Our Picks for the Best Car Insurance for Seniors
How Much Is Car Insurance for Seniors?
Car insurance for seniors costs an average of $2,103 a year, based on our analysis of rates for drivers ages 65 to 80. Senior car insurance costs varied significantly among the insurance companies we analyzed, with a difference of nearly $1,970 a year between the least and most expensive companies.
Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance for senior drivers, costing an average of $1,504 a year. Nationwide is also a top pick in our rankings of the best car insurance companies for drivers of all ages.
Why Do Auto Insurance Rates Increase for Seniors?
Auto insurance rates increase for seniors because car insurance companies find that this age group of drivers is more likely to have accidents and file claims.
Teenagers and seniors typically pay more for car insurance than other drivers, all else being equal, when we look at average auto insurance rates by age. (Note that age is not a factor in setting auto rates in California, Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state laws.) Some reasons senior drivers pay more include:
- The CDC finds that the risk of being killed or injured in a traffic accident increases as drivers age. They found that each day 25 seniors die in car crashes and over 740 are injured.
- Age-related ailments—such as declining vision, cognitive abilities and changes in general physical fitness—plus medications and their side effects can impair driving skills, leading to more accidents.
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that fatal crashes increased notably at ages 70 to 74 and are highest in drivers 85 and older because they’re more susceptible to crash injuries.
- Severe accident injuries for older drivers result in expensive insurance claims, which lead to even higher rates.
Car Insurance Rate Increases for Seniors
We found that auto insurance rates start trending upward around age 65. Our analysis found an average rate increase of 11% a year for car insurance rates from age 60 to 70. Costs gradually increase until, at age 85, you’re at a relatively sizable cumulative increase of 47% a year compared to rates at age 60.
| Age | Average cost per year | Increase in cost compared to age 60 |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | $1,871 | N/A |
| 65 | $1,951 | 4% |
| 70 | $2,074 | 11% |
| 75 | $2,288 | 22% |
| 80 | $2,535 | 35% |
| 85 | $2,743 | 47% |
Best Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Seniors
Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance for seniors—it’s nearly $600 a year less than the national average rate for senior drivers ($2,103 per year), based on our analysis.
| Cheapest car insurance companies for seniors | Average monthly cost | Average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| $125 | $1,504 | |
| USAA* | $137 | $1,639 |
| $153 | $1,820 | |
| $162 | $1,949 | |
| $167 | $2,006 | |
| $167 | $2,007 |
Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 60
Nationwide is the cheapest car insurance company for seniors over 60, costing an average of $1,311 a year for a 65-year-old driver. That is $640 a year cheaper than the national average of $1,951.
| Cheapest car insurance companies for 65-year-olds | Average monthly cost | Average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| $109 | $1,311 | |
| USAA* | $111 | $1,327 |
| $124 | $1,486 | |
| $129 | $1,542 | |
| $142 | $1,703 |
Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 70
Nationwide is the cheapest car insurance company for seniors over age 70, among the companies in our analysis. Nationwide’s average cost for 75-year-old senior drivers is $1,485 a year, over $800 cheaper than the national average of $2,288 a year.
| Cheapest car insurance companies for 75-year-olds | Average monthly costs | Average annual costs |
|---|---|---|
| $124 | $1,485 | |
| USAA* | $132 | $1,580 |
| $148 | $1,772 | |
| $158 | $1,893 | |
| $158 | $1,896 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors Based on Driving History
Your driving record impacts how much you pay for car insurance as a senior driver. If your driving history is clear of accidents and traffic tickets, you’re considered a good driver and will see cheaper rates.
If you have an accident, speeding ticket, DUI or other infraction on your driving record, expect to pay more for the next three to five years (depending on the issue).
Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors Who Are Good Drivers
Nationwide has the cheapest full coverage auto insurance rates for seniors age 70 who are good drivers, at an average of $1,373 per year. USAA is also cheap for full coverage at $1,418 per year, but only military members, veterans and their families are eligible for policies with USAA.
