Yeah, that’s what’s tripping me up too. I keep thinking, what are the odds I’ll actually need it? But then again, I’ve seen friends get hit with those rate hikes after one dumb mistake. It’s tough to know if it’s just paying for peace of mind or actually worth it.
I keep thinking, what are the odds I’ll actually need it?
Honestly, I used to think the same way until my neighbor rear-ended someone at a stoplight—first accident in 20 years, and his rates shot up for three years straight. Accident forgiveness would've saved him a lot. In Ohio, rates can jump pretty high after even a minor at-fault accident. If you’ve got a clean record and drive a lot, it’s almost like cheap insurance for your insurance, if that makes sense. Not everyone needs it, but if you’re risk-averse or just want to avoid nasty surprises, it’s worth considering.
Not sure I’m totally sold on accident forgiveness, at least for everyone. I’ve been shopping around for my first policy and noticed the extra cost for it isn’t always that minor—sometimes it’s $50-100 more a year, depending on the company. If you’re a super cautious driver and barely rack up miles, that adds up over time, especially if you never end up using it. Plus, some insurers only let you use it once, and then you’re back to square one if something else happens.
I get the peace of mind angle, but I wonder if just stashing that extra money in a savings account would make more sense for some folks. My uncle’s been driving in Ohio for 40+ years, never had an at-fault accident, and he’s always skipped those add-ons. Maybe it’s just luck, but sometimes I think the insurance companies are betting most people won’t ever need it anyway...
I hear you, but as someone with a not-so-great driving record (yeah, I admit it), accident forgiveness has actually saved my butt once. My rates would've shot up way more than the $80/year I paid. But if you're a super careful driver, maybe it's not worth it? I guess it depends on how much you trust your luck... I'm just not that lucky.
I guess it depends on how much you trust your luck... I'm just not that lucky.
Honestly, same here. I’m still learning, so I don’t totally trust my luck (or my parallel parking skills). $80/year seems like a decent trade-off for peace of mind, especially if you’ve had a few close calls. But if you’re the type who never even gets a parking ticket, maybe it’s just extra cash down the drain. I’d probably rather pay for forgiveness than risk a huge rate hike, though.
