I see your point, but here's my experience with it:
- Had accident forgiveness on my policy for about 3 years, never really thought about it much.
- Last winter, hit a patch of black ice near Columbus and slid into a curb—minor damage, but enough to file a claim.
- My insurer did forgive it, no premium hike at renewal... BUT when I shopped around later out of curiosity, other companies definitely noticed that accident on my record and quoted higher rates.
- Made me wonder if the forgiveness was really worth the extra cost I'd been paying all along. Maybe I would've saved more just skipping it altogether?
- On the other hand, knowing I had that cushion did ease my anxiety when driving in bad weather.
So yeah, I'm still kinda torn. It might depend on your comfort level and how much you drive in tricky conditions. But it's definitely not as straightforward as insurers make it sound.
You bring up a really good point about accident forgiveness—it's definitely not as clear-cut as insurers like to advertise. While it does protect your premium with your current insurer, other companies still see the accident on your record, so it can limit your options if you decide to shop around. Still, peace of mind counts for something, especially in Ohio winters... Ultimately, it's about weighing that comfort against potential savings. Your experience highlights exactly why it's important to read between the lines with insurance perks.
- Accident forgiveness can be useful, but it's definitely not a no-brainer.
- Had a minor fender-bender two winters ago near Cleveland—icy roads, typical Ohio stuff—and my premium stayed steady thanks to forgiveness.
- BUT when I shopped around last year, other insurers still dinged me for that accident. So yeah, it limits your flexibility.
- Bottom line: if you're sticking with your insurer long-term and value stability over chasing the lowest rate, it's probably worth it. Otherwise...maybe not.
I'd be careful assuming accident forgiveness is always worth it—even if you're sticking around long-term. Sure, your current insurer won't hike rates immediately, but they still keep tabs on your record internally. Had a buddy in Dayton who had forgiveness, then got another minor ding a year later... premium jumped anyway because forgiveness usually covers just one incident. Might be better off investing in winter tires or defensive driving courses instead of paying extra for something that only helps once. Just my two cents.
Good points there, especially about insurers still tracking incidents internally. From what I've seen, accident forgiveness can be useful—but it's definitely not a blanket solution. People often don't realize that even if your current insurer forgives one accident, other companies won't necessarily overlook it if you decide to switch later. Plus, forgiveness usually only applies to at-fault accidents, not comprehensive claims like deer hits or hail damage. So yeah, investing in safer driving practices or better equipment might actually save you more in the long run...
