I hear you on the luck thing—my ‘72 Chevelle attracts dings like it’s got a magnet for shopping carts. I shelled out for accident forgiveness after a fender bender in a parking lot. Didn’t love paying extra, but my rates barely budged after that mess. For me, it’s like paying for a little less stress... especially when parallel parking feels like a high-stakes game of Operation.
Accident forgiveness can be a real lifesaver, especially with a classic like your ‘72 Chevelle. I get the hesitation about paying extra, but in Ohio, one at-fault accident can hike your rates for years.
- You mentioned,
—that’s exactly what it’s designed for.my rates barely budged after that mess
- Not everyone needs it, but if you’re parking in busy lots or driving something you care about, it’s solid peace of mind.
- Some folks never use it, but for those who do, it often pays for itself after just one incident.
I’ve seen people regret skipping it after a minor scrape. For some, it’s just not worth the gamble.
I’ve always wondered if accident forgiveness is just a clever upsell, but after seeing what happened to my neighbor, I’m leaning toward it being worth the extra cost—at least in Ohio. He had a fender bender in a grocery store lot (barely a dent), and his premium shot up for three years straight. He didn’t have accident forgiveness, and he’s still annoyed about it.
On the other hand, I get why some folks skip it. If you’re a super cautious driver or barely put miles on your car, maybe it’s not essential. But with all the distracted drivers out there, even the safest among us can get unlucky. For me, the peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks a month, especially since I drive an older car that’d be tough to replace.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all thing, but if you’re parking in tight spots or driving something you really care about, it might save you from a nasty surprise down the road.
Here’s how I look at it:
- If your car means a lot to you (sentimental or rare parts), accident forgiveness is a small price for peace of mind.
- Insurance rate hikes after a minor scrape are no joke—seen it plenty at car shows, even over tiny dings.
- It’s not just about your driving. You can be careful, but you can’t control the guy next to you texting.
- For folks driving classics or older cars that’d be tough to replace, I’d say it’s more than just an upsell—sometimes it’s a lifesaver.
- But yeah, if you barely drive or keep your ride in storage most of the year, probably not worth it.
Just my two cents... insurance companies don’t hand out deals for nothing, but sometimes this one actually pays off.
I’ve seen both sides of this with clients in Ohio—some swear by accident forgiveness, others think it’s just another way for insurers to squeeze a few extra bucks. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- Had a guy with a mint ‘98 Civic Si, super careful driver, but someone rear-ended him at a stoplight. First accident in 20 years, but his rates still shot up because he didn’t have forgiveness. He was pretty ticked.
- On the flip side, I’ve had folks who pay for it and never use it, so they feel like it’s wasted money. Hard to argue with that if you’re lucky (or barely drive).
- Ohio’s rates are generally lower than some states, but even here, a single at-fault claim can mean a 20-30% hike for three years. That adds up fast.
- If you’re driving something unique or sentimental, I’d lean toward having it. For daily beaters or cars that rarely leave the garage, maybe not.
Guess it comes down to your risk tolerance and how much you’d hate seeing your premium jump over one dumb mistake.
