Let’s say you’ve got an older car, like 10+ years, and you’re driving around Richmond. If you get into a fender bender or, I dunno, a tree branch falls on your hood during one of those crazy storms, would you regret not having both comprehensive and collision? Or is it just throwing money away at that point? Curious what others would do in that situation.
Is It Worth Paying Extra For Full Car Coverage In VA?
I wrestle with this every year when my renewal comes up. Here’s how I break it down: First, check what your car’s actually worth. If it’s a 10+ year old ride, chances are the payout after your deductible isn’t gonna be much if something happens. Like, if you’re driving a 2010 Corolla, insurance might give you $2k after a total loss... minus your deductible, which could be $500 or more. Not exactly a windfall.
But then, Richmond weather is no joke. I had a branch take out my side mirror last summer—wasn’t even a storm, just a random gust. If you park outside a lot, comprehensive might still make sense for peace of mind. Collision, though? Unless you’re prone to accidents or your car’s worth more than a couple grand, I’d probably skip it and just stash the savings for repairs.
It’s a bit of a gamble either way. I lean toward dropping extra coverage once the car’s value dips below what I’d pay in premiums over a few years. But hey, if you sleep better knowing you’re covered for anything, that’s worth something too.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve got a ‘97 Miata that’s not worth much on paper, but it’s my pride and joy. I dropped collision a while back, but kept comprehensive for stuff like hail or random tree limbs—those repairs can add up fast. For me, it’s about protecting against the weird, unpredictable stuff, not fender benders. If your car’s just basic transportation, I’d probably do the same—ditch collision, keep comp if you park outside a lot.
Totally get that. I did the same with my old Corolla—dropped collision once it hit about 12 years old, but kept comp. Like you said,
I park under trees a lot, and squirrels seem to have it out for my car’s wiring... For me, the peace of mind is worth the few extra bucks a month. Collision just didn’t make sense anymore with the car’s value.“protecting against the weird, unpredictable stuff, not fender benders.”
For me, the peace of mind is worth the few extra bucks a month. Collision just didn’t make sense anymore with the car’s value.
Honestly, I see this question come up a lot, especially around here where storms can get wild and those tree branches aren’t messing around. The way you’re thinking about it—splitting comp and collision—makes sense for a lot of folks with older cars. Once your car’s value drops below a certain point, collision coverage can start to feel like you’re paying more than you’d ever get back if something happened. But comprehensive is usually pretty cheap, and it covers all that random stuff: hail, theft, falling limbs, even those squirrel attacks (which are more common than people think).
I’ve had clients who regretted dropping comp after a freak storm or vandalism, but rarely do people miss collision on a 10+ year-old ride unless they’re still making payments. It really comes down to how much risk you’re comfortable with and whether you could stomach paying out of pocket if something weird happens. For some, the peace of mind is worth it; for others, it’s just not.