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Is accident forgiveness worth it? The math, the rules, and who offers it
Last reviewed October 12, 20268 min readBy the Goodsurance editorial team Reviewed by the Goodsurance editorial team
Is accident forgiveness worth it? It can be. It keeps your rate from going up after your first at-fault crash. Whether it pays off depends on two numbers: what the add-on costs and what one crash would add to your bill. Here is how to do that math, which carriers offer it, and where it is not sold.
Is accident forgiveness worth it? The short answer
If you only read one part of this page, read this.
The short answer
It keeps your price from going up after one crash
It covers your first at-fault crash. Your rate stays the same at renewal.
Check if you already have it
Some carriers add it at no extra cost after years of safe driving. Look at your declarations page.
It is often worth it if you would pay a big surcharge
Do the math below. Compare the yearly cost to what one crash would add.
It stays with your policy, not with you
If you switch insurers, the new one can see the crash and price it.
Not every state allows it
GEICO does not offer it in California, Connecticut, or Massachusetts.
What accident forgiveness does
After an at-fault crash, many carriers raise your rate at renewal. That extra charge is called a surcharge. Accident forgiveness skips it for your first at-fault crash.
GEICO says rates often go up anywhere from 0% to 50% or more after an at-fault crash. It also says a crash can affect your rate for 3 to 5 years on average. That is the cost forgiveness is trying to stop.
Your insurer still pays the claim the normal way. You still pay your deductible. The only thing that changes is your price at renewal.
Is it worth it? The math
You need two numbers. The first is what the add-on costs each year. Lemonade says it may cost up to $100 a year for a driver with a clean record. The second is how much one crash would add to your bill.
Then divide. Take the extra cost one crash would add over 3 years. Divide it by the yearly cost of the add-on. The answer is how many years the add-on pays for itself.
Here is an example with a $1,000 yearly premium. These are round numbers to show the steps. They are not a quote.
| Example: a $1,000 yearly premium | Smaller surcharge (20%) | Bigger surcharge (40%) |
|---|---|---|
| Extra cost each year after one crash | $200 | $400 |
| Extra cost over 3 years | $600 | $1,200 |
| Add-on cost each year | $100 | $100 |
| The add-on pays off if you crash within | 6 years | 12 years |
Example numbers, not a quote. GEICO says rates often rise 0% to 50% or more after an at-fault crash, for 3 to 5 years. Lemonade says the add-on may cost up to $100 a year. This table uses 3 years.
When it is worth it, and when it is not
It is more likely worth it if: your premium is high, your carrier adds a big surcharge after a crash, you drive a lot, or you have several drivers on the policy. It also makes sense if you plan to stay with your carrier for years.
It is less likely worth it if: you already have earned forgiveness, your premium is low, or you switch carriers often. It also matters less in a state like New York, where a small crash may not raise your rate at all.
The easy test: ask your carrier, in writing, what your renewal would be after one at-fault crash. Then ask what the add-on costs. Use those two numbers in the math above.
How major carriers offer it: earned or bought
There are two kinds. Earned forgiveness comes after years of safe driving, at no extra charge. Bought forgiveness is an add-on you pay for each year.
Some carriers offer both. If you have already earned it, do not pay for it again. Check your declarations page first.
- Comes after years of safe driving
- No extra charge
- GEICO: 5 or more years with no accidents
- Progressive: 5 years as a customer, no accidents or tickets
- An add-on you pay for each year
- Works from the day it starts
- You must meet driving record rules to buy it
- Not sold in every state
| Carrier | How you get it | Rules the carrier lists | Where it is not sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | Earned, or bought when you buy or renew | Earned after 5 or more years with no accidents. May not apply under age 21. One use per policy. | California, Connecticut, Massachusetts |
| Progressive | Earned (two levels), or bought when you buy or renew | Small: first claim of $500 or less, for new customers in most states. Large: 5 years with Progressive and no accidents or tickets. Bought: one accident per policy period. | Not in all states; the page does not list them |
| Allstate | Bought as an add-on | Usually added when you buy. Current customers may add it in My Account. | Not listed on the page; ask |
| Nationwide | Bought as an add-on | Can be used once per policy. Others on your policy can use it too. | Sold in select states only |
| Travelers | Part of its Responsible Driver Plan, if you qualify | Forgives one accident over a set period. Checks the record of other drivers in your home. | Not in all states, including California |
From each carrier's own accident forgiveness page, checked October 12, 2026. Rules change and vary by state. Read your own policy.
