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Totaled car sitting in my driveway for months — do I keep paying insurance on it?

So my sedan got totaled back in the spring when someone blew a red light and slammed into my driver's side. Insurance declared it a total loss but I was in the middle of everything — dealing with doctors, rental car drama, the whole mess — and honestly I just never sorted out what to do with the actual car.

Fast forward to now and it's just... sitting there. It technically still runs but the frame damage means I'd never trust it on the highway again, and my state won't pass it at inspection. It's basically a very large lawn ornament at this point.

Here's my actual question: I've been with the same insurer for going on four years, never missed a payment, no prior claims before this. If I drop coverage on the totaled car while I'm still shopping for a replacement, am I going to get hammered with higher rates when I finally do buy something? I keep hearing that any gap in coverage — even a short one — can spike your premiums.

I'm not in a rush to buy just to buy. Used car prices in my area are still ridiculous and I refuse to overpay. But I also don't love the idea of paying full coverage every month on a car I can't legally drive.

Has anyone dealt with this? Did dropping coverage temporarily actually hurt you when you came back? Or is the "coverage gap" thing mostly scare tactics from insurers? Would love to hear from people who've actually been through it.

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