Honestly, unless you’re super accident-prone or just really unlucky, it kinda feels like paying for peace of mind that’s more about marketing than real forgiveness.
That’s a pretty fair take. I’ve run the numbers a few times and, for me, the extra monthly cost just doesn’t add up unless you expect to use it. Most people with clean records end up paying for something they’ll never need. I’d rather keep my premiums low and just drive carefully. Your cousin’s experience kind of confirms my suspicions—seems like the “forgiveness” is more of a delay than a true pass.
It’s interesting seeing how many people feel the same way about accident forgiveness. I get why it sounds good on paper, but in practice, it’s not always the safety net folks expect. I’ve seen a lot of claims come through over the years, and honestly, most drivers don’t actually end up needing it. The ones who do usually had something totally out of left field happen—like a deer darting out on a back road or someone rear-ending them at a stoplight. But for the majority, it’s just an extra charge tacked onto their bill every month.
One thing people don’t always realize is that “forgiveness” doesn’t mean your rates never go up. It usually just means your first at-fault accident won’t result in an immediate surcharge. But if you have another one, or even a couple of minor incidents, that protection disappears fast. Plus, some companies only forgive accidents after you’ve been with them for a certain number of years with a clean record... so it’s not even instant coverage.
There was this guy I worked with—super careful driver, hadn’t had a claim in decades. He added accident forgiveness because his agent pitched it as a must-have. Three years in, still no accidents, and he realized he’d paid hundreds extra for nothing. He dropped it and never looked back. On the flip side, there was someone else who hit black ice and slid into a mailbox within their first year with a new policy. Their rates still went up because they didn’t qualify for forgiveness yet. Kind of frustrating for them.
I guess for some people, the peace of mind is worth it, especially if they have teenage drivers or a history of fender benders. But if you’re generally cautious and not dealing with crazy traffic or weather every day, it’s probably not going to pay off. It’s one of those things where you’re basically betting against yourself having bad luck. Some folks like that security blanket, others would rather just save the cash.
In Ohio specifically, rates can already be pretty reasonable compared to other states, so the extra cost stands out even more. Not saying it’s totally useless, but I wouldn’t call it a slam dunk either.
I’ve always wondered if it’s more of a psychological thing than anything else. My neighbor swears by accident forgiveness, but he’s never made a claim in 20 years. Meanwhile, my cousin got rear-ended and her rates still jumped, forgiveness or not. Has anyone actually had it save them money in Ohio, or is it just peace of mind?
