sometimes the extra premium for forgiveness isn’t worth it if you’ve got a clean record or low risk drivers
Yeah, I’ve seen folks pay for years and never use it, then get frustrated when it doesn’t help after a second fender bender. I always wonder if people actually read the fine print before adding it on. Has anyone here actually had their rates stay flat after a claim with forgiveness, or did it still creep up later?
Honestly, I’m with you—sometimes it feels like you’re paying extra for peace of mind that doesn’t really pay off. My cousin shelled out for forgiveness for years, then after his first accident, his rate barely budged… but when he had another one, the premium still jumped. The fine print is sneaky. If you’re a careful driver, that extra cost might just be better off in your own pocket, y’know?
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ll admit I’m a little on the fence about it. I’ve had a couple of minor fender benders (nothing wild, just bad luck and some icy roads), and after the first one, my rate went up a lot more than I expected. That’s what made me look into accident forgiveness in the first place.
The thing is, for folks like me who’ve had a few bumps along the way, that extra fee sometimes feels like a safety net. It’s not cheap, but neither is getting hit with a huge premium hike when you mess up again. Still, I totally get your point—if you’re a careful driver and barely ever have issues, it probably doesn’t make sense to keep paying for something you might never use.
But yeah, the fine print is annoying. When I signed up, I thought it would cover me no matter what, but turns out there are limits... like only one forgiven accident every so many years. And if you have another one too soon, they just treat you like any other high-risk driver anyway. Kind of defeats the purpose.
I guess for me it’s more about sleeping better at night knowing one mistake won’t wreck my budget for years. But if you’re good behind the wheel and don’t have a history of accidents, stashing that cash in your own “just in case” fund might actually be smarter. Insurance companies definitely know how to make things sound better than they really are.
Anyway, just wanted to say you’re not wrong for questioning it. It’s not as clear-cut as they make it seem in those ads—depends a lot on your driving record and how much risk you’re willing to take on yourself.
I hear you on the fine print—insurance always seems to have a catch, right? I actually went back and forth on accident forgiveness last year after my neighbor slid into my parked car during one of those surprise March snowstorms. My rates jumped even though it technically wasn’t my fault (still don’t get how that works). I looked into adding accident forgiveness after that, but when I did the math, it felt like I’d be paying extra for something I might never use.
I drive a lot for work, so I get nervous about the “what ifs,” but at the same time, I’m pretty careful and haven’t had a ticket in years. Ended up just bumping up my emergency fund instead of paying the insurance company more every month. If I do mess up, at least I’ve got a little cushion.
But yeah, if you’ve had a couple close calls or just want peace of mind, I can see why it’s tempting. For me, though, it just didn’t add up—especially with all those restrictions buried in the policy. Insurance companies definitely know how to make you second-guess yourself...
Honestly, I’ve had the same debate with myself. Accident forgiveness sounds good on paper, but once you dig into the details, it’s like—wait, what am I actually getting for that extra cash? I’d rather stash a bit more in savings too. Insurance math just never seems to work in our favor...