Who qualifies for accident forgiveness
Each carrier sets its own rules. Most look at your driving record, your time as a customer, and your state.
Can you buy it after a crash? Usually not to cover that crash. GEICO says you must meet driving record and experience rules to buy it. The add-on is meant for a crash that has not happened yet.
Who can get it
A clean record
Earned forgiveness needs years with no accidents. GEICO and Progressive both use 5 years.
Time with the same carrier
Progressive's large accident forgiveness needs 5 years as a customer.
Your age
GEICO says its earned version may not apply to drivers under 21.
Everyone in your home
Travelers looks at accidents and tickets for other drivers in your home.
Your state
Some states do not allow it. See the state section below.
What accident forgiveness does not do
It does not stop the claim. The crash is still reported, and the claim is still paid. It still shows on your driving record.
It may not move with you. GEICO says its version belongs to the policy, not the driver. If you switch, your new insurer sets your price from your own record. That can include the crash your old carrier forgave.
It covers one crash. GEICO and Nationwide say theirs can be used once per policy. A second at-fault crash is priced the normal way.
Ask about your discounts. Allstate defines accident forgiveness as no surcharge and no lost discount after an at-fault crash. Not every carrier says the same. Ask if you would lose a safe driver or claim-free discount.
What accident forgiveness does and does not do
It does
- Keep your rate from rising after your first at-fault crash
- Cover other drivers on your policy, at some carriers
It does not
- Stop the claim or erase the crash from your record
- Move with you to a new insurer
- Pay your deductible
- Cover a second at-fault crash
- Always protect your safe driver discount; ask
Carriers word these rules in different ways. Read the part of your policy about forgiveness.
States that limit accident forgiveness or surcharges
California sets auto rates under Proposition 103. The law says your driving record is the top factor in your price. A good driver must get a rate at least 20% lower. GEICO and Travelers both say they do not offer forgiveness in California.
In California, an at-fault crash with only car damage adds 1 point. One rule for good driver status is no more than 1 point in 3 years. An at-fault crash that hurts someone ends it.
Massachusetts uses its own state point plan, the Safe Driver Insurance Plan. GEICO does not offer forgiveness there or in Connecticut.
New York limits surcharges. An insurer can add one only for an at-fault crash with an injury, or with more than $2,000 in property damage. Two or more crashes or tickets in about 3 years can also count.
| State | What the state rule says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| California | By law, your driving record is the top factor in your price. A good driver must get at least 20% off. | GEICO and Travelers do not sell forgiveness here. One at-fault crash with only car damage adds 1 point. |
| Massachusetts | The state runs a point plan, the Safe Driver Insurance Plan. | GEICO does not sell forgiveness here. |
| Connecticut | No state rule found on this page; check with the state. | GEICO does not sell forgiveness here. |
| New York | A surcharge needs an at-fault crash with injury, or more than $2,000 in damage. | A small crash may not raise your rate at all. Forgiveness matters most for bigger ones. |
From California Insurance Code 1861.02 and 1861.025, the New York Department of Financial Services, Mass.gov, and GEICO and Travelers. Other states have their own rules.
Alternatives to accident forgiveness
Forgiveness is not the only way to protect your price. Here are other options carriers and experts list.
Some carriers also offer safe driving programs that track how you drive. Ask your carrier what it has in your state.
Other ways to keep costs down
A vanishing deductible
Nationwide lowers your deductible by $100 for each safe year, up to $500.
Minor violation forgiveness
Travelers forgives one minor ticket over a set period.
A higher deductible
The Insurance Information Institute says a $1,000 deductible can save 40% or more on collision and comprehensive, compared with $200.
Drop collision on an old car
If the car is worth less than 10 times what that coverage costs a year, it may not pay to keep it.
How to decide
Start with what you already have. Then get two numbers from your carrier and do the math.
Want to know what your collision coverage pays after a crash? See collision coverage explained. Looking for other ways to save? See auto insurance discounts.
How to decide in four steps
If the add-on pays off within the years you plan to stay, it is likely worth it.
