I’m right there with you—insurance already feels like a scam half the time. That $80 a year for accident forgiveness seems like a lot, especially if you’re not someone who’s getting into fender benders every other year. I mean, what are the actual odds you’ll need it? I get that it’s supposed to give peace of mind, but if you’re a careful driver, it just feels like throwing money away.
I did some quick math and if you go five years without an accident, that’s $400 down the drain. Would your rate even go up that much after a first accident in Ohio? And even if it does, can’t you just shop around for a new policy after? Maybe I’m missing something, but unless you’ve got really bad luck or drive in crazy traffic every day, I don’t see how it’s worth it. Curious if anyone actually had it pay off for them...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen a couple folks get burned by not having it. One guy had a spotless record for years, then got rear-ended and technically was at fault (don’t ask me how). His rate shot up by like $600 the next year. Accident forgiveness would’ve saved him a ton of stress and cash. It’s kind of like paying for an umbrella you hope you never need… but when it rains, you’re glad you have it. Still, if you’re super careful and lucky, maybe it’s just peace-of-mind tax.
I hear you on the peace-of-mind angle. I’ve had accident forgiveness for years, but honestly, I’ve never needed it (knock on wood). The thing is, in Ohio, rates can jump a lot after even a minor fender bender, especially if you’re unlucky with how the blame shakes out. I did the math once and for me, the extra cost was about the same as one year’s rate hike after an at-fault accident. If you drive a lot or have a long commute, it might be worth it just for the “sleep better at night” factor. But if you barely drive or have a spotless record, it could just be another add-on you never use.
I’ve run the numbers for clients in Ohio, and you’re right—the extra premium for accident forgiveness can be close to what you’d pay after a single at-fault claim. If your driving habits put you at higher risk (lots of miles, tricky commutes), it’s a decent hedge. For low-mileage folks or those with spotless records, it’s often not cost-effective. Sometimes people forget that accident forgiveness usually only covers your first at-fault accident, too. Just something to keep in mind...
That’s a good point about it only covering the first at-fault accident—people tend to overlook that detail. I’ve always wondered if the math changes much for multi-car households, especially if you’ve got a couple of teen drivers on the policy. Does the risk profile make accident forgiveness more worthwhile in those cases, or does the premium just keep climbing? I’ve seen some friends get hit with big rate hikes after their kids had fender benders, so I’m curious how it shakes out long-term.