Should I Keep My Auto Insurance?

[+ Avalon]

The annual insurance renewal is next month (June). I could still drive but I can not get to my car. I can not walk the 50 paces to where it's parked. It's not been started up for almost four weeks. Not since I fell in the parking lot and one of the rescue squad had to move it in order to help me up. I had gone out just to start it up for a few minutes.

 

The registration is due in a couple of months. If I can't use it I'm thinking of having it registered as inoperable. It would need to have its smog inspection renewed if I were to get the regular renewal tags.

[BabyBoomer]

Sell the car.

 

~Boomer~

[gallahadesquire]

There are some things in life we can't hang on to. A car we can't drive is one of them.

 

I have a 1991 British Racing Green Miata, that has been off the road for at least ten years. I can't operate the clutch. Time for it to go.

[EastbayMike]

I was out in the back yard all day Sunday. No squirrels this time but the wild turkeys were really loud!

[+ tassojunior]

Giving up driving is a huge life decision in some locations.

[+ Avalon]

When my father was in the hospital and death was a few days off he spoke of looking forward to going home and driving his pick-up truck (Chevrolet late 50s).

[rvwnsd]

The annual insurance renewal is next month (June). I could still drive but I can not get to my car. I can not walk the 50 paces to where it's parked. It's not been started up for almost four weeks. Not since I fell in the parking lot and one of the rescue squad had to move it in order to help me up. I had gone out just to start it up for a few minutes.

 

The registration is due in a couple of months. If I can't use it I'm thinking of having it registered as inoperable. It would need to have its smog inspection renewed if I were to get the regular renewal tags.

I agree with @BabyBoomer - sell the car. However, you might not be able to see it before the auto insurance is due, so you might want to switch to monthly billing. By doing that you can keep the insurance while it is still under your ownership, but not be required to pay the entire year's premium and then pursue a refund when you sell it.

[+ bashful]

If you're not ready to let go of it yet, ask your insurance agent to rate you for low miles. Most give the lowest rate if you drive less than 10K a year. Many of the snow birds in my building leave a 2nd car parked in the garage for 2 to 3 months every winter, and no problems getting it going each spring, so don't worry about it not being driven for a long time.

 

But, if you decide you don't want to drive anymore (like my father did in his 80's), time to let go. Sell, or donate.

[+ Avalon]

I agree with @BabyBoomer - sell the car. However, you might not be able to see it before the auto insurance is due, so you might want to switch to monthly billing. By doing that you can keep the insurance while it is still under your ownership, but not be required to pay the entire year's premium and then pursue a refund when you sell it.

 

Monthly billing is a good idea

If you're not ready to let go of it yet, ask your insurance agent to rate you for low miles. Most give the lowest rate if you drive less than 10K a year. Many of the snow birds in my building leave a 2nd car parked in the garage for 2 to 3 months every winter, and no problems getting it going each spring, so don't worry about it not being driven for a long time.

 

But, if you decide you don't want to drive anymore (like my father did in his 80's), time to let go. Sell, or donate.

 

I have not driven over 1K in many years. I usually fill the gas tank only 3 or 4 times per year.

[Bearofdistinction]

The annual insurance renewal is next month (June). I could still drive but I can not get to my car. I can not walk the 50 paces to where it's parked. It's not been started up for almost four weeks. Not since I fell in the parking lot and one of the rescue squad had to move it in order to help me up. I had gone out just to start it up for a few minutes.

 

The registration is due in a couple of months. If I can't use it I'm thinking of having it registered as inoperable. It would need to have its smog inspection renewed if I were to get the regular renewal tags.

 

 

Options

 

1) Keep up the insurance until you can have the car stolen (i.e. left in the baddest part of town with keys in the ignition or set fire too)

 

2) Hire a Hot College Boy to drive you around and he is wearing nothing but a jockstrap -

 

3) Donate to Left-Wing Lesbian Nuns with the Caveat that they will drive you 2-3 times a week to agreed locations

[Bearofdistinction]

I was out in the back yard all day Sunday. No squirrels this time but the wild turkeys were really loud!

