is accident forgiveness really worth it in Ohio?

Honestly, accident forgiveness can feel a bit like a safety net that doesn’t always catch you. It’s supposed to keep your first at-fault from raising rates, but sometimes other factors still bump your premium up - like claims history or even local trends. It’s not a magic fix, but for some folks, it does soften the blow. If you’re not prone to accidents, it might not be worth the extra cost.

I get what you mean - it’s not a total get-out-of-jail-free card. Here’s how I look at it: 1) Check how much extra you’re paying for it. 2) Ask your insurer if it covers ALL at-fault accidents or just the first. 3) Look at your own driving record - if you’ve never had a claim, maybe skip it. I’ve had friends in Ohio who paid for years and never used it, but one buddy got rear-ended and it actually helped him out. Guess it’s a bit of a gamble, but sometimes peace of mind is worth a few bucks.

Not sure I totally buy the “peace of mind is worth a few bucks” angle, at least for everyone. Maybe it’s just me being cheap, but I always wonder if that money could be better spent on something I’ll actually use. Like, if you’re paying $60-100 extra a year for accident forgiveness and never get in an accident for 10 years, that’s $600-1000 gone. Wouldn’t it make more sense to just put that cash aside as your own “forgiveness fund” in case you ever need it?

Also, this part caught my eye:

one buddy got rear-ended and it actually helped him out

If he got rear-ended though, wouldn’t the other driver be at fault? Or am I missing something about how his policy worked? Usually accident forgiveness only kicks in if you’re at fault. If someone else hits you, their insurance should cover it anyway (unless they’re uninsured or something). Maybe there was some weird situation there.

I get that some folks like the security, especially if they drive a lot or have teen drivers in the house. But if you’ve got a clean record and don’t drive much (and especially if you’re not prone to distracted driving), is it really necessary? Insurance companies aren’t offering this out of kindness - they’ve definitely done the math and know most people won’t “win” on the deal.

Personally, I’d rather keep my premiums as low as possible and just try to be careful on the road. But maybe I’m just too much of a penny pincher…

You’re not wrong to question the value, especially if you’ve got a spotless record and don’t drive much. Accident forgiveness is really more about risk tolerance than math for some folks. And yeah, if your buddy got rear-ended, that’s usually not where forgiveness comes into play - unless there was some shared fault or weird claim situation. Honestly, I’ve seen plenty of people pay for it and never use it. If you’re disciplined enough to set aside your own “forgiveness fund,” that’s a pretty reasonable approach too.

I actually just went through this whole debate with myself when I got my first policy. I barely drive - just to work and back - and my record’s clean. The agent tried to upsell me on accident forgiveness, but honestly, I’d rather stash that extra cash in my savings. If I ever do mess up, at least I’ve got a little cushion. Just feels like paying for something I might never use, you know?