I’m just about to get my first policy and honestly, I keep going back and forth on accident forgiveness. Part of me thinks it’s just another way for them to squeeze more money out of you, but h...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. That “just in case” fee can feel like a money grab, especially when you’re trying to keep your first policy affordable. But here’s the thing:
- In Ohio, rates can jump a lot after even a small at-fault accident. You mentioned your cousin’s rates doubling after sliding into a mailbox—unfortunately, that’s not super rare.
- Accident forgiveness isn’t always expensive. Sometimes it adds $4–$8/month, depending on the company and your driving record.
- It only covers your first at-fault accident, so if you’re confident in your driving or don’t drive much, maybe it’s not worth it.
But here’s where I’d push back a bit—sometimes people overestimate how much their rates will go up without it. Not every minor accident leads to a huge hike, and some companies are more forgiving than others.
If you have a clean record and feel pretty low-risk, maybe just focus on safe driving and skip the extra charge for now. Just check what your insurer’s surcharge would actually be if something did happen—sometimes it’s less scary than people expect.
I get what you’re saying about not every minor accident leading to a huge hike, but I wonder if that’s always true in practice. Like, you mentioned some companies are more forgiving, but how do you know which ones until it actually happens? Feels like a bit of a gamble.
It only covers your first at-fault accident, so if you’re confident in your driving or don’t drive much, maybe it’s not worth it.
But even careful drivers can have those weird “wrong place, wrong time” moments. I had a friend who was rear-ended at a stop sign and somehow still got dinged as partially at fault. His rates shot up for three years. He didn’t have accident forgiveness and definitely regretted skipping it.
Isn’t there also the question of peace of mind? Like, is it worth a few bucks a month just to not stress every time there’s a close call or icy patch? I’m genuinely torn on whether that’s just insurance companies playing on our fears or if it’s actually smart hedging.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Even if you’re a careful driver, stuff just happens—especially with Ohio winters. I’ve seen people get hit with rate hikes for things that weren’t 100% their fault, and it stings.
Isn’t there also the question of peace of mind? Like, is it worth a few bucks a month just to not stress every time there’s a close call or icy patch?
For me, that peace of mind is worth it. I drive a higher-end car and the potential rate jump after an accident would be brutal. It’s not just about the odds—it’s about not having to worry every time someone brakes hard in front of me. Insurance companies definitely play on fear, but sometimes it’s just smart to hedge your bets, especially if you’d really feel the pain of a premium hike.
I totally get the peace of mind angle, especially with Ohio roads being what they are in winter. I’m usually skeptical about paying for extra coverage, but after my neighbor’s fender bender last year—barely her fault, and her rates still shot up—I started rethinking it. For folks with pricier cars or long commutes, it’s not just about stats, it’s about not stressing every time you hit a patch of black ice. Insurance companies do milk the fear factor, but sometimes it really does make sense to pay a bit more just to sleep easier.
“it’s not just about stats, it’s about not stressing every time you hit a patch of black ice.”
Yeah, that’s exactly it. I drive from Akron to Cleveland every day, and honestly, the stress from just one close call last winter had me rethinking my coverage. I used to think accident forgiveness was just another upsell, but after a minor slide into a guardrail (no one hurt, thankfully), I was glad I had it. My rates didn’t budge. It’s not cheap, but for me, the peace of mind is worth it—especially with how unpredictable these roads get.
