I’d rather risk a rate hike than pay extra for forgiveness I’ll probably never use.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, that’s rolling the dice a bit too much for my taste. Even if your car isn’t worth much, one at-fault accident can jack your rates for years—sometimes way more than what you’d pay for accident forgiveness. Insurance companies love to rake you over the coals after even a minor fender bender. My cousin rear-ended someone at a stoplight (barely a scratch), and his premium shot up almost $60 a month. That adds up fast.
Sure, if you’re just getting dings in parking lots, maybe it’s not worth it. But all it takes is one distracted moment and suddenly you’re paying double. I’d rather pay a little extra now than get hammered later. Just my two cents...
I hear you, but I’ve seen both sides of this. My ‘72 Chevelle got tapped once—my fault, not a big deal, but my rates still jumped. Accident forgiveness would’ve saved me a headache and some cash. It’s not for everyone, but if you drive a lot or have a classic you actually use, it’s worth thinking about. Insurance companies don’t mess around with rate hikes, even for minor stuff.
I totally get where you're coming from. I had a fender bender in a grocery store lot—barely a scratch, but my rates still took a hit. Accident forgiveness sounded gimmicky to me at first, but after that, I started looking into it more seriously. Have you noticed if certain companies in Ohio are better about not jacking up rates for small stuff, or is it all pretty much the same across the board?
Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing.
I’m just starting to shop around and it seems like most of the big names bump your rates even for tiny claims. A friend mentioned Erie was a little more chill, but I haven’t dug into the details yet. Accident forgiveness feels like “extra” but maybe worth it if rates jump that fast...Have you noticed if certain companies in Ohio are better about not jacking up rates for small stuff, or is it all pretty much the same across the board?
A friend mentioned Erie was a little more chill, but I haven’t dug into the details yet.
I’ve noticed that too—“most of the big names bump your rates even for tiny claims.” In my experience, it really depends on how many years you’ve been with a company and your overall record. Erie does tend to be a bit more forgiving, but they’re not immune to rate hikes either. Accident forgiveness can be worth it if you’re worried about that one-off mistake, but it’s not always as generous as it sounds... sometimes it only applies once, or just to certain types of accidents. Have you checked if your current company already includes it? Some sneak it in for long-term customers without much fanfare.