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.
Totally get where you’re coming from on this. The irony is, accident forgiveness sounds like this magic safety net, but when you dig into the fine print, it often doesn’t apply to the stuff we actually worry about in Ohio. Most of those “wildlife incidents” are considered comprehensive claims, not at-fault accidents—so accident forgiveness doesn’t even come into play. It’s more for fender benders where you rear-end someone at a stoplight because you’re trying to sip coffee and dodge potholes at the same time.
I used to pay extra for it, thinking it was a must-have, but after hitting a deer outside of Chillicothe (totaled my old Civic), my rates still went up because it wasn’t an at-fault accident. That was a wake-up call. Since then, I’ve shifted my focus to stuff that actually helps—good tires, regular maintenance, and yeah, a dash cam for those “did that really just happen?” moments. Honestly, a dash cam has saved me more than once when it came to insurance disputes.
But I do get the peace of mind angle. Winter driving here is no joke—you never know when you’ll hit black ice or get caught in a whiteout. For some people, just knowing they won’t get slammed with higher premiums after one dumb mistake is worth the extra cost. Still, I think people should really look at their actual risk and what their policy covers before shelling out for accident forgiveness. Most of us are more likely to have a run-in with a suicidal squirrel than cause a multi-car pileup.
All that said, I guess it depends how much you value sleeping easy vs. saving cash. For me, I’d rather invest in things that actually reduce my odds of needing insurance in the first place. Just my two cents—your mileage may vary (literally).
I get the logic, but I actually think accident forgiveness can be worth it for new drivers or anyone with a not-so-great record. One at-fault accident can spike your rates for years. If you’re not super confident behind the wheel yet, that safety net might pay off, even if it doesn’t help with deer.
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. When I first started driving, I was basically a rolling ball of nerves—felt like every squirrel on the road was out to get me. Accident forgiveness gave me a little peace of mind, even if it cost a bit more. It’s not magic, but for anyone who’s still getting the hang of things (or just unlucky), it can save you from that “my rates just tripled” panic. And yeah, no help with deer... wish insurance covered my heart rate when one jumps out.
Honestly, I get the peace of mind angle, but is it really worth paying extra every month if you’re a careful driver? I mean, unless you’re super accident-prone or just starting out, that money adds up. I’d rather take my chances and stash the difference for car repairs or, you know, the inevitable deer collision. Anyone actually had accident forgiveness save their wallet here in Ohio, or is it mostly hype?
I get where you’re coming from—if you’re a careful driver, it can feel like you’re just tossing money at something you’ll never use. But here’s the thing: even the best drivers have off days, or just plain bad luck. In Ohio, rates can jump quite a bit after a single at-fault accident, sometimes for years. I’ve seen folks who thought they’d never need it end up really glad they had it after a fender bender or a run-in with a deer (which, yeah, happens more than people think).
That said, if you’ve got a clean record and you’re comfortable with the risk, stashing the extra cash isn’t a bad move either. It’s really about your own comfort level with “what ifs.” Not everyone needs it, but for some, it’s saved them from a nasty rate hike. Just depends on how much peace of mind is worth to you, I guess.
