Just surviving a daily commute here deserves a medal... or at least a discount on your deductible.
Man, I’d take the medal and the discount. Last week, I had a guy swerve into my lane because he was shaving—like with an actual razor. I’m not proud to admit my record’s not spotless, but Houston just brings out the chaos in everyone.
The traffic here really is something else. I’m new to all this insurance stuff, and I was shocked at the rates in Houston compared to Austin. After just a few weeks of driving, though, I kind of get it—people really do the wildest things behind the wheel. I guess all that stop-and-go plus the weather just makes everything riskier. Still feels a bit unfair if you’re actually careful, but maybe that’s just how it goes.
Still feels a bit unfair if you’re actually careful, but maybe that’s just how it goes.
- Totally get what you mean. I drive a (slightly flashy) car and I swear, just parking it downtown feels like I’m playing insurance roulette.
- Houston rates really are wild compared to Austin—my premium jumped as soon as I moved here. I asked my agent why, and she just laughed and said, “Try driving on 610 at 5pm.”
- Weather’s a big one. Last spring, I watched golf-ball hail smack up three cars in my lot. No wonder insurance companies get nervous.
- Noticed a ton more uninsured drivers here, too. That probably jacks up the rates for everyone, careful or not.
- Honestly, I’m with you—it’s rough that being cautious doesn’t always pay off. Like, I baby my ride, but if someone else is texting through a red light, my safe driving means nothing.
Guess it comes down to “risk by association,” which is kind of a bummer. But hey, at least we’ve got stories for the next dinner party…
Yeah, the “risk by association” thing bugs me too. I’ve had my car sideswiped twice in Houston—both times parked, both times no note. Never happened in Dallas, and I lived there for years. Makes me wonder if it’s just the sheer number of cars or if people here are just less likely to own up to accidents. Has anyone actually seen a difference in claim response times between these cities? I swear it took forever to get my last one sorted out here.
I’ve noticed the same thing—Houston just feels like a magnet for random dings and scrapes. My theory is it’s a mix of more cars, tighter parking, and maybe folks just being in a bigger hurry. I had a fender bender in Dallas once and the claim was wrapped up in a week. In Houston? Took almost a month, and I had to call three times just to get an update. Maybe it’s just luck, but it sure feels like things move slower here.
