When purchasing car insurance, it's easy to think that the cheapest and most affordable option is the best one for you. This is especially true if you have an older car or one you don't use very often, such as a second vehicle in the family. Purchasing comprehensive car insurance typically means the most coverage and the most protection, but you may wonder if it's worth the cost.

First, consider that comprehensive car insurance not only means covering your vehicle in case of an accident, but also the property of a third party if you're responsible for that accident. It's easy to think that this will never happen to you or that you will just pay out of your pocket for such a collision, but even a minor accident can mean thousands of dollars of repair work is needed.

Covering your own vehicle with comprehensive car insurance is also worth considering. Again, you may think you'll pay for repairs out of your pocket or assume you'll just never get into an accident, but this too can be short-sighted. Even if you only drive your vehicle on occasion you run the risk of an accident, and even if you're a very safe and cautious driver, there is no guarantee that other drivers on the road will be as well!

It's also good to consider the fact that the few dollars you spend every month for comprehensive car insurance is almost always going to add up to less than what you would pay for out of pocket expenses in case of an accident. The few extra dollars for third party insurance, to cover damage to someone else's car or property, is much less than paying for that damage outright. When you do the maths, you see that comprehensive car insurance can actually save you money down the road.

Shop around, get a car insurance online quote and compare the rates; do some quick math, and then decide the best option for yourself. Just use caution in assuming you can or should undercut your coverage in order to save a few dollars, as this can be an expensive mistake.