Yeah, Erie’s “chill” reputation is mostly true, but they’ll still ding you if you rack up claims. I had a fender bender a couple years back—accident forgiveness saved me once, but after that, it was back to regular rate hikes. Honestly, read the fine print... sometimes it’s just marketing fluff.
Not sure I’d call it “just marketing fluff,” but I get where you’re coming from. Accident forgiveness isn’t quite the golden ticket people think it is, especially in Ohio where rates and rules can be all over the place. You said:
Honestly, read the fine print... sometimes it’s just marketing fluff.
That’s solid advice, but I’d add: it’s not only about the fine print—it’s about your driving history and how likely you are to need that forgiveness in the first place. Here’s how I usually break it down for folks:
1. Figure out your risk: If you’ve gone 10+ years without a claim, accident forgiveness probably won’t do much for you. But if you’re accident-prone or have teen drivers at home, that one “get out of jail free” card can be a lifesaver (once).
2. Look at the cost: Sometimes you’re paying extra for accident forgiveness and sometimes it’s bundled in. If you’re shelling out more, do the math—would your premium hike after one accident actually be worse than what you’re paying for forgiveness? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
3. Think long-term: Like you said, after that first forgiven accident, you’re right back to square one. If you have another claim soon after, most companies will hit you with surcharges anyway. It’s not unlimited.
4. Company policies vary: Erie’s pretty fair compared to some others (I’ve seen companies drop people for two minor accidents in a year), but nobody’s just letting repeat claims slide.
I’ve seen people get burned because they thought accident forgiveness meant “no consequences ever.” It really just buys you a single pass—after that, business as usual. Not useless, but definitely not magic either.
One more thing: some insurers will still count that forgiven accident when calculating eligibility for other discounts (like safe driver ones), even if they don’t raise your rate right away. That can sting later.
Long story short, it’s worth it for some folks, not so much for others... just depends on your situation and how much peace of mind is worth to you. But yeah, always read the fine print—no argument there.
Honestly, you nailed a lot of the points I think about when I look at accident forgiveness. It’s not just about what the ads promise or what’s in the fine print—it’s really about your own habits and who’s behind the wheel in your house. I’m pretty cautious (maybe even a little paranoid) about my insurance costs, so I always ask myself: am I paying for peace of mind, or am I just paying extra for something I’ll never use?
I totally agree that if you’ve got a clean record and you’re not driving with a bunch of risk-takers, it might not be worth the extra cost. My cousin added it because her son just got his license, and honestly, that made sense to me. She figured one mistake from him could cost them big time otherwise. But for me? I’ve been claim-free for over a decade, so I’d rather save the money.
One thing that bugs me is how some companies still “remember” that forgiven accident when it comes to other discounts. Like, what’s the point if it still bites you later? That feels a bit sneaky.
I do wonder sometimes if people get pressured into these add-ons just because they sound good. The marketing is slick—“never worry about your rates going up after an accident!”—but like you said, it’s not magic. It’s more like a one-time coupon.
Anyway, you’re spot on with your breakdown. It really does come down to your own situation and whether that extra layer of protection is worth the price tag for you. For folks with new drivers or who know they’re not perfect behind the wheel, maybe it makes sense. For others, maybe not so much.
Appreciate seeing someone else dig into this without just repeating the sales pitch. Makes me feel better about being picky with my coverage choices.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually think accident forgiveness is a bit overrated, even for folks with new drivers. My nephew rear-ended someone his first year driving, and the “forgiveness” only covered the first accident—after that, his rates shot up anyway. Plus, the premium for adding it wasn’t exactly pocket change. Sometimes I feel like it’s just another way for insurance companies to squeeze a few more bucks out of us. If you’re already careful and don’t have a house full of teenagers, I’d rather just keep my record clean and skip the add-on.
Sometimes I feel like it’s just another way for insurance companies to squeeze a few more bucks out of us.
- Noticed that too—accident forgiveness isn’t always as “forgiving” as it sounds.
- In Ohio, the surcharge for a single at-fault accident can vary a lot, depending on your carrier and history.
- The add-on cost can outweigh the benefit if you’re not high-risk or don’t have young drivers.
- Curious—did your nephew’s rate hike end up higher than what he’d have paid without forgiveness? That’s the part I see trip people up: sometimes the long-term math doesn’t work out.