Yeah, totally agree with you on the safer driving practices part. Accident forgiveness sounds great on paper, but honestly, as someone who's been labeled "high-risk," I can tell you insurers always find ways to keep track behind the scenes. Plus, in Ohio, even forgiven accidents can still indirectly affect your rates if you switch companies later. Learned that the hard way... Better tires and defensive driving courses ended up saving me way more money than relying on forgiveness perks.
Yeah, accident forgiveness always felt a bit gimmicky to me too. I'd rather invest in solid tires and staying alert—saved me from a few close calls already. Plus, insurers never really forget, do they?
"Plus, insurers never really forget, do they?"
Haha, true enough...they've got memories like elephants. Still, even the most alert drivers can have an off day. Accident forgiveness might feel gimmicky, but as a backup plan, it doesn't hurt to have it tucked away.
Accident forgiveness can definitely feel like a marketing gimmick at first glance, but there's more nuance to it. In Ohio, insurers typically factor in your driving history for several years after an accident, and even a minor fender-bender can bump up your premiums noticeably. Having accident forgiveness might shield you from that initial spike. Still, it's worth crunching the numbers—sometimes the extra cost isn't justified if you're already a cautious driver with a clean record. Have you checked how much your insurer charges for adding it?
Good points raised. A couple quick things I'd add from experience:
- Accident forgiveness usually makes sense if you're risk-averse or have younger drivers on your policy. Teens and new drivers statistically have more minor incidents, so it can save some headaches.
- But if you've had a clean record for years and drive cautiously, it might not pay off. I've seen insurers tack on $50-$100 annually for accident forgiveness—over several years, that adds up.
- Definitely worth asking your agent for the exact premium difference and then weighing that against your comfort level with risk.
