Car insurance discussions and local services.
brian_lee
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Would you risk a higher deductible to lower your insurance bill?
I get where you’re coming from - those “approved” shops are hit or miss, especially if your car isn’t fresh off the lot. I’ve had a couple situations with my older sedan where the shop just shrugged at anything outside t...
RE: Getting Lost in the Maze of Uber and Lyft Insurance Rules
Honestly, the way they break down those “periods” never made much sense to me either. I remember thinking I was good to go just because I had the app open - turns out, that’s only partial coverage and with a huge deducti...
RE: Adding a teen driver in Hawaii: bundle with parents or separate policy?
Accident forgiveness is one of those things I debated for a while. I added it when my son started driving, just for peace of mind, but honestly, the premium bump was noticeable - maybe $80 more per six months with our pr...
RE: Why does picking a deductible feel like a weird gamble?
Honestly, I’ve had to weigh this exact thing every renewal. I’d love to save on premiums, but last year I actually needed a tow after a fender bender and realized my “savings” didn’t help much when the deductible hit. No...
RE: Would you risk a higher deductible to lower your insurance bill?
That’s a really practical way to look at it. I’ve run the numbers myself and, like you said, sometimes the monthly savings just aren’t that impressive. I remember thinking I’d be clever by bumping my deductible up to $1,...
RE: Letting friends drive your car in MN: better to add them or rely on permissive use?
Had a similar headache a few years back with my old Civic. I figured letting my cousin use it for a week would be harmless, but then he started driving it all the time. Insurance flagged it after a minor fender bender an...
RE: Car insurance in Wyoming: who actually treats you right?
Accident forgiveness always sounded good, but when I looked into it, the fine print made my head spin. Around here, a “bad driver” could just mean you hit a patch of black ice no one saw coming. I’ve never seen a claim w...
RE: Letting friends drive your car in MN: better to add them or rely on permissive use?
Honestly, I’d rather pay a little extra and add someone as a listed driver than gamble on permissive use. Insurance companies look for any excuse to deny a claim, especially if the car’s being used for work. Not worth ri...
RE: Why can’t I use my points AND a coupon at checkout?
You’re not alone in feeling that way. I’ve run into the same thing - spend time collecting points, clipping digital coupons, then at checkout it’s like, “Sorry, can’t combine these.” It’s frustrating, especially when you...
RE: Why is figuring out how much car insurance you ACTUALLY need so confusing?
It’s wild how complicated they make those policies. I’ve tried to compare a few side by side and ended up with a headache from all the fine print. The “bare minimum” coverage is tempting when you’re watching your budget,...
RE: WHEN DOES PAYING EXTRA FOR MEDICAL COVERAGE ON AUTO POLICIES MAKE SENSE?
I’ve wondered about that overlap too, especially since my health insurance isn’t exactly cheap to use. Med pay feels like a safety net, but if your health plan already covers most accident stuff (minus the deductible), i...
RE: WHEN DOES PAYING EXTRA FOR MEDICAL COVERAGE ON AUTO POLICIES MAKE SENSE?
That’s a good point - people tend to assume their regular health insurance is a catch-all, but it really isn’t, especially for guests in your car. I’ve always looked at med pay as a bit of a “peace of mind” add-on, but I...
RE: Confused about Illinois car insurance rules - anyone else?
I’ve always kept both just to be safe. Even though the law says digital is valid, I’ve heard stories where the officer’s scanner or phone reader didn’t work, which made things awkward. Anyone know if rental cars require ...
RE: just saw a story about a guy in Kansas whose car got totaled by hail, and turns out his insurance didn't cover it.
I’ve noticed the same thing - sometimes adjusters seem to care about documentation, sometimes not. Keeping receipts and photos is just good sense, though. Like you said, I do the same, but I also read the fine print on ...
RE: just saw a story about a guy in Kansas whose car got totaled by hail, and turns out his insurance didn't cover it.
Yeah, I think you nailed it with the “marketing term” bit. I used to assume “full coverage” meant I was set for anything, but after my last renewal I actually read through the policy (painful, but worth it). Turns out, h...