Is it just insurance companies playing on our paranoia? Or is it actually a lifesaver if you get unlucky one day?
Honestly, I lean toward the “paranoia” side most of the time. I’ve had a few dings on my record, and accident forgiveness barely made a dent in my premiums after an at-fault crash. It’s marketed as a safety net, but if you’re already considered high-risk, they’ll find other ways to hike your rates anyway. I’d rather put that extra cash aside myself, but yeah... if you’re super cautious or have a spotless record, maybe it’s peace of mind. For me, it hasn’t paid off.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen accident forgiveness work out for a friend of mine. He’s the type who drives like he’s got a cup of coffee balanced on the dash, never speeds, always signals—basically the poster child for safe driving. Then one icy morning, he slid into someone at a stop sign. First accident in 20 years. His insurance didn’t budge on his rates because he had accident forgiveness, and he was honestly relieved.
I’m not saying it’s a magic fix, especially if you’ve already got a few marks on your record. But for folks who are usually careful and just have that one-off bad day, it can be a lifesaver. I’d rather pay a little extra for that kind of backup than risk getting slammed with a huge rate hike after one mistake. Guess it depends on how much you trust your own luck...
I’m not saying it’s a magic fix, especially if you’ve already got a few marks on your record.
I totally get the appeal—having a safety net for that “one-off bad day” sounds pretty comforting. I just keep wondering if the extra cost is really worth it in the long run, especially if you’re a careful driver like your friend. I’ve only had one fender bender in 15 years, and my rates went up for a couple years but then dropped back down. Has anyone ever actually calculated whether paying for accident forgiveness ends up saving money over time? Or is it mostly peace of mind?
I hear you—peace of mind is a big part of it, but honestly, if you’re a careful driver and don’t have a history of accidents, it might not pay off. I ran the numbers once for my ‘72 Chevelle and the extra cost over five years was more than my rate hike after a minor scrape. For folks with spotless records, it’s probably just insurance for your insurance, if that makes sense.
I get what you’re saying, but I’ve seen accident forgiveness come in handy for a couple of my buddies—one got rear-ended at a stoplight and the other clipped a mailbox (don’t ask). Neither had a record, but their rates would’ve jumped way more than the forgiveness add-on cost them. I guess it’s like paying for roadside assistance… most of the time you don’t need it, but when you do, you’re glad it’s there. For me, it’s just another layer of “just in case” since I’m on the road so much. But yeah, if you’re barely driving or have a garage queen, probably not worth the extra cash.
