expect it... learned that the hard way after a hailstorm trashed my old Civic.
Bundling really does make a difference sometimes, especially if you’re juggling renters or even just basic coverage. I’d also add—don’t forget to check for discounts like good student or safe driver. They’re easy to overlook but can stack up over time. Raising the deductible is tempting, but only if you’ve actually got that cash set aside... otherwise it’s just stress waiting to happen.
Bundling is a solid move, especially if you’re bouncing between apartments or switching cars every couple years. I’ve noticed it’s not just about the monthly savings, but also the headache you avoid by having everything in one place. Less paperwork, fewer apps to remember passwords for... that stuff adds up.
A few things I’d throw in:
- Mileage matters. If you’re not driving much (like, under 7-8k miles a year), some companies have low-mileage discounts or even pay-per-mile plans. I switched to one when I started working remote and it cut my bill by almost a third.
- Don’t sleep on those “affinity” discounts. Random stuff like being a member of certain alumni associations, warehouse clubs, or even credit unions can knock a few bucks off. It’s weird what qualifies sometimes.
- Telematics programs are a gamble. Those apps that track your driving? If you’re a careful driver and don’t mind Big Brother watching, they can save you money. But if you’re like me and have a lead foot on road trips... might not be worth it.
- About deductibles—I get the temptation to crank it up for lower premiums, but yeah, only do it if you’ve got that cash stashed somewhere. I learned the hard way after a deer ran into my car at 2am in the middle of nowhere. Had to borrow from my “emergency” fund, which was basically just my rent money at the time. Not fun.
One last thing: shop around every year or two. Loyalty doesn’t always pay with insurance companies. I’ve switched three times in six years and each time found something cheaper, even with the same coverage.
It’s all kind of annoying, but if you treat it like a game—finding all the weird little discounts and loopholes—it gets less painful. And hey, more cash for gas and snacks on the next road trip...