 

Cage and Sell for premium price or shoot and freeze for Thanksgiving! Gooble Goober

[Bearofdistinction]

Cage and Sell for premium price or shoot and freeze for Thanksgiving! Gooble Goober

 

Squirrels are nothing but Rats with Racoon hands and a Better Furrier!

[bigvalboy]

Sell the car.

 

~Boomer~

 

Agree...

 

And Uber when necessary.

[+ FrankR]

Monthly billing is a good idea

 

 

I have not driven over 1K in many years. I usually fill the gas tank only 3 or 4 times per year.

Please be sure to consult your broker (if you have one) - I realized a few years ago that my umbrella insurance (extra liability) required me to maintain auto insurance as I do drive from time to time. I dont currently own a vehicle, but I do rent at times. The free insurance you get from your credit card when you rent is usually not “primary” insurance...

[cany10011]

I have a neighbor who keeps his car and pays 800 monthly for parking. Our parking is going up next month to 850 for residents. He works in manhattan and drives only to visit family in the burbs once a month. He claims he needs the car in case an emergency crops up with his aging father. Some people need the emotional crutch knowing that a car is available 24/7. I even offered to let him use my car which is inside our building's parking lot when he needs it (he usually goes on weekends and i never drive on weekends).

[+ VictorPowers]

I agree with @BabyBoomer - sell the car. However, you might not be able to see it before the auto insurance is due, so you might want to switch to monthly billing. By doing that you can keep the insurance while it is still under your ownership, but not be required to pay the entire year's premium and then pursue a refund when you sell it.

Who doesn't like a check from insurance?

[+ Charlie]

FrankR's caveat is a good one. If your auto insurance is bundled with homeowner's insurance, cancelling the auto insurance will affect the homeowner's insurance. However, keeping the car may not be financially reasonable if you don't use it.

[+ Avalon]

Thanks all! The problem with hiring an Uber or having someone drive me is that because of my knees I have a problem walking. Here in my apartment I clutch furniture and brace myself on the walls when I walk.

 

There is a door-to-door non medical emergency transportation service that I have looked into. I would need them to provide a wheelchair to meet me at my front door.

 

My apartment is long and narrow. Bedroom in the back, living room in the middle and the kitchen in the front. Going from the bedroom to the kitchen I have to stop and sit in the living room for a few minutes to gain strength.

[gallahadesquire]

Have you considered an electric convenience vehicle? They are fairly small now. I use no aids at home but rent one at Disney world because I can’t stand for long periods.

[bigvalboy]

My apartment is long and narrow. Bedroom in the back, living room in the middle and the kitchen in the front. Going from the bedroom to the kitchen I have to stop and sit in the living room for a few minutes to gain strength.

 

You might consider using the living room as your bedroom. Had a friend years ago that was in a similar situation. The living room was more centrally located and more convenient to access the rest of the house. It turned out to be quite a nice set up.

[+ Avalon]

You might consider using the living room as your bedroom. Had a friend years ago that was in a similar situation. The living room was more centrally located and more convenient to access the rest of the house. It turned out to be quite a nice set up.

 

Thanks!

 

We did that with my grandmother for awhile. We put the hospital bed in the living room.

[+ Avalon]

My landlord came by this morning with the grocery order that I placed yesterday. He also brought my mail. There was my car insurance bill. I've decided to keep the insurance and pay it monthly.

[+ Hoover42]

Options

2) Hire a Hot College Boy to drive you around and he is wearing nothing but a jockstrap -

Hey, I'd be happy if he was just in shorts and t-shirt.

[Rudynate]

When my father was in the hospital and death was a few days off he spoke of looking forward to going home and driving his pick-up truck (Chevrolet late 50s).

 

 

Denial is a wonderful thing. My mother was in her late 80s in a skilled nursing home in Mississippi, and spoke nearly every day about buying a car and moving to Florida.