Accident forgiveness is an auto insurance feature or add-on that ensures your insurance premiums don’t go up after your first at-fault accident. While it can save some drivers money, not all companies offer accident forgiveness insurance, and it may not be financially beneficial for everyone.
Accident Forgiveness
Updated: May 20, 2024
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What Is Accident Forgiveness?
Key Findings:
Before purchasing or renewing your auto insurance policy, drivers often consider their options for additional coverages — one of which is accident forgiveness.
Accident forgiveness coverage keeps your auto insurance rates low by "forgiving" your first at-fault accident.
Most drivers need to have at least three to five consecutive years of no accidents or violations to qualify for accident forgiveness.
Insurers can offer accident forgiveness as a paid add-on, a reward for loyalty or a combination of both.
How Accident Forgiveness Works
Accident forgiveness can typically be purchased as an add-on to an auto insurance policy or "earned" after a driver remains accident-free for a specified period, usually between three and five years.
However, accident forgiveness has some limitations. For example, it will only apply to your first at-fault accident and — depending on your provider's policy — can reset and be purchased or applied again after a few years of having a clean driving record. Every insurance company has a unique policy or procedure for accident forgiveness, so it’s best to contact insurers directly or check out their websites to learn about their stipulations.
Take note that not all companies have accident forgiveness. In California, insurers don’t offer accident forgiveness coverage due to Proposition 103, passed in 1988. This law prevents insurers from charging excessive rates, indirectly barring them from offering accident forgiveness. While accident forgiveness can lower rates for some drivers, drivers are charged higher rates overall to offset the cost of accident forgiveness. Even beyond California, some insurers simply do not offer this additional coverage.
Whether or not you have accident forgiveness coverage, an at-fault accident will remain on your record and may impact your auto insurance rates for three to five years, depending on where you live.
- Drivers who have a clean record and regularly practice safe driving habits. Accident forgiveness is best for drivers who have maintained a clean record for a significant period because it can help keep their rates low if they get into an accident.
- Drivers who have high-risk or young drivers included in their policy. If you've had a clean record so far but recently added a high-risk driver to your policy, accident forgiveness is a great way to ensure your premiums don’t rise if that driver gets into an accident. Keep in mind that accident forgiveness can only be applied once and then can’t be applied again until it renews, regardless of how many drivers you have on your policy.
- Drivers who frequently drive in risky areas or conditions. If you often drive in potentially dangerous conditions — be it a congested area or at night — getting accident forgiveness can help keep your rates affordable. No matter how safely you drive, difficult driving conditions could cost you thousands if you get into an accident.
- Drivers who don't drive often. While accident forgiveness provides an extra layer of protection, it doesn’t significantly benefit people who rarely drive. The less you drive, the fewer opportunities there are for you to get into an accident.
- Drivers who have a poor driving record. Getting accident forgiveness is subject to an insurer’s approval — and you’re likely not going to be approved if you have a bad driving record or you’ve been in an accident in the last few years.
Who Should Consider Accident Forgiveness
Who Shouldn't Consider Accident Forgiveness
Accident forgiveness can seem like the perfect solution to keeping rates down after an accident, but that isn’t always the case. Take a look at some of the advantages and drawbacks to consider when purchasing accident forgiveness.
Pros & Cons of Accident Forgiveness
Pros
- Prevents an increase in your insurance rates after an accident where you’re at-fault.
- In some policies, it is automatically included after a specified period of being claims-free.
- Can grant you peace of mind while driving.
Cons
- Not available for all drivers.
- Only forgives your first at-fault accident and takes three to five years to reset after your first accident if you remain accident- and claims-free.
- Not always free — some insurers offer it as additional coverage, which can raise premiums.
- Doesn’t guarantee full rate protection, as being in an at-fault accident can still remove or reduce claims-free discounts.
Examples of Accident Forgiveness in Action
1
First accident with a clean driving record and safe driver discount
Even if you’ve never been in a collision and have maintained a safe driving record for years, the fact is that accidents can happen to anyone, anytime. While accident forgiveness can provide an extra layer of financial protection, you should evaluate whether it’s truly worth it. If you get it for free — great. If you don’t qualify for free coverage and need to pay for it, however, take a look at the cost and compare it to your potential surcharge.
