Yeah, I’m with you on this. I’ve had my fair share of tickets and a couple fender benders (all my fault, unfortunately), and accident forgiveness actually saved my butt once. My premium would’ve shot up way more than the extra I paid for the coverage. It’s not magic, but it does soften the blow when you mess up.
One thing I noticed in Ohio is that some companies only offer it if you’ve been claim-free for a while, which is kind of ironic if you’re already a “risky” driver. Also, not every insurer treats it the same—some just don’t raise your rates for that first accident, but others might still ding you in other ways, like taking away safe driver discounts. Gotta read the fine print, for sure.
For older cars, I agree it’s less of a big deal. If your car’s not worth much, sometimes it’s cheaper to just eat the rate hike or even drop collision altogether. But if you’re driving a lot or have a newer ride, it can be a lifesaver. Just depends how much risk you’re willing to take on.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the fine print catches a lot of people off guard. Some policies in Ohio sneak in those “accident forgiveness” limits—like, it only covers you once every few years, or not if you’re already racking up points. Have you ever seen anyone lose their safe driver discount even though their rate didn’t technically go up? That’s the part that bugs me... feels a bit sneaky. For folks with older cars, I’m right there with you—it’s probably not worth the extra cost unless you really can’t stomach a sudden premium hike. How much are people actually saving after an accident versus just paying out over time?
Is Accident Forgiveness Really Worth It In Ohio?
Yeah, that safe driver discount disappearing act is wild. My cousin thought he was in the clear after a fender bender—rate stayed the same, but poof, his discount vanished. Suddenly he’s paying more anyway, just not in the way he expected. I’ve run the numbers a few times and honestly, unless you’re accident-prone or super anxious about rate hikes, it feels like paying extra for peace of mind you might never use. For my 12-year-old sedan, I’d rather just cross my fingers and drive carefully...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite experience with my insurance on a newer BMW. Here’s why I keep accident forgiveness:
- Repair costs for luxury cars are nuts. Even a small scrape can mean thousands in parts and labor.
- One minor at-fault accident and my rate shot up—accident forgiveness would’ve saved me a ton over the next few years.
- Losing the safe driver discount stings, but the actual surcharge for an accident was way worse for me.
I totally get that it might not be worth it if your car’s older or you rarely drive, but for higher-value vehicles, that peace of mind isn’t just theoretical. It’s about protecting yourself from a huge financial hit if something goes sideways. I’d rather budget a little extra now than get slammed later... especially since “driving carefully” doesn’t always protect you from other people’s mistakes.
Totally agree with your take, especially on luxury car repairs—those bills can be brutal. I’d just add a couple things I see a lot in Ohio:
- Some insurers only offer accident forgiveness once, then you’re back to square one after another claim. Worth checking the fine print.
- Rates can jump even for not-at-fault accidents if you’re unlucky with timing or claims history.
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Couldn’t be truer. Even the best drivers get sideswiped by bad luck.“driving carefully” doesn’t always protect you from other people’s mistakes.
For folks with older cars or super clean records, it might not pencil out. But for newer/high-value rides, that buffer can really save your wallet.
