Accident forgiveness can definitely help, especially in Ohio winters—black ice sneaks up on you fast. But do you know if your insurer has any limits on how often you can use it? Some companies only forgive one accident every few years, so if you're still getting comfortable behind the wheel, it might make sense to double-check the details. Personally, I'd lean toward paying extra for the peace of mind, at least until you've logged more miles.
Good points about checking the fine print—insurance companies sure love their limits. A few years back, I had a minor fender bender during one of those nasty Ohio winters. Nothing serious, just slid on black ice into a curb and messed up my alignment pretty good. At the time, I thought accident forgiveness was a lifesaver since it kept my rates from skyrocketing.
Fast forward two winters later, another small mishap (again, thanks to ice...you'd think I'd learn by now 🤦♂️). Turns out my insurer had a "one forgiven accident every three years" policy. Needless to say, I learned that detail the hard way when my premium jumped up quite a bit. Since then I've been more careful about reading through all those terms and conditions.
Even with that experience, I'm still glad I opted for accident forgiveness initially—it softened the blow financially when I was younger and less experienced behind the wheel. But yeah, knowing exactly how often you're allowed to use it is super important so you don't get blindsided later on.
I'm curious though, has anyone else had trouble finding clear info from their insurers about these limits? Seems like sometimes you have to specifically ask or dig around online to get straight answers...
I've actually had the opposite experience with accident forgiveness. When I did the math, it never seemed worth the extra cost for me. Sure, it sounds great on paper, but over several years of paying a higher premium, you're basically pre-paying for that one accident you might never even have. Plus, like you mentioned, there's always some sneaky fine print limiting how often you can actually use it.
Personally, I've found that just keeping a decent emergency fund set aside for unexpected car issues has worked better financially. It's not as comforting upfront, but long-term, I've saved more money this way. Of course, everyone's situation is different—especially if you're younger or less experienced—but I think insurers sometimes count on us feeling safer with these add-ons instead of looking at the numbers closely.
You make some solid points there, especially about the emergency fund—I hadn't thought of it quite that way before. But I'm curious, do you think the value of accident forgiveness might shift depending on the type of car you're driving? Like, would owning a higher-end or luxury vehicle change your perspective on whether it's worth paying extra for that coverage? I've always wondered if pricier repairs or parts might tip the scales differently...
Interesting thought, but I'd actually argue the opposite. With luxury or higher-end cars, you're probably already paying hefty premiums and have specialized coverage anyway—so accident forgiveness might not move the needle much. On the flip side, if you're driving something older or rare (like my '68 Mustang), even minor incidents can spike your rates significantly. In those cases, accident forgiveness might actually offer more bang for your buck...
