Title: Is Accident Forgiveness Really Worth It In Ohio?
I've seen this play out with a lot of clients—people think accident forgiveness is a safety net, but it’s not always as straightforward as it sounds. Had a family last year who paid extra for it, but after their teen had a fender bender, their premium still went up because they lost their “good driver” discount. The forgiveness only covered the surcharge for the accident itself, not the other stuff that gets factored in. Sometimes, raising your deductible or shopping around makes more sense, especially if you’ve got young drivers on the policy. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all deal.
Had accident forgiveness on my policy when I first started driving. Thought it’d be a lifesaver, but after a minor scrape in a parking lot, my rate still jumped because I lost the “good driver” perk. Like you said,
Honestly, felt like I was paying extra for not much. If you’re a new driver, it’s probably smarter to just drive super careful and maybe look for better rates elsewhere.“the forgiveness only covered the surcharge for the accident itself, not the other stuff that gets factored in.”
Yeah, I had a similar experience. I thought accident forgiveness would be my safety net, but after a fender bender, my premium still crept up because of the lost discount. Like you said,
It’s kind of wild how many little things can bump your rate. Honestly, I’m starting to think it’s more hype than help unless you’re really worried about a big first accident.“the forgiveness only covered the surcharge for the accident itself, not the other stuff that gets factored in.”
Honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing. If you still lose your “good driver” discount after an accident, is the forgiveness really doing much? Seems like it only shields you from the worst hike, but not all the smaller increases. Maybe it’s more peace of mind than actual savings?
Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. Accident forgiveness sounds great on paper, but once you dig into the details, it’s not quite the safety net you’d hope for. I had a fender bender a couple years back—nothing major, but enough to file a claim. My insurer “forgave” the accident, but I still lost my good driver discount and my premium crept up a bit anyway. Not as bad as it could’ve been, but still annoying.
I guess it’s better than getting slammed with a huge rate hike, but it’s not like you walk away totally unscathed. It almost feels like a marketing thing more than a real benefit sometimes. Maybe if you’ve got a spotless record and just want that extra peace of mind, it’s worth it... but if you’re already paying extra for the feature, I’m not sure it really pays off in the long run. Ohio rates aren’t the worst, but every little bit adds up.
