Totally agree with your take. I debated getting accident forgiveness myself since I'm new to insurance. My sister got it a few years back, thinking it'd be a lifesaver. Turns out, she paid extra for ages and never needed it. When she finally switched insurers, they still saw her spotless record as just... spotless. I drive mostly weekends and avoid rush hour, so figured I'd skip it too. Seems like it's more peace-of-mind than practical for occasional drivers like me.
Interesting perspective—I was actually leaning toward getting accident forgiveness myself, mostly because I'm pretty cautious and risk-averse. But your sister's experience makes me reconsider a bit. I guess it depends on individual driving habits and comfort levels. Did you happen to look into how much premiums typically increase after a single accident without forgiveness? That's my main worry... paying extra now versus potentially facing a big hike later.
Premium hikes after an accident can vary quite a bit, but from what I've seen professionally, you're typically looking at anywhere from 20% to even 40% increases depending on your insurer and driving record. Accident forgiveness can make sense if you're risk-averse, but honestly, I've personally skipped it. Had one minor fender-bender a few years back—my rates jumped about 25%, but after shopping around, I found another carrier offering better rates than my original premium. So, sometimes it's worth taking your chances and just switching if needed.
Interesting perspective, I've been debating accident forgiveness myself. One thing I'm curious about though—does switching insurers after an accident typically affect your ability to qualify for discounts like safe driver or loyalty bonuses? I've heard mixed things from friends who've switched around...some say they lost perks, others claim they ended up better off. Wondering if anyone's had experience with that here in Arkansas specifically.
"I've heard mixed things from friends who've switched around...some say they lost perks, others claim they ended up better off."
That's pretty spot-on. In Arkansas, switching insurers after an accident can be a mixed bag:
- Accident forgiveness usually doesn't transfer between companies—it's typically insurer-specific.
- Safe driver discounts might temporarily dip since your recent driving history follows you, but some insurers weigh accidents differently, so shopping around can still pay off.
- Loyalty bonuses obviously vanish when you switch, but new customer incentives sometimes offset that loss.
Bottom line: it's worth comparing quotes carefully and asking directly about how each insurer handles recent accidents and discounts.
