I hear you on the peace of mind part, but $60 a month is no small potatoes. Honestly, I’ve seen folks go years without a claim and kick themselves for paying extra. On the flip side, one fender bender and you’re suddenly grateful you had it... Murphy’s Law, right?
On the flip side, one fender bender and you’re suddenly grateful you had it... Murphy’s Law, right?
Yeah, that’s the thing—I drive through Columbus every day, and I’ve seen people get rear-ended at stoplights more times than I can count. I went a decade without a claim, then got sideswiped last year. My rate shot up way more than $60/month after that. Feels like a gamble either way, but for me it paid off... eventually.
Accident Forgiveness Is a Mixed Bag in Ohio
I hear you on the Columbus traffic. I’ve been driving classic cars around central Ohio for years, and honestly, it’s a jungle out there. People tailgate like they’re in the Indy 500, and half of them are glued to their phones. I’ve seen more chrome get crumpled at red lights than I care to remember.
About accident forgiveness—here’s the thing. It sounds good on paper, but the devil’s in the details. Most insurers only let you use it once every few years, and you usually have to be claim-free for a while before you even qualify. Plus, it doesn’t always cover every type of accident. Some companies will still ding you for certain claims, or they’ll quietly jack up your deductible instead.
I had a buddy with a ’72 Chevelle who paid extra for accident forgiveness. He got rear-ended at a stoplight—totally not his fault—and his rate still crept up at renewal. The insurer blamed “market conditions” and “overall risk profile.” Translation: they’ll find a way to get their money back, one way or another.
On the other hand, if you’re driving something newer or you rack up a lot of miles in city traffic, it might be worth the peace of mind. One at-fault accident can wreck your premium for years, especially if you’ve got a clean record otherwise. But if you’re like me and only take the old iron out on weekends, it’s probably not worth the extra cash.
Long story short, it’s a gamble either way. Insurance companies aren’t in the business of losing money, and they’ll make sure the math works in their favor. If you’re worried about rate hikes after a minor fender bender, maybe it’s worth it. But don’t expect it to be a magic shield—read the fine print and do the math for your own situation.
Yeah, I hear you about the “jungle”—my ’68 Mustang only sees daylight on Sundays for a reason. I looked into accident forgiveness once and honestly, it sounded better than it was. For folks daily driving, maybe it’s worth it, but for us weekend cruisers? Not so much. Insurance companies always seem to have a trick up their sleeve...
Insurance companies always seem to have a trick up their sleeve...
Ain’t that the truth. I keep wondering if accident forgiveness is just another way for them to bump up your premium “just in case.” For a car that barely leaves the garage, is it really worth paying extra? I mean, what are the odds you’ll need it on a Sunday drive? Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I’d rather stash that cash for repairs or upgrades. Anyone else feel like these add-ons are more peace of mind than practical?