If, for instance, accident forgiveness coverage adds $50 to your premium and you don’t get into an accident for five years, you paid $250 in total for this coverage. Conversely, auto policy costs can increase by 56.8% after an accident. If you spend an average of $1,000 for auto insurance every year and get into an accident in your fifth year, your premiums will potentially increase by $568 if you don’t have accident forgiveness. If you do have that extra coverage, however, you could recoup the costs of that coverage and avoid the surcharge.
On the other hand, if adding accident forgiveness coverage costs an additional $150, and you remain accident-free for ten years, that’s $1,500 you could end up not using.
In other words, accident forgiveness is a nice perk to have if you get it for free and at a low cost. If it costs a lot or more than your potential surcharge and you’re a safe driver, it might not be worth it in the long run.
2
More than one accident
If you’ve had more than one accident in the past few years, getting accident forgiveness can help prevent your rates from increasing even more if you get into another accident. Some insurers offer it as a paid add-on with no eligibility, and others include it as part of a more extensive protection package. If a company you’re considering offers it as a paid add-on, weigh this additional cost against how much more you’d pay for rates without it.
3
Having risky drivers on your policy
Insurers offset the risk of insuring young or teen drivers by increasing your premiums. However, these drivers don’t just pose a financial threat to insurers — they also pose a risk to you as the principal policyholder; if a teen on your policy is at-fault in an accident, your overall policy premiums are likely to increase.
Accident forgiveness can be beneficial in such a situation. With this coverage, insurers will forgive the first at-fault accident on the policy. That means that if your teen is on your policy and they get into an accident, your accident forgiveness coverage will kick in. Keep in mind, however, that this can only be used once. While some insurers grant “resets” and let you re-purchase it after three or five years of remaining accident-free, some may not.
How to Qualify for Accident Forgiveness
Even if your auto insurance company offers accident forgiveness, remember that not all drivers qualify. Insurers typically require you to be over 21 and have no accidents for three to five years to add accident forgiveness coverage to your policy.
Insurers who offer accident forgiveness can provide it as a paid add-on, a reward for loyalty or a combination of both. For instance, GEICO offers accident forgiveness for free to loyal clients who have maintained a clean driving record, but it can also be purchased as an add-on for those who don’t qualify. Some insurers, like Farmers, only allow you to purchase it after remaining accident-free for at least three years.
Insurance Providers that Offer Accident Forgiveness
If you’re interested in getting accident forgiveness, below is a comprehensive list of the best auto insurance companies that offer it and their requirements.
- Allstate: Allstate offers accident forgiveness as an add-on if you’ve remained accident-free for three to five years. However, this is not available in every state.
- Erie Insurance: Accident forgiveness is a reward at Erie Insurance — it can’t be purchased as an add-on. You can qualify if you’ve been insured with Erie for at least three years, with exceptions for New York drivers who can purchase Rate Protection Endorsement.
- Farmers Insurance: Farmers offers accident forgiveness as a paid add-on that applies to one accident every three years. It is not available in California, Hawaii, New York or South Carolina.
- GEICO: At GEICO, accident forgiveness can be purchased or earned. Loyal customers get it for free after remaining accident-free for five years, while drivers who want to buy it are subject to eligibility based on their policy type and state laws and regulations. It is not available in California, Connecticut or Massachusetts.
- Liberty Mutual: Accident forgiveness can be purchased as additional coverage at Liberty Mutual. To qualify, drivers must be accident- and violation-free for at least five years, while drivers under 25 and under must have five consecutive clean driving years before their first accident is forgiven.
- Nationwide: At Nationwide, accident forgiveness is an add-on to your auto insurance policy. It forgives your first at-fault accident and can only be used once per policy regardless of how many drivers are on it.
- Progressive: Accident forgiveness is automatically included in Progressive’s car insurance policy and cannot be purchased as an add-on. New Progressive customers get Small Accident Forgiveness, which maintains your rate if your total claim is less than or equal to $500. Drivers who have stayed with Progressive for at least five years and have remained accident- and violation-free for a minimum of three consecutive years get Large Accident Forgiveness, which does not increase your rates regardless of your total claim.
- State Farm: Loyal customers who have stayed with State Farm for at least nine years and maintained a clean driving record during that period are offered the option to purchase and add accident forgiveness coverage to their policy.
