Never really trusted those “forgiveness” perks myself. I remember when my cousin rear-ended someone in Columbus—first accident in over a decade, totally his fault. He thought the forgiveness would save him, but his insurer still bumped up his rate the next renewal. Turns out, the accident was technically “forgiven,” but then they quietly dropped a different discount he’d had for years. Net result? Still paid more.
Makes me wonder if it’s just a marketing thing. Like, are we just paying extra for peace of mind that doesn’t really pan out unless you hit the exact scenario they want? And what even counts as “minor” or “forgivable” anyway? Some of these policies have so many carve-outs it’s hard to know what you’re actually getting.
I drive mostly local these days, so I decided to skip it and just focus on staying claim-free. But yeah, I always wonder if I’m missing something by not having that safety net... or if it’s just another way to squeeze a few more bucks out of careful drivers.
Honestly, I think you nailed it with this:
Some of these policies have so many carve-outs it’s hard to know what you’re actually getting.
- Accident forgiveness sounds good on paper, but insurers always find a way to balance the books.
- Like you said, they’ll “forgive” the accident, then quietly remove your safe driver discount or something else.
- I’ve seen friends pay extra for years and never use it—then when they finally do, the savings barely cover the added cost.
Staying claim-free is probably the best move if you’re mostly local and careful. Peace of mind is nice, but not if it’s just smoke and mirrors.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced it’s all smoke and mirrors. My cousin rear-ended someone in a parking lot last year—first accident ever—and his rates would’ve shot up if he didn’t have accident forgiveness. Yeah, he paid extra for it, but in his case it actually saved him a chunk over the next couple years. Maybe it’s not worth it for everyone, but if you drive a lot or have bad luck with fender benders, could be a decent safety net? Just depends how risk-averse you are, I guess.
I hear you on the “depends how risk-averse you are” angle. I’ve been driving in Ohio for decades, and honestly, I’ve always gone back and forth on this one. Here’s how I look at it:
Step 1—figure out how much extra you’re paying for accident forgiveness. Some companies sneak it in as a “perk,” but sometimes it’s not cheap.
Step 2—think about your driving habits. If you’re commuting through Columbus traffic every day or have a teenager behind the wheel, maybe the odds aren’t in your favor.
Step 3—do a little math (I know, not fun). If your premium would jump by $500/year after an at-fault accident, and forgiveness costs $80/year, you’d come out ahead if you have even one oopsie in a few years.
Personally, I skipped it because I drive like someone’s grandma and haven’t had an accident since the ‘90s (knock on wood). But my neighbor swears by it after her mailbox-jumping incident last winter... Guess it really is one of those “know thyself” situations.
Personally, I skipped it because I drive like someone’s grandma and haven’t had an accident since the ‘90s (knock on wood).
Honestly, your step-by-step is pretty much how I look at it too. That part about “if you’re commuting through Columbus traffic every day or have a teenager behind the wheel, maybe the odds aren’t in your favor” hits home—my kid just got her license and I swear my insurance agent hears from me more than my own mother now. I used to skip accident forgiveness too, but after she clipped our neighbor’s trash can (twice), I started thinking maybe it’s not just for reckless drivers. Sometimes it’s just for people with teenagers and bad luck.
