- Glad it worked out for you, but I'm still on the fence about accident forgiveness. I've got an older Honda, nothing fancy, and premiums are already tight enough.
- Curious though... does anyone know if insurers in Ohio typically let you add accident forgiveness after you've been with them awhile, or is it usually a one-time deal when you first sign up?
- Would hate to miss out if it's something I could tack on later without too much hassle.
I've had accident forgiveness on and off over the years, and honestly, it depends a lot on your situation. Here's my take from personal experience:
- Had an older Civic myself (nothing flashy, just reliable wheels), and I skipped accident forgiveness at first because premiums were already tight. Figured I'd just drive carefully and save the extra cash.
- Fast forward a couple years, got into a minor fender-bender—totally my fault, unfortunately—and my rates jumped noticeably. Not catastrophic, but enough to sting every month.
- After that incident, I called my insurer (I'm in Ohio too) to see if I could add accident forgiveness retroactively or at renewal. Turns out they did let me add it later on—but only after I'd been accident-free again for a certain period (think it was 3 years?). So yeah, it's possible to tack it on later, but there might be waiting periods or conditions attached.
- Bottom line: If you're generally cautious and your car isn't worth much anyway, maybe it's not worth the extra premium right now. But if you have any doubts about your driving habits—or if even a modest rate hike would seriously pinch your budget—it might be worth considering sooner rather than later.
Just my two cents from someone who's been there...
I've been driving in Ohio for over 20 years, and here's my experience with accident forgiveness:
- Had it initially on my policy because I figured better safe than sorry, but after a few years without incidents, I dropped it to save money.
- Of course, Murphy's Law kicked in—about a year after dropping it, I had a minor accident (rear-ended someone at a stoplight, totally my fault). My rates jumped quite a bit, and it took about three years of clean driving to get them back down.
- After that, I did the math carefully. Accident forgiveness would've cost me around $10-$15 extra per month. Over those few years, that adds up. But the rate hike after the accident was significantly more painful.
- Bottom line for me: If your budget is tight and you're confident in your driving, maybe skip it. But if you can afford the small monthly hit and want peace of mind, it's probably worth it. Just don't assume you'll never need it—accidents happen even to careful drivers.
I've always been skeptical about accident forgiveness myself—felt like another way insurance companies squeeze extra cash out of us. But your experience does make me pause. I drive a luxury car, and even minor dings can get pricey fast. Wondering now if the math changes depending on the type of vehicle you drive...anyone notice if premiums spike more dramatically for higher-end cars after an accident?
I used to think accident forgiveness was just another gimmick too, until I started handling claims for luxury cars. Let me tell you, even a tiny fender-bender on something like a BMW or Audi can make your wallet cry. Had a guy once who backed his Mercedes into a mailbox—sounds minor, right? Nope...that mailbox turned out to be the most expensive landscaping feature he'd ever installed. Premiums definitely spike harder for pricier rides after an accident, so accident forgiveness might actually save you some grief down the road.
