I get where you’re coming from. I’ve had a couple of fender benders over the years, and honestly, with my old Civic, accident forgiveness just didn’t make sense. Like you said,
My premiums barely budged after a minor claim, and the extra monthly cost for forgiveness would’ve added up to more than the rate hike.“the cost-benefit just isn’t there for most folks.”
But I will say, when I upgraded to a newer car, I started thinking about it differently. The rates in Ohio are pretty reasonable, but if you’re driving something worth more or have a long commute (like me), that peace of mind starts to look a little better. Still, for beaters or older rides? I’d probably skip it unless you’re super accident-prone or just want zero surprises.
Honestly, I’ve seen folks pay for accident forgiveness for years and never use it—money down the drain if you ask me. But then again, I’ve also watched someone’s rates skyrocket after a single fender bender, and they were kicking themselves for not having it. In Ohio, with rates being pretty chill, it’s a toss-up. For newer cars or if you’re on the road constantly, maybe it’s worth the extra bucks... but for an old beater? I’d probably just roll the dice and save my cash.
I hear you on the whole “is it worth it” debate. I drive about 60 miles round trip for work every day, rain or shine, so I get a little paranoid about what might happen, especially in winter. I actually had accident forgiveness for a couple years when I got my new car, mostly because my cousin told me his insurance doubled after he rear-ended someone on the highway—just once, too. He was ticked.
But after a while, it felt like I was just paying extra for “peace of mind” that I never used. Eventually dropped it when my car hit the 10-year mark and honestly haven’t missed it since. If you’re driving something older that’s not worth much, I kind of agree—why bother? But if you’re out there every day with a newer ride, one dumb mistake can cost way more than the forgiveness add-on. It’s kinda like gambling either way… just depends how lucky you feel, I guess.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I used to keep accident forgiveness on my daily driver, but once it got older, I figured the extra cost just wasn’t worth it. My ‘72 Chevelle? No way would I bother—if I ding that, insurance is the least of my worries. But for a newer car you’re driving every day, especially in Ohio winters, it’s not the worst safety net. It’s kind of like paying for undercoating—sometimes you regret it, sometimes you’re glad you did when the salt hits.
Honestly, I keep accident forgiveness on my newer car just for peace of mind. Ohio winters are like a demolition derby waiting to happen—one icy patch and suddenly you’re starring in your own insurance commercial. But yeah, once my last car hit 10 years old, I dropped it. At that point, the premium felt like paying extra for a security blanket I didn’t really need. Still, I’d rather have it and not need it than the other way around... especially with my luck.
