I swear, insurance companies have more fine print than a car rental contract. I had “forgiveness” on my last policy, but after a minor run-in with a rogue shopping cart (don’t ask), my rate still nudged up at renewal. Not as much as it could’ve, but still. Has anyone actually had their rate *not* go up at all after using forgiveness? Or is it just a smaller hike? I’m starting to think it’s more like “accident amnesia” than true forgiveness...
Title: Is Accident Forgiveness Really Worth It In Ohio?
Honestly, I’ve always thought “accident forgiveness” sounded like a get-out-of-jail-free card, but in practice it’s more like a “get-a-smaller-ticket” card. Had it on my last policy too—ran into a mailbox backing out of my driveway (don’t judge, it was way too early and I hadn’t had coffee). My rate still crept up, just not as much as I feared. Not zero, though.
I think the catch is, they “forgive” the actual accident for their own rating system, but there’s all these other factors they can use to justify a bump. Like, your area, claim frequency, or even the general cost of repairs going up. Sometimes I wonder if they just spin a wheel at renewal time.
I’ve never heard of anyone’s rate staying exactly the same after using forgiveness. Maybe if you’re squeaky clean otherwise? But even then, seems like they find a way to sneak in some kind of increase. It’s almost like they’re forgiving you... but not forgetting.
Still, I’ll take a smaller hike over a big one. Especially since I drive all over the place for road trips and weird stuff happens—like that time a squirrel ran across my hood outside Hocking Hills and I nearly ended up in a ditch. Insurance is basically my “just in case I’m unlucky” fund at this point.
Long story short, it’s not magic, but it beats nothing. Just wish it was more “forgiveness” and less “we’ll go easy on you this time.”
I’m just about to buy my first policy and I totally get what you mean—it’s like “forgiveness” is just a fancy way of saying “we’ll only slap your wrist this time.” Here’s how I’m looking at it: 1) If you’re a magnet for weird accidents (I once hit a trash can that literally rolled into the street), it’s probably worth it for the peace of mind. 2) If you’re super careful, maybe not, since you’re paying extra for something you might never use. Either way, I’m bracing myself for the “forgiven but not forgotten” rate bump... insurance companies have memories like elephants.
Honestly, “forgiveness” is a bit of a marketing magic trick, isn’t it? You pay extra for the privilege of not getting hammered after one oopsie, but if you’re the type who’s dodging rogue trash cans on the regular, it might actually save your bacon. I’ve seen folks get hit with a 30% rate hike after a single fender bender—yikes. Curious, though: has anyone here actually used accident forgiveness and NOT seen their rates creep up anyway?
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not sure I’d call it a total gimmick. My cousin had a minor accident in Columbus—first one ever—and his insurer actually kept his rate steady because he had accident forgiveness. It wasn’t free, but compared to what he could’ve paid after, it seemed worth it. Maybe it’s just about peace of mind for some folks?
