Feels a bit like buying an umbrella in the desert... maybe you’ll need it, but probably not.
That’s exactly how I feel about it. I’m still learning to parallel park, so maybe I should be more worried, but paying extra every month “just in case” kinda bugs me. My cousin had accident forgiveness and never used it—said it felt like paying for a lottery ticket he never scratched. I guess if you’re super accident-prone or have bad luck, maybe it’s worth it? Otherwise, I dunno... seems like a money grab.
I get where you’re coming from—it does feel a bit like paying for something you hope you’ll never use. But I actually had accident forgiveness kick in once, and honestly, it saved me a ton on my premium the next year. I’m usually super careful, but all it took was one icy morning and a fender bender. In Ohio, with the weather being what it is, I kinda see it as cheap peace of mind. Not for everyone, though... if you’re a low-mileage driver or super confident, maybe not worth it.
I hear you on the peace of mind thing, especially with Ohio winters. I drive a German sedan that’s not exactly cheap to fix, so I looked hard at accident forgiveness. Here’s where I landed:
- If you’ve got a pricier car, one fender bender can really jack up your rates.
- But if you’re already paying a premium for coverage, adding another fee stings.
- I’ve skipped it so far—knock on wood—since my driving record’s clean and I mostly stick to city roads.
Honestly, feels a bit like buying an extended warranty... sometimes worth it, sometimes just extra cash out the door.
I totally get the extended warranty vibes—sometimes it just feels like insurance on top of insurance. I’ve got a mid-range SUV, nothing fancy, but after sliding through one too many intersections last January (thanks, black ice), I started second-guessing my “I’m a good driver, I don’t need that” logic. Is it just me, or does accident forgiveness feel like paying for a jinx you hope never cashes in? Still haven’t pulled the trigger either... but every time my neighbor’s mailbox gets clipped, I wonder if I’m tempting fate.
I get what you mean about it feeling like you’re just stacking “what ifs” on top of each other. I used to roll my eyes at accident forgiveness, too—like, if I’m careful and pay attention, why should I have to pay extra for something that’s supposed to reward bad luck or bad driving? But then again, Ohio winters are a whole different beast. Last year, my cousin (who’s way more cautious than me) slid into a curb and ended up with a rate hike because it technically counted as an at-fault accident. She was so frustrated because it was literally black ice and she wasn’t even speeding.
That got me thinking: is it really just about being a good driver, or is it more about protecting yourself from the stuff you can’t control? Like, no matter how careful you are, there’s always that one patch of ice or some distracted driver who comes out of nowhere. I don’t love the idea of paying for something I hope never happens either, but if one little mistake can jack up your rates for years... maybe it’s not such a ripoff?
Here’s what I keep wondering: do insurance companies in Ohio actually forgive that first accident without hiking your rates as much as they say, or is it just marketing? Has anyone actually had to use accident forgiveness here and felt like it made a real difference? Or is it mostly peace of mind? Sometimes I feel like we’re all just paying for peace of mind and hoping we never have to cash in on it... but maybe that’s not such a bad thing when winter hits.
