I get where you're coming from, but honestly, it can depend a lot on your situation. I drive a luxury car—nothing crazy fancy, but repairs aren't exactly cheap—and I went back and forth on accident forgiveness for years. Like you, I figured I'm careful enough, never had a major accident, why pay extra?
Then one rainy evening in Columbus, someone rear-ended me at a stoplight. Totally not my fault, but the other driver was uninsured (of course, right?). Even though my insurance covered it, my premium jumped quite a bit afterward. I ran the numbers later out of curiosity, and turns out accident forgiveness would have saved me a decent chunk in the long run.
Not saying it's always worth it... just that sometimes life throws you curveballs. If you're driving something pricier or harder to repair, it might be worth reconsidering. But yeah, everyone's mileage may vary.
"Even though my insurance covered it, my premium jumped quite a bit afterward."
Honestly, that's exactly why accident forgiveness feels like a bit of a gimmick to me. Sure, it can save you money in that specific scenario, but think about how many years you'd pay extra without ever needing it. I've driven in Ohio winters for decades—had a few close calls but never an accident serious enough to justify the added cost. Just put that extra cash into an emergency fund instead...
Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from. Accident forgiveness always sounded good to me at first, but after looking into it, I realized it's not exactly a free pass. A few years ago, when I bought my first luxury car, I considered adding accident forgiveness because Ohio winters can be pretty brutal—black ice, snowstorms, you name it. But when I crunched the numbers, it just didn't add up.
I mean, sure, if you're someone who's prone to minor fender benders or you have a teenager driving your car (been there...), maybe it makes sense. But for most of us who drive carefully and rarely have issues, you're basically paying extra every month for something you'll probably never use. And even if you do use it once, like you mentioned, your premium still tends to jump afterward anyway—so what's the real benefit?
Personally, I've found that keeping a decent emergency fund or setting aside some cash each month specifically for car-related expenses has worked out better. Last winter I slid on some ice and dinged my bumper pretty badly. It wasn't cheap to fix (luxury cars never are...), but I was able to cover the cost without involving insurance at all. No premium hikes afterward either.
Insurance companies are smart—they know how to market these add-ons as peace-of-mind products. But in reality, they're betting you'll pay more over time than they'll ever have to pay out. I'd rather keep that money in my own pocket and handle things myself if something minor happens.
Of course everyone's situation is different...but from my experience here in Ohio, accident forgiveness doesn't seem worth the extra cost for most careful drivers.
Yeah, I see your point, but honestly, accident forgiveness saved me a headache once. Had a minor slide into a mailbox (thanks, icy driveway...) and it kept my rates stable. Still, I get why some folks skip it—depends on your comfort level, I guess.
"Had a minor slide into a mailbox (thanks, icy driveway...) and it kept my rates stable."
Glad it worked out for you. I'm still learning the ropes, so hearing real experiences helps a lot. Accident forgiveness sounds reassuring, but I wonder if it's worth it for someone like me who's just starting out...maybe peace of mind is worth the extra cost? Anyway, thanks for sharing your story—it gives me something to think about.
