I keep going back and forth on this. I get what you mean about it being a “bet against yourself”—that’s exactly how it feels. I’m just starting out with my own policy, and when I asked about accident forgiveness, the agent kind of danced around whether it was actually worth the extra cash.
“...you’re basically betting against yourself having an accident.”
That’s the part that bugs me. I’ve never had an accident (knock on wood), so paying more just in case feels like throwing money away. But then again, my cousin rear-ended someone last year and her rates shot up, so maybe it’s not such a dumb idea after all.
Does anyone know if companies actually drop you after a first accident in Ohio, or is it just the rate hike you have to worry about? I’m not sure if the forgiveness thing even helps with that, or if it’s just about keeping your premium from spiking.
I’m not sure if the forgiveness thing even helps with that, or if it’s just about keeping your premium from spiking.
From what I’ve seen, accident forgiveness is mainly about preventing a rate hike after your first at-fault accident. In Ohio, insurance companies usually don’t drop you for a single minor incident, but your premium can jump quite a bit. My brother had a fender bender in Cleveland and his rates went up almost 30%—no cancellation, just the price hike. Accident forgiveness would’ve saved him some cash, but if you’re a really safe driver, it’s kind of a toss-up whether the extra cost is worth it.
Yeah, I hear you on the rate hikes. My cousin had a similar thing happen in Columbus—one little rear-end at a stoplight and his insurance shot up for the next couple years. Accident forgiveness would’ve softened the blow, but he’s also been driving for like 15 years without anything else on his record. It’s kind of a gamble, right? You’re basically betting on yourself not to mess up.
I get why some folks skip it, especially if they’ve got a clean record and don’t drive much. On the other hand, if you’re commuting every day or have a teenager on your policy, it might be worth the peace of mind. Insurance companies definitely know how to squeeze every penny, though... sometimes it feels like you’re paying extra just in case you have bad luck. Hard to say what’s best, but you’re not alone in wondering if it’s really worth it.
I’ve seen a lot of folks surprised by how much a single fender-bender can impact their rates, even after years of clean driving. That “betting on yourself” thing you mentioned really hits home—sometimes it feels like you’re paying for peace of mind more than anything else.
sometimes it feels like you’re paying extra just in case you have bad luck
I’ve handled claims where someone with a spotless record gets rear-ended at a light, and suddenly their premium jumps by hundreds a year. Accident forgiveness would’ve saved them, but then again, if you never use it, it’s just another line item on the bill. I guess it comes down to risk tolerance and how much you drive. For people with teens or long commutes, I’ve noticed they tend to regret skipping it after the fact.
Curious—has anyone actually had accident forgiveness kick in and felt like it paid off? Or did the cost outweigh the benefit in the long run?
Is Accident Forgiveness Really Worth It In Ohio?
I’ve always been a little skeptical about accident forgiveness, honestly. It feels like one of those “nice to have” things until you actually need it, but then again, isn’t that the whole insurance game? I’ve never used it myself, but my cousin did after a minor fender-bender in Columbus—she swears it saved her hundreds over the next couple years. On the flip side, I’ve been driving for almost 20 years without a claim, so if I’d been paying extra for it all this time, I’d probably feel a little salty.
The part that gets me is how unpredictable it is. You can be the safest driver in the world and still get rear-ended by someone texting at a stoplight. But then again, if you’re not driving much or you don’t have a teenage driver in the house, maybe it’s just not worth the extra cash. I guess for folks with a long commute or a full house of drivers, it’s more of a “better safe than sorry” thing.
I’m still on the fence. Sometimes it feels like you’re just paying for peace of mind... but I guess that’s what insurance is, right?
