I used to think accident forgiveness was just another gimmick until my wife sideswiped our neighbor's parked car last winter. Her first accident in like 10 years. We didn't have it, and the premium jump afterward made me rethink things a bit. Still skeptical if it's worth it long-term, but after that experience...I can definitely see why some folks prefer paying a little extra upfront just for peace of mind.
Accident forgiveness can definitely save you some headaches, but honestly, it's not always the best deal financially. If your driving record is clean for years, you're essentially paying extra for something you might never use. I've seen plenty of cases where people pay into it for ages without ever needing it, and that money could've been better spent elsewhere.
One thing to consider is shopping around after an accident. Some insurers are more forgiving than others when it comes to premium hikes. I've had clients who switched companies after their first accident and ended up with lower rates than their original insurer—even without accident forgiveness coverage.
So yeah, peace of mind is valuable, but it's worth crunching the numbers and seeing if it really makes sense for your situation.
I've wondered about this myself. A friend of mine had accident forgiveness coverage for years, never needed it, and then when he finally did have a minor fender bender, he realized his premiums had already covered the cost of the accident several times over. Made me question if it's really worth it in the long run.
Does anyone know if accident forgiveness affects your ability to switch insurers later on? Like, if you use it, does that accident still show up and impact your quotes elsewhere, or is it completely hidden from other companies? Seems like that could make a big difference in deciding if it's worth paying extra for...
"Does anyone know if accident forgiveness affects your ability to switch insurers later on?"
Good question—I've dealt with this exact situation a few times. Accident forgiveness is great for keeping your current rates steady after a minor accident, but it doesn't erase the incident from your driving record. When you shop around later, other insurers will still see that accident and factor it into their quotes. Happened to my brother... he thought he'd saved money at first, but switching companies later wasn't quite the smooth sailing he'd expected.
Totally agree with your point—accident forgiveness helps short-term, but insurers definitely still notice the accident later. A couple things I'd add from my experience commuting daily in Ohio:
- Accident forgiveness programs often have fine print—like only one forgiven accident every few years or specific eligibility requirements.
- Even though other companies see your accident, how much it affects your rate varies widely. Some insurers are surprisingly forgiving, others not so much...
- If you're planning to stick with your insurer long-term, it's probably worth it; if you switch frequently, maybe not as beneficial.
