- I totally get the “insurance for your insurance rates” angle. I’m the type who’d rather pay a little extra than risk a nasty surprise down the road.
- Even if you’re a careful driver, stuff just happens—icy roads, distracted drivers, deer out of nowhere. It’s not always about your own driving.
- I’ve seen a friend’s rates jump by hundreds after a single minor accident. That was enough to make me rethink skipping accident forgiveness.
- On the flip side, if you’re driving a ton for work and have a spotless record, I can see how it feels like wasted cash. But what’s the cost difference for you? For me, it was only about $6/month, which felt worth it for the peace of mind.
- Curious—has anyone actually done the math on how long you’d have to go claim-free before accident forgiveness stops making sense? Or is it more about your personal risk tolerance?
But what’s the cost difference for you? For me, it was only about $6/month, which felt worth it for the peace of mind.
Not sure accident forgiveness is always the slam dunk people think. In Ohio, rates can already be a bit lower compared to other states, so that $6/month might add up if you go years without a claim. I’ve seen folks with spotless records pay for it for 8+ years and never use it—by then, they’ve shelled out hundreds for something they didn’t need. It really depends on how risk-averse you are, but sometimes just bumping up your emergency fund makes more sense than adding another line to your premium.
I did the math on this a while back and honestly, it just didn’t add up for me. I’ve been driving in Ohio for over 15 years with no at-fault accidents, so paying extra every month felt like throwing money away. I’d rather stash that $6/month in my savings and use it if something actually happens. Maybe if I had a history of fender benders or drove in a bigger city, I’d think differently, but for now, I’ll take my chances. Anyone else feel like these “peace of mind” add-ons are just sneaky ways to bump up your bill?
I’m right there with you—it just never made sense for me either. I ran the numbers last year after my renewal came up and realized that over a decade, I’d have paid hundreds for something I’ve never needed. I get the appeal for folks with a less-than-perfect record, but for those of us with clean driving histories, it feels like paying for a lottery ticket you’re hoping never to cash in. I’d rather keep that cash in my rainy day fund, too. Maybe if I commuted in downtown Cleveland every day, I’d be more tempted, but out here in the suburbs? Doesn’t add up.
Title: Is Accident Forgiveness Really Worth It In Ohio?
for those of us with clean driving histories, it feels like paying for a lottery ticket you’re hoping never to cash in.
That’s exactly how I’ve always looked at it. I remember when my agent first pitched accident forgiveness to me—he made it sound like I’d be crazy not to add it. But after twenty-some years behind the wheel (knock on wood), the closest I’ve come to an “accident” was backing into my own garbage can. Not exactly the stuff of insurance nightmares.
I get why some folks might want that extra peace of mind, especially if they’re driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic every day or have a teenager just learning the ropes. But out here where the biggest hazard is a rogue deer or maybe a pothole big enough to swallow a tire, it just doesn’t seem worth shelling out for. Like you said, that money adds up over time—enough for a decent set of tires or a couple of oil changes, at least.
Funny thing is, my neighbor swears by accident forgiveness because he’s had two fender benders in three years (both times with his own mailbox). For him, maybe it makes sense. For me? I’d rather take my chances and keep that cash handy for when my car inevitably decides it needs something expensive right after the warranty runs out.
I guess it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to live with. If you sleep better knowing you’ve got that safety net, go for it. But if you’re like me and prefer to roll the dice—well, sometimes you win, sometimes your mailbox loses.
