Does Nationwide Have Accident Forgiveness?

Last Updated on October 13, 2023

Accident forgiveness can help you avoid higher premiums after an accident. Nationwide, like many insurers, offers accident forgiveness to certain qualifying drivers.

Depending on your state, you may be able to buy accident forgiveness through Nationwide. If available, Nationwide’s accident forgiveness helps you avoid a rate increase after a single at-fault accident. You can only use it once per policy.

Keep reading to discover how Nationwide’s accident forgiveness works and whether or not it’s worth it.

Table of Contents:

• How Nationwide’s Accident Forgiveness Works
• Nationwide Accident Forgiveness Requirements
• Is Nationwide’s Accident Forgiveness Worth It? Things to Consider
• How to Add Accident Forgiveness to Your Nationwide Policy

How Nationwide’s Accident Forgiveness Works

Nationwide offers accident forgiveness in some states as an optional add-on. You pay extra to add Nationwide’s accident forgiveness to your policy.

After you add accident forgiveness to your policy, you will not be punished for your first at-fault accident. Nationwide will not raise your premiums, nor will you lose your safe driving discount. Instead, it’s like the accident never happened.

You can use Nationwide’s accident forgiveness once per policy. Once you’ve used it, you cannot add it to your policy again.

Nationwide’s accident forgiveness covers you and all other licensed drivers in your household. If you or any other driver gets into an accident, then accident forgiveness will negate this accident.

Nationwide Accident Forgiveness Requirements

You may or may not qualify for Nationwide’s accident forgiveness. The company only offers accident forgiveness to certain drivers.

You must meet the following qualifications to add accident forgiveness:

Clean Driving Record: If you have multiple speeding tickets or traffic violations, then you will not qualify for Nationwide’s accident forgiveness. The specific rules for a “clean driving record” vary between states.

No Claims for 3 Years: If you have made a claim within the last three years, then you may not qualify for Nationwide’s accident forgiveness. Drivers with at-fault accidents or other major claims in the last three years cannot add accident forgiveness to their policy. However, you may be able to add accident forgiveness after waiting a few years.

One Claim Per Policy: You can use Nationwide’s accident forgiveness once per policy. After using it once, you do not qualify again.

Is Nationwide’s Accident Forgiveness Worth It? Things to Consider

Some drivers add accident forgiveness to their policy as soon as it’s available. Other drivers take the risk and never add accident forgiveness.

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to add accident forgiveness to your policy:

Consider the Cost of Adding Accident Forgiveness: For some drivers, it costs just a few dollars per year to add accident forgiveness. For others, it could cost $10 to $20 per month. Accident forgiveness pays for itself after a single at-fault accident. However, it may not be worth the cost. Nationwide’s accident forgiveness pricing varies based on your location, state insurance laws, car make and model, driving history, and other factors.

Avoid Higher Premiums: Nationwide, like most insurers, may raise your premiums 40% to 60% after your first at-fault accident (assuming you don’t have accident forgiveness). Instead of paying $1,000 per year for full coverage car insurance, you could pay $1,400 to $1,600 for the next 3 to 5 years. You are considered a high-risk driver, and you pay higher insurance premiums. With accident forgiveness, you can avoid higher premiums and save thousands after an accident.

Protect All Drivers in Your Household: You may be the world’s safest driver, but another household member is not. Nationwide’s accident forgiveness covers all licensed drivers in your household (unless they are excluded from your policy). If any of these drivers causes an accident while driving your covered vehicle, your accident forgiveness negates that accident.

Enjoy Peace of Mind: Some drivers are willing to pay extra for peace of mind. They like the satisfaction of knowing they can drive without a single mistake ruining their driving history.

Keep Your Safe Driving Discount: You get to keep your safe driving discount if you have accident forgiveness on your policy. Typically, a single accident or violation would cause you to lose your safe driving discount. Instead of paying 40% to 60% more after an accident, you could continue to pay discounted rates because of your clean driving record and safe driving discount.

Consider the Risk of an Accident: Do you or someone in your household drive a lot of miles at rush hour? Do you live in an area with high rates of accidents? If so, you may have a higher risk of an accident than someone who drives fewer miles or lives in a safer area. Consider the risk of an accident when determining if accident forgiveness is worth it, as a single at-fault accident could make accident forgiveness worth it.

How to Add Accident Forgiveness to Your Nationwide Policy

Contact Nationwide or call your Nationwide agent to add accident forgiveness to your policy.

You must meet certain qualifications to add accident forgiveness to your policy. The Nationwide agent can verify you have met those qualifications.

Depending on your state, you may or may not have access to accident forgiveness. Some states, like California, make it difficult for insurers to add accident forgiveness. Nationwide does not offer accident forgiveness in all states.

Final Word – Nationwide’s Accident Forgiveness

Nationwide offers accident forgiveness in most states. You can avoid paying higher premiums after a single driving error for a few extra dollars per month.

Accidents can happen to anyone. A single at-fault accident can raise premiums 40% to 60%, costing you thousands of dollars in extra car insurance premiums over the next 3 to 5 years.

By adding Nationwide’s accident forgiveness to your policy, you can avoid the impact of higher insurance premiums and continue paying low rates for car insurance after a single at-fault accident.