Yeah, I hear you on the “cheapest isn’t always cheapest” thing. I used to just go for liability only too, but after my cousin’s car got hit in a parking lot and the other driver bailed, he was stuck with a $1,200 bill. That made me rethink things. Uninsured motorist property damage is one of those coverages that seems pointless until you actually need it.
I’m still not sure about adding comprehensive or collision on my old Civic though. It’s barely worth $2k, so paying extra every month doesn’t make sense to me. But that $4-5 for extra protection against hit-and-runs? Feels like a no-brainer.
One thing I’ve noticed—some states have weird rules about what counts as a “hit-and-run” for insurance. Like, if you can’t prove there was another car involved, they might deny the claim. Kinda sketchy, honestly. Always feels like there’s some fine print waiting to trip you up...
- I totally get the hesitation on adding comp or collision for an older car. My last ride was a 2003 Corolla, barely worth $1,500, and I dropped those coverages after a while. Just didn’t make sense to pay more in premiums than the car was worth.
- Uninsured motorist property damage is one of those things you don’t think about until you’re staring at a busted bumper and nobody’s around. For a few bucks a month, it’s hard to argue against it.
- The “hit-and-run” definition thing is real. My neighbor’s claim got denied because there wasn’t enough evidence another car was involved—just some paint transfer and a dent. Insurance companies love their loopholes.
- If you’re worried about fine print, might be worth snapping pics of any damage right away and looking for witnesses or cameras if something happens. Not foolproof, but it helps.
- At the end of the day, I’d rather pay a little extra for peace of mind than risk getting stuck with a big bill. But yeah, with an old Civic, I’d skip collision and just keep the basics plus uninsured motorist. That’s what I’d do anyway...
Yeah, dropping comp and collision on a beater is just common sense. Insurance companies will nickel and dime you for stuff you’ll never see back. I’d rather stash that cash for repairs or the next car. Uninsured motorist is a must though—too many idiots out there driving with nothing.
- Totally get where you’re coming from—paying extra for comp and collision on a car that’s worth less than your annual premium just doesn’t add up.
- Been there myself, driving a minivan with more rust than paint. I dropped all the extras and just kept liability and uninsured motorist.
- Agree, too many folks out there don’t bother with insurance. My neighbor got sideswiped by someone with nothing—nightmare situation without that coverage.
- One thing I sometimes wonder: if you’re in a spot where you can’t afford repairs or a new ride at all, would it ever make sense to keep some coverage just for peace of mind? Or is that just giving in to insurance company scare tactics?
- Either way, stashing the savings for the next car or emergencies makes sense. It’s all about picking your battles and not paying for stuff you’ll never use.
Props for thinking this through instead of just paying whatever they ask.
Had a client once who kept full coverage on his 15-year-old sedan—thing was barely holding together. He swore it helped him sleep at night, but honestly, he paid more in premiums over three years than the car was worth. When it finally died, he realized he could’ve just banked that cash for a down payment on something better. I get the peace of mind angle, but sometimes you’re really just padding the insurer’s pockets. Still, if you truly couldn’t handle an unexpected hit, maybe it’s worth it... but I’m always a bit skeptical.
