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is accident forgiveness really worth it in Ohio?

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wildlife783
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I'm with you on this one—accident forgiveness always sounded a bit too good to be true to me. I've never personally used it, but a buddy of mine did after sliding into a curb during one of our classic Ohio ice storms. Sure, his rates didn't spike immediately, but when renewal time came around, he noticed his premium had still crept up slightly. Nothing drastic, but enough to make him question if it really "forgave" anything or just delayed the inevitable.

Insurance companies aren't charities—they've done the math. They know exactly how often we're likely to slide into something around here, and they're pricing that risk into their policies. If you're handy enough to handle minor fixes yourself (like your bumper swap), I'd argue you're probably better off skipping accident forgiveness and just pocketing the extra cash you'd pay for it each month. Over a few years, that savings could easily cover a junkyard bumper or two... or even a set of decent winter tires, which might actually prevent the accident in the first place.

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wildlife783
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Yeah, I've always felt accident forgiveness was more marketing than substance. I ran the numbers once, and the monthly premium bump for adding it was enough to make me pause. Plus, even if your rates don't spike immediately, insurers still track your claims history internally. So you're not really getting a clean slate—just delaying the inevitable. I'd rather stash that extra cash into a rainy-day fund for minor repairs or upgrades... or maybe invest in a defensive driving course to snag a discount instead.

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peanutskater
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"I'd rather stash that extra cash into a rainy-day fund for minor repairs or upgrades..."

Yep, exactly my thinking. I've been driving for over 20 years here in Ohio, and honestly, accident forgiveness always felt like paying extra for something I might never use. I'd rather keep my premiums low and have control over that money myself. Plus, insurers aren't charities—they'll find a way to factor in your claims sooner or later. Better to drive carefully, stash the cash, and maybe splurge on better tires... winters here can be brutal enough without insurance gimmicks.

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science645
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I see your point, but I think it depends a lot on your personal situation. I've been driving in Ohio for about 15 years now, and while I agree that careful driving and good tires are key, accidents aren't always within our control. A few years back, someone rear-ended me at a stoplight—totally not my fault—but my rates still went up slightly afterward. Accident forgiveness might've saved me some hassle there... just something to consider if you're commuting daily or dealing with heavy traffic regularly.

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fashion821
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- Interesting point... but isn't accident forgiveness usually an extra cost?
- Curious if the slight rate bump after your accident was less than paying for forgiveness coverage over the years?
- Still learning here, just trying to weigh if it's really worth it long-term.

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