Would you American guys every drive around without auto insurance? Or is it too risky

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Like Old Mechanic, I pay extra so that other people can drive without insurance and not be a hazard to me.

...actually, we get to pay extra so our insurance company doesn't have to payout when those without insurance cause damage, ie: the BENEFIT goes to the insurance company, not to anybody else. Remember, you're basically paying the other guys insurance through your insurance company, so THEY don't have to payout without having gotten money first.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Like Old Mechanic, I pay extra so that other people can drive without insurance and not be a hazard to me.

That is the basis of ALL insurance. The insurance company is betting that you won't die (or have a fire, or cause an accident) and you are put in the position of betting that you might. If you act responsibly, you don't really need insurance, but you get to pay for others who are less responsible than you. When insurance becomes mandatory it's a losing proposition for anyone who acts responsibly - but one that is forced upon you by the authority of government. (Dare I mention ObamaCare?)

OTOH, I passed on making a claim against an uninsured motorist because I don't want my rate going higher.

Perhaps you don't realize that it's easy to add "uninsured motorist" coverage to your policy? It literally costs only a few bucks more compared to the total coverage, even on a basic liability policy.

[user removed]

My step daughter was backing out of a parking spot where she lived. The road behind the parking spot was 50 feet wide, from the back of the parked cars to the curb on the other side. She had to back out blind because of a pickup truck with a cap. She was driving a 1993 Nissan Sentra.

A woman, with no insurance, driving a Stanza, hit her Sentra. The woman hit her car 7 feet from the back of the truck, with 43 feet of road to her right. She had 5 of her relatives kids in the Stanza. My daughters Sentra was totalled, there was an imprint of her face where it hit the drivers window hard enough to bend the window frame out on her drivers door (2 door).

Since she had uninsured motorists coverage, her insurance company settled for $9300 and she kept the car. I took a week off from work and cut the rear end off the damaged Sentra, bought a rear clip for $1200 and welded it on her car. She pocketed $8100. That same week she won a bathing suit contest at Hooters where she worked and won another $2000. She drove the car another 100k miles, then sold it for what I paid for the rear clip. That $8100 (tax free) paid for her to have comprehensive insurance on her car until the age of 105.

20 years ago.

regards
Mech

[bestclimb]

A careful driver that has no desire to utilise their insurance or drives as if they did not have it is more likely to use the uninsured motorist portion of their coverage.

I understand the whole driving is a privilege argument but I really don't believe that. if you have access to a car you have a right to use it on property that you have a right to access. public roads are publicly owned, construction and maintenance paid for partly by my own contributions. As far as having insurance to keep other people financially protected, regardless of whether or not someone carries insurance they are morally responsible for their own actions. I myself carry insurance because I not have the means to replace someone's car if it is at all expensive nor to I have the means to support someone's stay in a hospital if I do something stupid so I buy into the scam.

[freebeard]

Perhaps you don't realize that it's easy to add "uninsured motorist" coverage to your policy? It literally costs only a few bucks more compared to the total coverage, even on a basic liability policy.

I'm saying I'm out-of-pocket for the insurance and the uninsured motorist rider, and still chose to repair myself (in this one case) to protect the rate they will charge. If the accident put me in the hospital I would definitely make a claim. That stuff's expensive.

[gone-ot]

A donation is freely given, state-mandated un-insurance is NOT.

[Cobb]

Me, yeah, Im a ***** for extended warranties and insurance. I drop my pants, grab my ankles and even supply the vaseline with the gritt in it.

I have full insurance on a 20 year old vehicle. I also pay less than 500 bucks a year and the secodn vehicle that has full coverage is a 2010 insight.

I use to work for a bank and remember customers who lived in NY and NJ who paid 300-500 a month for coverage. That was almost as much as their car payment.

[P-hack]

There really should be something about liability on overly expensive vehicles though. Sure you can argue driving is a right, but accidents happen too, and if your Mercedes fender costs $20,000 then you should own some responsibility for putting that much at risk, that was a personal choice, and fault isn't always so clear.

[gone-ot]

I believe it's the OTHER person's responsibility to NOT do damage to MY vehicle as a result of THEIR incompetence or lack of driving skills...regardless of wealth or poverty.

...just, as it is likewise MY responsibility to NOT do damage to THEIR vehicle as a result of MY incompetence or lack of driving skills.

[P-hack]

but so often there is shared fault, even just being there is a case for sharing some of the blame for being in an accident.

I agree that it should be your own responsibility, but those of us with good records are carrying everyone else and then some, via mandatory insurance.