This is helpful to know—thanks for sharing. I'm actually shopping around for my first auto policy right now, and honestly, it's a bit overwhelming. One thing I'm still unclear about: does anyone know if roadside assistance claims (like towing or jump-starts) also count against you as claims? I've heard mixed things about this, and since I commute quite a bit, it's something I'm cautious about.
Also, how common is it for policies to offer accident forgiveness as standard, or is that usually an extra add-on? Seems like it'd be worth considering upfront rather than regretting it later. I'm trying to avoid surprises down the road...literally, haha.
Roadside assistance usually doesn't count as a claim against you—at least not in my experience. Accident forgiveness, though, is typically an add-on. Worth it if you're commuting a lot...peace of mind goes a long way.
I've had roadside assistance twice, once for a flat tire and another time when my battery died at work. Neither counted as a claim, thankfully. Accident forgiveness sounds nice in theory, but when I ran the numbers, it didn't seem worth the extra cost for me personally. Guess it depends on your driving habits and risk tolerance...I commute daily but mostly on quiet roads, so I decided to skip it and just drive extra careful, haha.
I skipped accident forgiveness too—just couldn't justify the extra cost when I rarely drive in heavy traffic. But I'm curious, has anyone actually used it after an accident? Did it really save you money or was it more hassle than it's worth...?
I deal with accident forgiveness claims pretty regularly, and honestly, it can go either way depending on your situation. A few things I've noticed from personal experience:
- Accident forgiveness usually kicks in only once every few years (typically 3-5 years), so if you're someone who rarely drives or has a clean record, it might not be worth the extra premium.
- Had a client recently who paid for accident forgiveness for years without ever needing it. Then, when he finally had a minor fender-bender, it did save him from a rate hike. But when we crunched the numbers, the total he'd paid in extra premiums over the years was actually more than the increase he would've faced without it.
- On the flip side, another client had accident forgiveness and got into a pretty significant accident. Her rates would've jumped substantially without it—so in her case, it definitely paid off. She saved hundreds annually after that incident.
- One thing to remember though: even if your insurer forgives the accident, it's still recorded internally. If you switch companies later, the new insurer will see that accident and factor it into your new premium anyway. So it's not exactly a "clean slate" forever.
Personally, I skipped it too. I drive carefully and don't commute much, so the math just didn't add up for me. But if you're someone who drives daily in busy areas or has younger drivers on your policy, it might be worth considering.
Bottom line: it's not a scam or anything, but it's also not a guaranteed money-saver. Just depends on your driving habits and risk tolerance...
