I recently looked into Geico's accident forgiveness myself, and from what I recall, their policy is pretty similar—usually kicks in after a certain period without incidents. But the specifics can vary depending on your driving history and coverage level.
"those little dings add up fast."
Definitely true. Had a client once who thought minor parking scrapes wouldn't count against him...until renewal time rolled around. Always worth clarifying exactly what's covered under "forgiveness," especially in NYC where parking feels like bumper cars half the time.
"Always worth clarifying exactly what's covered under 'forgiveness,' especially in NYC where parking feels like bumper cars half the time."
Yeah, but honestly, I'm not convinced accident forgiveness is even worth it in NYC. With how aggressive insurers are about hiking rates after minor incidents, it feels like you're paying extra just to avoid a penalty that shouldn't be there in the first place. Maybe better off investing in a dashcam or parking sensors instead...at least those actually help prevent the dings.
I get the skepticism about accident forgiveness, especially in NYC. A few years back, I had my '68 Mustang parked on a side street in Brooklyn—thought it was safe enough—but came back to find a pretty nasty scrape along the rear quarter panel. Insurance called it an "at-fault" incident even though I wasn't even there (go figure). My premium shot up, and the forgiveness I'd paid extra for didn't even cover that scenario—turns out it only applied to actual collisions while driving.
Since then, I've gone with Progressive and invested in a solid dashcam and proximity sensors. Honestly, those have been way more helpful. The dashcam footage even saved me once when someone backed into me at a red light and tried blaming me. Insurance companies can be tricky with their fine print, so I'd definitely double-check exactly what's covered before paying extra for forgiveness. In my experience, prevention beats forgiveness any day...especially when you're dealing with classic cars or anything you really care about.
Can totally relate about the dashcam saving the day...I mean, NYC driving can be like a Mad Max movie sometimes. I'm still new to this whole insurance thing (student driver here, pray for me), but I've heard similar stories from friends. Accident forgiveness always sounded too good to be true—like, they'll forgive you but only if you crash exactly at 2:37 pm on a Tuesday, lol.
I've been leaning towards Progressive too, mostly because their app seems super straightforward and I heard their customer service isn't too painful. Plus, Geico commercials are funny, but funny doesn't exactly help when you're stuck arguing about who's fault a fender bender was.
Anyway, thanks for the heads-up about the fine print. Guess I'll be investing in a dashcam sooner rather than later...and maybe some bubble wrap for my car.
Dashcams are definitely worth it, especially around here. I've had mine for about two years now, and even though I haven't needed it for insurance yet (knock on wood), it's already helped me clear up a parking ticket dispute. Progressive's app is pretty user-friendly, I'll give them that, but have you checked out how each company handles claims specifically in NY? I ask because my cousin had Geico and said their claims process was surprisingly smooth after a minor accident in Brooklyn. Progressive might have the better app, but sometimes the ease of filing a claim and getting reimbursed matters more than the interface.
Also, have you looked into how each handles roadside assistance? NYC potholes are no joke, and I've used roadside help more times than I'd like to admit. Might be worth comparing that too before you commit.