Common questions
Quick answers, fast .
Tap any question to expand. Each links to a fuller standalone answer.
Is accident forgiveness worth it?
It can be. Divide what one crash would add to your bill over 3 years by the yearly cost of the add-on. If the answer is more years than you expect to go without a crash, it is likely worth it. If you already have earned forgiveness, skip it.
How much does accident forgiveness cost?
It depends on the carrier and your state. Lemonade says it may cost up to $100 a year for a driver with a clean record. Some carriers include it at no extra cost after years of safe driving.
How much do rates go up after an at-fault accident?
GEICO says rates often go up anywhere from 0% to 50% or more. It says the effect usually lasts 3 to 5 years. Your own increase depends on your carrier, your state, and the crash.
Can I buy accident forgiveness after an accident?
Not to cover a crash that already happened. Carriers set driving record rules to buy it. GEICO, for example, says you must meet driving record and experience rules.
Does accident forgiveness follow me if I switch insurers?
Usually not. GEICO says its version belongs to the policy, not the driver. A new insurer sets your price from your own record, which can include a forgiven crash.
Do I lose my safe driver discount if my accident is forgiven?
It depends on the carrier. Allstate defines forgiveness as no surcharge and no lost discount. Other carriers may word it differently, so ask before you buy.
Does accident forgiveness pay my deductible?
No. It only keeps your rate from going up. You still pay your deductible on the claim. A vanishing deductible, sold by some carriers, is what lowers your deductible.
Does a forgiven accident stay on my driving record?
Yes. Forgiveness changes your price with that carrier. It does not erase the crash from your record.
Which states do not allow accident forgiveness?
GEICO says it does not offer it in California, Connecticut, or Massachusetts. Travelers says it does not offer it in California. Other carriers say only that it is not sold in every state.
If my car is hit while parked, will my insurance rates go up?
Usually that is not an at-fault crash for you. In New York, a surcharge needs a crash where you were at fault. California counts crashes where you were mostly at fault. Ask your carrier how it treats a claim that was not your fault.
Is it better to have a $500 or $1,000 deductible?
A $1,000 deductible lowers your premium more. The Insurance Information Institute says it can save 40% or more on collision and comprehensive, compared with $200. Pick it only if you could pay $1,000 after a crash.
Should I keep collision insurance on a 20 year old car?
Maybe not. The Insurance Information Institute says if the car is worth less than 10 times what the coverage costs a year, it may not pay to keep it.
Is personal accident cover the same as accident forgiveness?
No. Personal accident cover pays for injuries. Accident forgiveness does not pay any bills. It only keeps your auto rate from going up after a crash.
References
- GEICO: Claim ForgivenessEarned and bought versions, 5 years accident free, under 21 rule, one use per policy, not in CA, CT, or MA.
- GEICO: How much does auto insurance go up after a claim?Rates often rise 0% to 50% or more after an at-fault crash, for 3 to 5 years.
- Progressive: What is accident forgiveness?Small, large, and bought accident forgiveness rules.
- Allstate: Accident ForgivenessOptional add-on; how to add it.
- Allstate: Insurance glossaryDefines accident forgiveness as no surcharge and no lost discount.
- Nationwide: Accident ForgivenessBought add-on, select states, once per policy.
- Nationwide: Vanishing Deductible$100 off your deductible per safe year, up to $500.
- Travelers: Accident ForgivenessResponsible Driver Plan; one accident over a set period; not in CA.
- Lemonade: What is accident forgiveness?Add-on may cost up to $100 a year for eligible drivers.
- California Insurance Code 1861.02 (Proposition 103)Driving record is the top rating factor; Good Driver Discount at least 20%.
- California Insurance Code 1861.025Who qualifies as a good driver; 1 point for an at-fault property damage crash.
- New York DFS: Can my insurance company raise my premium after an accident?Surcharges only for at-fault crashes with injury or over $2,000 in damage.
- Mass.gov: Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP)Massachusetts state point plan for at-fault crashes and tickets.
- 211 CMR 134.10: SDIP surcharges and creditsHow Massachusetts computes SDIP points (Cornell LII copy of the state rule).
- Insurance Information Institute: Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costsDeductible savings and when to drop collision on an older car.