Never really trusted the “accident forgiveness” thing myself.
Honestly, I’ve seen it work both ways. Sometimes they’ll “forgive” the accident, but then your renewal comes around and—surprise—your rate’s up anyway, just for “market adjustments.” It’s like forgiving your dog for chewing your shoe, but hiding your sneakers next time. Peace of mind’s nice, but I’d rather just drive like my grandma and hope for the best.
It’s like forgiving your dog for chewing your shoe, but hiding your sneakers next time.
That’s a pretty good way to put it. I’ve always wondered if “accident forgiveness” is just a marketing trick. Like, sure, they won’t ding you for the accident itself, but then your premium creeps up for some “other” reason. Has anyone actually had their rate stay the same after using it? Or is it just smoke and mirrors? I’m with you—driving like a grandma sounds cheaper in the long run.
I’ve always wondered if “accident forgiveness” is just a marketing trick.
Honestly, it kind of is. I’ve seen folks get “forgiven” for a fender bender, but then their renewal comes up and—surprise—the rate’s up anyway. They’ll blame it on “market conditions” or some vague risk factor. I get why people like the idea, but in practice, it’s rare to see a rate truly stay flat after a claim. Like you said, slow and steady driving wins the budget race.
they’ll blame it on “market conditions” or some vague risk factor
- Noticed that too. Had “forgiveness” with one company, but after a minor scrape, my premium crept up anyway.
- Some agents say it’s not the claim, it’s the zip code or “overall risk.”
- Anyone actually had a claim in Wyoming and *not* seen their rate jump? Or is that just wishful thinking?
Car insurance in Wyoming: who actually treats you right?
Some agents say it’s not the claim, it’s the zip code or “overall risk.”
Yeah, I’ve heard that line too. It’s like they’ve got a script for every question. I’m in Cheyenne and had a fender bender last winter—barely a dent, but enough to file a claim. My agent swore up and down that “accident forgiveness” would kick in and I wouldn’t see a hike, but sure enough, my renewal came and it was up by $18 a month. When I called, they started talking about “market trends” and “regional risk factors.” I mean, come on… it’s not like Cheyenne suddenly turned into LA overnight.
Funny thing is, my neighbor had a deer run-in (not uncommon here) and his rate didn’t budge. Only difference? He’s with a smaller local company, not one of the big national names. Makes me wonder if the big guys just use any excuse to bump things up, while the local ones actually look at your record.
I get that insurance is all about spreading risk, but sometimes it feels like we’re just paying for everyone else’s mistakes. Or maybe it’s just the price of living somewhere with unpredictable weather and wildlife. Either way, I haven’t found anyone who’s totally immune to the rate creep after a claim, but maybe there’s some magic combo out there I haven’t tried.
If anyone’s managed to keep their premium steady after a claim, especially in Wyoming, I’d love to know what company you’re with. Otherwise, I guess we’re all just rolling the dice every renewal.