- Travelers: At Travelers, accident forgiveness coverage is only available if you purchase a Responsible Driver plan. This plan prevents your rates from increasing by forgiving one at-fault accident over a specified period. It also includes Minor Violation Forgiveness, which forgives one minor violation.
- USAA: Accident forgiveness insurance is free at USAA for drivers who have had no at-fault accidents for at least five years. However, an additional premium may apply, and it is not available in Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, California and New York.
Accident Forgiveness FAQs
While accident forgiveness is a relatively straightforward concept, there are still some gray areas that can confuse some drivers. Below are a few frequently asked questions about accident forgiveness insurance.
Can you get accident forgiveness after an accident?
Yes, you can get accident forgiveness to protect your future self after an accident — but whether an insurer will accept your application for it is up to their discretion. While some let you purchase it as an add-on with no eligibility requirements, some may reject you due to your recent accident.
Keep in mind that this coverage is designed to be purchased or earned in advance, which means that even if you do get accident forgiveness, it will not apply to your most recent accident.
How long does accident forgiveness last?
If you purchase or have accident forgiveness coverage, it will last until the end of your policy and will renew if you’re still eligible or if you re-purchase it when you reapply for your car insurance policy.
Does accident forgiveness cost more on your insurance policy?
The cost of accident forgiveness depends on the insurer. While some insurers offer it for free after a specified period, some insurers provide it as an add-on that can increase your premiums. How much it costs will depend on several factors, so it’s essential to speak directly with any prospective insurers to see how much you’ll have to pay for it.
Is accident forgiveness available in all states?
No, accident forgiveness is not available in all states. In California, Provision 103 states that insurers cannot charge excessive rates without justification, indirectly preventing insurers from offering accident forgiveness.
How do you qualify for accident forgiveness?
The eligibility requirements for accident forgiveness coverage vary from insurer to insurer. However, most companies require at least three to five years of loyalty and accident-free driving records for all drivers on the policy. Some insurers will automatically add this coverage to your policy if you qualify, while some may require you to apply for or purchase it.
Expert Insights
Accident forgiveness isn’t for everyone — determining if it’s suitable for you depends on individual factors. To help drivers make the right decision, MoneyGeek tapped finance experts to get their insight.
- How can the average driver determine if getting accident forgiveness is worth it for them?
- What are some important “catches” of getting accident forgiveness that drivers should know about?
- What are some alternative coverages that drivers can get aside from accident forgiveness?
Brogan WoodburnSr. Insurance Writer for The Detroit Bureau
Darren NixFounder of Steadily Landlord Insurance
Related Content
In the auto insurance industry, accident forgiveness is one of the many additional coverages that drivers can opt for to get more protection. Below are a few related topics within auto insurance that can help any driver get a better idea of what to add to their policy and how to choose the best option for them.
- Auto Insurance Discounts: Instead of purchasing accident forgiveness coverage, you can also opt for the numerous auto insurance discounts available to decrease your premiums.
- Best Car Insurance Companies After An Accident: If you just got into an accident where you’re at fault, and you’re looking for affordable insurers, MoneyGeek’s guide to the best auto insurance companies after an accident can help give you some insight.
- Cheapest Car Insurance Companies: Finding the cheapest auto insurance requires comparing quotes from at least three different insurers. To help you narrow down your search, this guide from MoneyGeek gives a brief look at the most affordable options.
- Full Coverage Insurance: Comprehensive and collision insurance, otherwise known as full coverage insurance, can keep you safer on the road. It pays for damages to your vehicle when you’re at fault in an accident or if you suffer from an accident that isn’t necessarily a collision.
- How Much Car Insurance Do You Really Need?: The minimum amount of auto insurance coverage you need will vary based on a number of factors. This guide explores how you can determine your limits and coverages.
About Nathan Paulus
Nathan Paulus is the Head of Content Marketing at MoneyGeek, with nearly 10 years of experience researching and creating content related to personal finance and financial literacy.
Paulus has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of St. Thomas, Houston. He enjoys helping people from all walks of life build stronger financial foundations.
sources
- California Department of Insurance. "Information Sheet: Proposition 103 Intervenor Process." Accessed October 27, 2021.