- Just got my first policy a couple months ago, so I’m still figuring this stuff out.
- Looked at Metromile and Root. Metromile seemed cool for my daily since I barely drive, but I kept worrying about what happens if someone totals my car. Like, do they just decide it’s worth $600 because it’s old? Not loving that idea.
- The plug-in tracker thing is easy enough—my car’s not fancy, so whatever—but the agreed value sounds way better for anything you actually care about. My dad’s got a ‘70s truck he babies, and he swears by Hagerty for that reason.
- Honestly, the mileage-based thing is probably fine if your car’s just a beater or you don’t drive much. But if you’ve got something you’d fight an adjuster over... might not be worth the stress.
- Still kinda tempted by the savings though. Like, insurance is expensive and I’m broke. But yeah... peace of mind has its price tag too.
I totally get where you’re coming from—insurance is one of those things that feels like a gamble either way. I tried Metromile for about a year when I was barely driving (thanks, remote work), and the savings were real. But yeah, the payout if your car gets totaled is always a bit of a black box, especially with older cars. My old Civic was probably worth less than my mountain bike on paper, which is kind of wild when you think about it.
The tracker thing never bothered me either—my car’s not exactly a target for thieves or anything high-tech. But I’ve got a buddy who restored an old Datsun, and he’d rather pay extra for agreed value than risk haggling with an adjuster who doesn’t get why his car matters.
If your daily’s just transportation, mileage-based can be a solid way to save. But yeah, if you’re attached to your ride or it’s rare, peace of mind might be worth the extra bucks. It’s all about what helps you sleep at night... or at least not stress every time you park somewhere sketchy.
You nailed it about the “black box” feeling with payouts, especially on older cars. I’ve seen plenty of folks surprised by how little their car’s worth on paper, even if it’s been super reliable. Mileage-based insurance really does make sense if you’re not driving much—no point paying for risk you’re not taking. That said, agreed value is a smart move for classics or anything sentimental. It’s not always about the numbers; sometimes peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks.
I hear you on the payouts—had a buddy with a ‘99 Accord, thing ran like a champ, but the insurance check barely covered a set of tires when it got totaled. I’ve been using Metromile for a couple years since I barely drive outside my work commute. It’s saved me a decent chunk, but their customer service is hit or miss. Not perfect, but better than paying for miles I’m not putting on. Agreed value is cool for classics, but for my daily beater, I just want cheap and simple.
I get what you mean about payouts—my old Civic barely got me gas money after a fender bender. I’ve looked into Metromile but worried about the customer service stories. Do you notice any weird charges or billing errors with them, or is it just slow responses?