Why is owning a car such an expensive pain in the pocketbook?
9:39 a.m.
Over the years we have made a number of claims. I had several stars repaired in the windshield of the Volvo and we had to replace the windshield of the Subaru after a hole turned into a pressure crack overnight. Then of course there was the rebuilding of the Volvo after my unplanned encounter with the bridge girder. So the insurance company would probably not look upon another claim with joy and rapture, and our rates would go up astronomically. It might be cheaper in the long run to bite the proverbial bullet and and pay the money up front, saving the insurance for a really big claim. At least, those are the words of wisdom offered up by our garagiste, a man whom I hold in very high esteem.
On the other hand, when we bought the Subaru, we spent almost a grand on an insurance package that would, among other things, pay our deductable should we require a repair, and we actually cashed in on this with the windshield replacement. But in order to take advantage of this deal, we have to go through our insurance company, and if our rates go up astronomically, saving $250 now will not be worth paying thousands out over the long run. Capisce?
I am all for paying up front and saving the aggravation and time spent running to adjustors, waiting for authorization and perhaps being faced with an increased bill next time around. He feels that the insurance company �owes� us, after all the money we have paid out over the years without making a claim. For me it�s just money, for him it�s the principal. I might add that when I backed the fender of our old Honda into a cement pillar in a parking structure, I was so embarassed that I paid for the repair out-of-pocket instead of reporting it, and probably saved a bundle in insurance increases too. The ultimate decision, of course, is my dearest�s, but I have a sneaking suspicion he will see things my way. They usually do.
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