Yeah, accident forgiveness can be a bit tricky. Had a friend who thought he was in the clear after a minor scrape—nothing major, just a parking lot mishap—but turns out the insurer still factored it into his risk profile. Premium didn't jump immediately, but when he switched companies later, they definitely noticed. It's like forgiving but not forgetting, insurance-style... Always worth double-checking how your insurer handles these things behind the scenes.
Had a similar experience myself. Got accident forgiveness after a fender-bender a few years back—thought I was golden. But when renewal time rolled around, my rates didn't spike immediately, but they crept up slowly over the next couple years. Felt like the insurer was quietly keeping tabs on me, haha. Makes me wonder if it's really forgiveness or just delayed judgment... Anyone know if certain insurers in Ohio handle this better than others?
I've wondered about this myself, but honestly, I think the slow creep in rates might be more about general inflation and market trends than delayed judgment. Insurers adjust their pricing models pretty regularly, and Ohio's no exception. I had accident forgiveness too, and while my rates did inch up, friends without accidents saw similar increases. Might be worth comparing your renewal quotes with new customer quotes online every year or two—could save you some cash in the long run.
Accident forgiveness can be handy, but honestly, it's not always the golden ticket people think it is. Here's the deal: insurers aren't charities—they're businesses. Even if they forgive your accident, they're still crunching numbers behind the scenes. Rates creep up for everyone because of inflation, repair costs, and market shifts (like you mentioned), but accident forgiveness mostly just shields you from that immediate spike after a claim.
Here's what I'd do if I were you:
1. Check your renewal quote every year—don't just auto-renew without looking.
2. Run a quick online comparison with other companies to see if you're still getting a decent deal.
3. If you've been accident-free for years and your rates keep climbing anyway, maybe reconsider paying extra for accident forgiveness.
Funny story: my brother swore by accident forgiveness until he realized he'd been paying extra for 5 years without ever needing it...then he backed into a mailbox and finally felt justified. 😂 But seriously, weigh the cost vs. peace of mind carefully—it might not always be worth it in Ohio or anywhere else.
"Funny story: my brother swore by accident forgiveness until he realized he'd been paying extra for 5 years without ever needing it...then he backed into a mailbox and finally felt justified. 😂"
Haha, your brother sounds exactly like half the people I talk to at work. Accident forgiveness is kinda like buying an umbrella—you carry it around forever, annoyed you never use it...until the day you finally do. But yeah, if your driving record's clean and you're careful, it might just be money down the drain. Good advice on shopping around regularly, btw.
