I get the logic, but I’m not totally convinced it’s always worth it, especially in Ohio. Rates here are already lower than a lot of other states, and not every insurer jacks up your premium by 40% after a single fender bender. Sometimes it’s more like 10-20%, depending on your record and the company.
$60 a year isn’t nothing, but compared to a 40% hike? That’s rough math.
True, but if you go five years without an at-fault accident, that’s $300 you’ve paid for something you never used. I guess it comes down to risk tolerance. Personally, I’d rather put that $60 toward a higher deductible or just stash it in savings. Not saying accident forgiveness is useless, but for some of us, it’s just not the best value.
I get where you’re coming from. I drive a newer BMW, and my agent pitched accident forgiveness hard, but I passed. I’ve had one claim in 15 years and my rate barely budged. Maybe if I had a history of fender benders I’d see it differently, but for now, I’d rather keep that $60 in my pocket. Anyone else notice luxury premiums don’t always spike as much as people think?
I’ve noticed the same thing with luxury premiums—they don’t always jump as much as people warn you about. I drive an Audi and after a minor claim, my rate barely moved. Accident forgiveness just feels like paying for peace of mind you might never use, especially if you’ve got a clean record. Maybe it’s more useful for folks with a history of accidents, but for careful drivers, I’m not convinced it’s worth the extra cash.
I see this all the time—people shelling out for accident forgiveness thinking it’s a magic shield. Truth is, in Ohio, unless you’re racking up claims or have a spotty record, it’s usually not worth the markup. I’ve processed plenty of claims where folks with clean records barely saw a blip in their premiums after a minor fender bender. Insurance companies love to sell peace of mind, but they’re banking on you never actually needing it.
Now, if you’ve got a teenager on your policy or you’re just unlucky behind the wheel, maybe it makes sense. But for most careful drivers? You’re probably just padding the insurer’s pockets. I’d rather see people put that extra cash into a rainy day fund. At least then you’re not paying for something you’ll likely never use.
I get where you’re coming from—
Thing is, I’ve seen a single at-fault accident push rates up more than folks expect, even for people with a previously spotless record. It’s not always predictable. Have you noticed any difference in how various companies handle premium hikes after a first accident? Some seem way harsher than others.“for most careful drivers? You’re probably just padding the insurer’s pockets.”
