We just make do with one car until the other one is repaired.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get our insurance covers it responses.

These are people who either get new cars frequently or women whose husbands deal with all things car related and have no idea.

I don’t get our insurance covers it responses.

Nobody can answer it for you, but read what others have done.
I have never had my car in the shop longer than 5 hours. Choose your cars carefully and plan ahead. I will change out my battery before it needs a jump start.
I don't live far from school or work. I could easily uber, take a bus, or walk.
I have enough money to drive home with a new car the same day if I decide to leave the old one in the shop. I already know my next car.
I'm not saying I'm uber rich, but I would calculate my time, money, and frustration with the situation and leave the junk behind.

Anonymous wrote:We have one car so we get a rental covered by insurance.

Insurance covers for regular repairs? When it's not for an accident? 🤨

We have one car so we get a rental covered by insurance.

I have never paid for a rental car; insurance did once after an accident. I have three kids in activities, and both my husband and I work full time in an office 100%.

We juggle and rely more on metro. We also schedule our repairs carefully, so I have absolutely taken a car in for an oil change, only to return two days later for a significant repair that was needed

Anonymous wrote:If the dealer/shop doesn’t give a free loaner, we juggle schedules or work from home. No way am I paying for a rental while a car is in the shop.

This.

And, if they need our car for a few days because they are waiting for a part, I take the car back and they can have it when the part comes in

This happened to me a few times. We just walked everywhere, rode bikes etc, or asked friends for a ride if their kid was going to same event. Single mom so I didn’t have a helper. Uber would be handy, too.

I get the rental. I’m already hyper-aware of time/schedules as it is. It’s honestly enough of a struggle to get the car to and from the shop.

The rental is covered by our insurance (USAA). If it wasn’t, DH would probably Uber to work and back.

It’s time vs money. We are not rich so would manage with one car for a few days.
If I had boatloads of money I can see renting a car.

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like you're having an argument with your spouse about the topic. Get the rental car, it alleviates the mental load of working around it.

This. Always get the rental car. You should be factoring in the cost in your day-to-day budget. Like, you probably don't have a brand new car, thus the repairs, thus it's not splurging to get the rental; it's just using money you've wisely saved by not constantly getting new cars and also keeping your schedules intact (which is very important).

Obviously, we always get the rental cars

I ask friends and neighbors to give the kids lifts as necessary. I do the same for them.

We have had some real junkers over the years and plenty of experience for break downs. I always got a rental.