Honestly, I’m with you on this.
That’s where my head’s at too. I just started shopping around and the “accident forgiveness” add-on feels like a scare tactic more than anything. If your car isn’t worth much, it’s hard to see the point. I’d rather put that extra money toward stuff I’ll actually use.“I’d rather keep cash on hand for stuff that actually keeps me moving, like decent tires or a jump pack.”
I get where you’re coming from, but for higher-end cars, accident forgiveness can actually make a lot of sense. Here’s why I keep it:
- One fender bender and my premium could spike—sometimes by thousands.
- Repairs on luxury models aren’t cheap, even for minor stuff.
- Resale value takes a hit if there’s a claim history.
It’s not for everyone, especially if your car’s not worth much, but for pricier vehicles, that peace of mind can be worth the extra cost. Just my two cents...
Title: Is Accident Forgiveness Really Worth It in Ohio?
Repairs on luxury models aren’t cheap, even for minor stuff.
That’s definitely true—my buddy had a minor scrape on his Audi and the bill was almost as much as my whole car’s worth. Still, I’ve always wondered if the extra cost for accident forgiveness actually pays off unless you’re unlucky enough to get into a fender bender. I drive a mid-range SUV, nothing fancy, but I do a lot of road trips across Ohio and neighboring states. Knock on wood, haven’t had an accident yet, but I keep thinking about all those miles and whether it’s just a matter of time.
Has anyone here actually used accident forgiveness after a claim? Did it really save you money in the long run, or did your rates go up anyway for some other reason? I’m just not sure if it’s worth paying more every year for something I might never use... but then again, maybe that’s the point.
Honestly, I’ve seen both sides of this. Some folks pay for accident forgiveness for years and never need it, which can feel like tossing cash out the window. But I’ve also worked with people who had a single at-fault fender bender and were super relieved their rates didn’t skyrocket. It’s kind of like buying peace of mind—if you’re a worrier or drive a ton (like road trips across Ohio), it might be worth it just to avoid that “what if” stress. But if you’re a careful driver and haven’t had any close calls, it can feel like overkill. Insurance is weird like that... sometimes you pay for stuff you hope you never use.
I had this exact debate with myself when I upgraded to a new S-Class last year. The insurance agent pitched accident forgiveness, and I’ll admit, I hesitated. On one hand, I baby my car—never park too close to anyone, always stick to the speed limit. But then I remembered a friend with a 7-series who got rear-ended at a stoplight, technically his fault because he rolled forward. His rates doubled overnight since he didn’t have forgiveness. Made me wonder if it’s more about how much risk you’re willing to carry. Has anyone actually run the numbers to see if paying for it over, say, five years ends up being cheaper than a single rate hike after an accident?
