I'm usually skeptical about add-ons like accident forgiveness, but I can see your point. My daughter had a minor fender-bender in my '68 Mustang last year (talk about pain...), and even though it barely scratched the bumper, the premium hike was no joke. If I'd had accident forgiveness then, probably would have saved me some gray hairs and a chunk of cash. Still feels like paying extra for peace of mind though—hard to put a price on that, I guess.
"Still feels like paying extra for peace of mind though—hard to put a price on that, I guess."
Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from. I've always been cautious about these add-ons too, but after hearing your Mustang story (ouch, by the way... a '68 Mustang?), it makes me reconsider a bit. My commute is pretty tame, but you never know when someone else might slip up. Had a coworker who got rear-ended at a stoplight—totally not his fault—but his premiums still jumped noticeably. Accident forgiveness might've saved him some headaches there. Still, like you said, it's tough to justify paying extra for something you hope you'll never need. Guess it's one of those things you only really appreciate after the fact...
I see your point, but honestly, accident forgiveness isn't always the no-brainer it seems. Before you jump on it, I'd suggest doing a quick breakdown of your driving habits and insurance history. Like, if you're someone with a clean record for years and mostly drive in low-risk areas (sounds like your commute is pretty chill?), the odds of needing accident forgiveness might be lower than you think.
Also, keep in mind that insurers often bake the cost of these add-ons into your premiums anyway—so you're paying extra upfront for something you might never use. Personally, I prefer just setting aside a bit of emergency cash each month instead. That way, if something does happen, you've got a cushion ready without paying extra to the insurance company every year. Not saying it's a bad idea for everyone...just worth crunching some numbers first to see if it's really worth it for your specific situation.
Fair points, but have you considered how quickly costs can spike after just one accident, even with a clean record? Accident forgiveness might seem unnecessary now, but I've seen plenty of careful drivers blindsided by unexpected incidents—like that deer that jumped out at my sister last fall. Sure, setting aside emergency cash is smart, but could it realistically cover a sudden premium hike for several years running...? Might be worth double-checking your insurer's policy specifics before ruling it out completely.
"Sure, setting aside emergency cash is smart, but could it realistically cover a sudden premium hike for several years running...?"
That's actually a really good point. I used to think accident forgiveness was just another upsell tactic by insurers, but after my buddy's experience last year, I'm reconsidering. He had a spotless record until some guy rear-ended him at a stoplight—totally not his fault—but his premiums still jumped significantly. He didn't have accident forgiveness and ended up paying way more than he expected over the next couple of renewals.
Still, I'm skeptical about blanket recommendations. Policies vary so much between insurers here in Ohio that it's definitely worth taking the time to read the fine print. Some companies offer accident forgiveness automatically after a certain period without claims, while others charge extra for it. Personally, I'd weigh the additional cost against how much peace of mind it gives you. Might be worth calling your agent and asking directly about your specific situation before deciding either way...
