Honestly, I get why people like accident forgiveness, but I’m not totally convinced it’s worth the hype—at least not for everyone. You brought up a good point here:
the extra cost can add up over time if you never file a claim
That’s exactly what bugs me about it. I’ve got three kids and our minivan sees more than its fair share of dings and scrapes, but I still feel like paying extra just in case I mess up once isn’t always the smartest move. Especially when most of these policies only “forgive” your first accident every 3-5 years (if that). My last insurer made it sound like a freebie, but when I actually looked at the fine print, it was almost $80 a year tacked on. Multiply that by a few years with no claims and… yeah, it adds up fast.
I actually did the math after my neighbor rear-ended someone last year (not his fault, but still). His rate went up about $350 a year after the accident, but he’d been paying for accident forgiveness for six years prior. He ended up spending more on the extra coverage than he would’ve if he’d just taken the rate hike and shopped around afterward.
Not saying it’s useless—if you’re prone to fender benders or have new drivers in the house, maybe it’s peace of mind. But for folks like me who drive a lot but don’t have much of an accident history, I’d rather put that money toward a higher deductible or just stash it in savings for a rainy day. Insurance companies are banking on most of us never needing it anyway.
I guess it really depends on your risk tolerance and driving habits. But personally, I’d rather see those “forgiveness” dollars in my pocket than theirs.
Yeah, I hear you. I used to pay for accident forgiveness too, thinking it was a smart move. Never needed it once in five years. When I finally dropped it, my rate barely changed. Honestly, I’d rather just keep that extra cash and deal with a rate hike if it ever happens. Feels like one of those “just in case” things that mostly benefits the insurance company, not me.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I had accident forgiveness on my policy for a while too, mostly because my agent made it sound like a no-brainer. But after a couple years of spotless driving, I started wondering if it was just another way for them to squeeze a few extra bucks out of me every month. When I finally dropped it, my premium barely budged—like, maybe a couple dollars difference? Made me question what else I was paying for that I didn’t really need.
Do you ever feel like insurance companies bank on us being overly cautious? I mean, Delaware roads aren’t exactly the wild west (unless you’re on 95 during rush hour), but they sure make it sound like disaster is lurking around every corner. I get wanting to be prepared, but at some point, it feels like you’re just padding their profits.
I’ve also noticed that some of these “extras” are bundled in ways that make it hard to tell what’s actually useful. Like, do you really need rental reimbursement if you’ve got a backup car or work from home? Or roadside assistance if you already have AAA? Sometimes I think they count on us not doing the math.
Curious if anyone’s actually used accident forgiveness and felt like it paid off. Or is it one of those things where you only realize you didn’t need it after years of paying for nothing? For me, I’d rather stash the savings for my next road trip and just cross my fingers that my good luck holds out.
Honestly, I’ve had the same thoughts. You nailed it with this:
That’s exactly how it feels. I went line by line through my policy last year and realized I was paying for rental reimbursement even though I work from home and barely drive more than a few miles a day. Dropped it, saved a bit, and didn’t notice any difference in coverage that mattered to me. It’s wild how those little “extras” add up over time. You’re not alone in questioning what’s actually worth it—sometimes just taking a step back and reviewing everything is the best move.Sometimes I think they count on us not doing the math.
Honestly, going through your policy line by line is the smartest move. People are often surprised by how much they’re paying for stuff they don’t need—like roadside assistance when their car already comes with it, or extra glass coverage on a beater. One thing I’d add: sometimes dropping certain coverages can affect discounts, so it’s worth double-checking if removing one thing bumps up the price elsewhere. Insurance math is weird like that... but yeah, those “extras” sneak up on you.