I hear you on the numbers not adding up. I had accident forgiveness for a few years, never used it, and honestly felt like I was just handing over extra cash. When my buddy rear-ended someone last winter, his rates still went up a bit even with the “forgiveness.” I’d rather have a dashcam too—at least that’s useful every day, not just if something goes wrong.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d push back a bit on the idea that accident forgiveness is just “handing over extra cash.” It’s true, you might never use it, and yeah, a dashcam is handy for daily stuff. But the real value of forgiveness is in those rare situations where a single at-fault accident could spike your rates for years. In Ohio, even one minor fender bender can mean a big jump—sometimes hundreds more per year.
About your buddy’s experience:
That can happen if there are other factors at play—like previous claims, tickets, or if the company only forgives the first accident but not subsequent ones. Not all policies work the same way.“his rates still went up a bit even with the ‘forgiveness.’”
It’s not for everyone, but for folks with long commutes or who drive a lot in winter, it can be a decent safety net. I’ve seen people regret dropping it after something unexpected happened. Just depends on your risk tolerance and how much peace of mind is worth to you.
Honestly, I think you’re spot on about the peace of mind part. I drive a lot for work, and winter here is no joke—black ice, deer, you name it. I’d rather pay a bit extra than get slammed with higher rates after one dumb mistake. Not saying it’s perfect, but for some of us, it’s just less stress. Your point about policies being different is key too... gotta read the fine print.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve lived in Ohio my whole life, and winter driving here is like a game of roulette—sometimes you win, sometimes you end up in a ditch. I’ve had my fair share of close calls, especially with deer darting out at dusk. That peace of mind you mentioned? It’s not just a cliché. There’s real value in knowing one slip-up won’t haunt your insurance rates for years.
Here’s how I usually look at it, step by step:
1. First, I check what the accident forgiveness actually covers. Some policies only forgive your first at-fault accident, and only if you’ve been claim-free for a certain number of years. Others have weird exceptions, like not covering certain types of collisions or drivers under a certain age.
2. Next, I run the numbers. I ask my agent to estimate how much my premium would jump after a typical at-fault accident versus the cost of adding forgiveness. Sometimes the math works out, sometimes it doesn’t—depends on your driving record and how much risk you’re willing to take.
3. I always read the fine print, like you mentioned. One company tried to sell me forgiveness, but it didn’t apply if the accident involved “wildlife.” In Ohio, that’s basically half the accidents in winter. Pointless for me.
4. Finally, I think about my own habits. If you’re on the road every day for work, like you said, the odds just aren’t in your favor forever. Even the best drivers get caught out by black ice or someone else’s mistake.
I will say, it’s not a magic shield—if you have multiple accidents, or if your insurer changes their policy, you can still get hit with higher rates. But for folks who drive a lot in unpredictable conditions, it can be worth the extra cost just to sleep easier.
It’s one of those things where you almost hope you never need it, but if you do, you’re glad it’s there. Just make sure it actually covers the stuff you’re most likely to run into—literally and figuratively.
Man, you nailed it with the wildlife thing—my last “close encounter” was a raccoon that looked like it had a death wish. I’ve paid for accident forgiveness before, but honestly, if it doesn’t cover the stuff you’re most likely to hit (aka deer, raccoons, or the occasional rogue mailbox), what’s the point? I’d rather put that money toward better tires or a dash cam. But yeah, if you’re driving every day in Ohio winters, sometimes peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks... even if it’s just so you can sleep at night instead of replaying your last near-miss with Bambi.
