Honestly, I’ve gone back and forth on this. My cousin paid extra for accident forgiveness, but he’s barely driven since moving to Columbus for school. He’s never used it, so it feels like wasted money. For me, I’d rather save the cash unless my driving habits change.
I totally get where you’re coming from. Accident forgiveness can feel like paying for something you hope you’ll never need, especially if you’re barely driving. I’ve seen folks regret not having it after a random fender bender, though—rates can jump a lot after just one claim. But yeah, if your cousin’s car is mostly parked, it’s hard to justify the extra cost. Maybe worth revisiting if he starts commuting more or driving in busier areas. It’s really one of those “peace of mind” things, but not always necessary for everyone.
I drive through Columbus traffic every day, and honestly, accident forgiveness has saved me once. Here’s how I look at it:
- If you’re barely driving, like your cousin, probably not worth it.
- For daily commuters or folks in high-traffic areas, the risk goes up—one minor accident and your rates can spike for years.
- Ohio’s insurance rates aren’t the worst, but they’re not super cheap either after a claim.
I used to think it was just an upsell, but after a rear-end at a stoplight (not my fault, but still counted), I was glad I had it. If you’re on the road a lot, it’s worth considering. Otherwise... yeah, maybe skip it.
Honestly, I used to think accident forgiveness was just a money grab, but after my teenager bumped someone in a parking lot, I changed my tune. Rates would've shot up for years. Like you said,
I do wonder though—does anyone know if it actually covers multiple accidents, or is it just a one-time thing? If you’ve got a house full of new drivers, that could make a difference.“one minor accident and your rates can spike for years.”
From what I’ve seen, most accident forgiveness policies only cover the first at-fault accident per policy, not per driver. When my daughter got her license, I looked into it since we had two teens on the road. Turns out, after that first “forgiven” accident, you’re back to square one if someone else has a fender bender. It’s definitely not unlimited—kind of a bummer if you’ve got a busy household. Still, it saved us once when my son rear-ended someone at a stoplight... rates stayed the same, which was a relief.
