I see your point, but honestly, accident forgiveness isn't always the best deal—especially if you're budget-conscious. Sure, your buddy's situation sounds rough, and I get why peace of mind matters. But remember, insurance companies aren't charities; they're betting you'll pay more in premiums over time than they'll ever pay out. If you're driving something expensive or new, yeah, it might make sense. But for someone like me, driving an older car and trying to keep monthly costs low, setting aside a small emergency fund each month feels smarter. Plus, accident forgiveness usually comes with higher premiums upfront anyway. I'd rather stash that extra cash myself and have control over it. Of course, everyone's situation is different...but personally, I'd crunch the numbers carefully before jumping in.
I get where you're coming from on this. Accident forgiveness always sounded appealing to me at first, especially since Ohio winters can be brutal and the roads get slick pretty fast. But after talking to a few friends who tried it, I started having second thoughts.
One buddy of mine signed up for accident forgiveness after he had a minor fender-bender during a snowstorm. He thought he was being smart, but the premiums jumped quite a bit right away. Fast forward two years—he never had another accident, but he realized he'd spent way more than what that original repair would have cost out-of-pocket. He ended up feeling like he'd basically paid extra for peace of mind he didn't even need.
Personally, I drive an older Honda Civic that's already seen better days. When someone dinged my bumper last winter, I just shrugged it off because honestly, cosmetic stuff doesn't bother me much anymore. If I had been paying extra each month for accident forgiveness, I'd probably have kicked myself over wasting money on something I didn't even use.
That said, I can see the appeal if you're driving something newer or pricier. A coworker of mine has a brand-new SUV and swears by accident forgiveness because repairs on her car are crazy expensive—even minor stuff adds up quick. She says she's willing to pay more upfront just for the confidence of knowing one mistake won't destroy her budget.
Still, I'm leaning toward your idea of setting aside a bit each month into an emergency fund instead. Feels like having that cash available would cover more than just car issues anyway (like surprise vet bills or appliance breakdowns). But hey, maybe I'm missing something here...is there anyone who found accident forgiveness totally worth it? Curious to hear how it worked out for others in Ohio winters especially.
I drive a classic Mustang, and honestly, accident forgiveness never made sense for me either. Had a minor slide last winter—fixed it myself cheaper than the premium hike would’ve been. Guess it depends on your comfort level with DIY repairs...
Totally get where you're coming from. A few thoughts from my own experience:
- Accident forgiveness sounds great until you realize you're basically paying extra upfront for something you might never use. It's like buying extended warranties on electronics—feels good at checkout, but how often do you actually cash in?
- Had a similar situation last year with my old Civic. Slid into a curb during one of Ohio's lovely ice storms (thanks, Midwest winters...). Got quoted a ridiculous amount by the shop, ended up fixing it myself with some YouTube tutorials and junkyard parts. Saved enough to buy pizza for a month.
- But honestly, if you're not comfortable wrenching yourself or don't have the tools, accident forgiveness might be worth it just for peace of mind. DIY isn't everyone's cup of tea, especially when it's freezing outside and your fingers are numb.
Bottom line: if you're handy and budget-conscious, probably skip it. If not...might be worth considering.
Had a similar experience myself a couple winters back—hit a patch of black ice and ended up kissing a mailbox with my bumper. Shop quoted me something outrageous, like $800 just to replace a plastic bumper cover. Ended up grabbing one from the junkyard for $50 and spent an afternoon swapping it out in my driveway. Wasn't perfect, but hey, neither is my car.
I get the appeal of accident forgiveness, especially if you're not into DIY repairs or don't have the space/tools. But honestly, I've always wondered if it's really worth it in states like Ohio where winter driving is basically a survival sport. Seems like insurance companies know we're bound to slip up eventually and price accordingly.
Curious though—has anyone actually used their accident forgiveness here and felt it genuinely saved them money long-term? Or did premiums creep up anyway after renewal?