USAA is the cheapest company for those buying only minimum coverage, at $413 per year for 70-year-old senior drivers. The second cheapest company for minimum coverage is Erie, coming in at an average of $427 a year.
| Company | Average annual cost of full coverage | Average annual cost of minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| $1,373 | $683 | |
| USAA* | $1,418 | $413 |
| $1,588 | $695 | |
| $1,670 | $427 | |
| $1,809 | $518 | |
| $1,809 | $604 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors With an At-Fault Accident
Erie is the cheapest company for senior drivers ages 70 with an at-fault accident with injury on their driving records. USAA, State Farm and Nationwide are also relatively cheap for 70-year-old senior drivers who have caused an accident with injury.
Having an at-fault accident with an injury on your record raises your rates by 53% on average, according to our analysis.
| Company | Average monthly cost | Average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| $185 | $2,220 | |
| USAA* | $200 | $2,396 |
| $203 | $2,430 | |
| $206 | $2,468 | |
| $212 | $2,539 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors With a Speeding Ticket
USAA offers the cheapest car insurance for 70-year-old seniors with a speeding ticket, averaging $1,829 a year. Erie has the second-cheapest price of $1,891 a year.
Seniors age 70 with a speeding ticket on their driving records will see an increase in car insurance costs of 26% on average, according to our analysis.
| Company | Average monthly cost | Average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| USAA* | $152 | $1,829 |
| $158 | $1,891 | |
| $164 | $1,964 | |
| $189 | $2,264 | |
| $190 | $2,275 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors With a DUI
Progressive has the cheapest average car insurance rate for a 70-year-old driver with a DUI on their record, averaging $2,305 per year.
A DUI is considered a serious offense by auto insurers, so senior drivers with a DUI can expect rates to shoot up. Our analysis found that car insurance rates go up 85% on average for a 70-year-old senior driver who has a DUI conviction.
| Company | Average monthly cost | Average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| $192 | $2,305 | |
| $223 | $2,679 | |
| $227 | $2,726 | |
| USAA* | $235 | $2,823 |
| $242 | $2,900 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors by State
The cost of car insurance for seniors varies by state as well as company. Issues like the number of claims in your state, vehicle repair costs and medical costs impact the price of car insurance from one state to the next.
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies by State for Drivers Ages 65 to 80
| State | Cheapest insurance company for seniors | Average annual cost for full coverage from the cheapest company |
|---|---|---|
| $1,172 | ||
| $1,262 | ||
| $1,519 | ||
| Nationwide | $1,220 | |
| $2,161 | ||
| Geico | $1,896 | |
| Geico | $1,695 | |
| Travelers | $1,443 | |
| Travelers | $2,339 | |
| Country Financial | $1,841 | |
| Geico | $886 | |
| $1,052 | ||
| Travelers | $1,357 | |
| Hastings | $1,026 | |
| Hastings | $859 | |
| Nationwide | $1,028 | |
| Travelers | $1,496 | |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $2,374 | |
| Travelers | $702 | |
| Geico | $1,442 | |
| State Farm | $682 | |
| Hastings | $1,634 | |
| Nationwide | $1,110 | |
| Nationwide | $1,123 | |
| Nationwide | $1,220 | |
| State Farm | $1,488 | |
| Auto-Owners | $1,382 | |
| Capital Insurance | $1,152 | |
| Concord | $1,065 | |
| Selective | $1,331 | |
| Nationwide | $1,618 | |
| Progressive | $1,183 | |
| Progressive | $861 | |
| Nationwide | $907 | |
| Nationwide | $697 | |
| Progressive | $1,689 | |
| Nationwide | $1,299 | |
| Nationwide | $1,232 | |
| State Farm | $1,689 | |
| Progressive | $1,529 | |
| Nationwide | $1,406 | |
| Tennessee Farmers | $1,215 | |
| Texas Farm Bureau | $911 | |
| Nationwide | $1,023 | |
| Progressive | $899 | |
| Travelers | $1,144 | |
| Geico | $1,153 | |
| $1,866 | ||
| Rural Mutual Insurance | $938 | |
| State Farm | $1,473 |
Tips for Finding the Best Car Insurance for Seniors
Penny Gusner
Insurance Senior Writer
Amy Danise
Insurance Managing Editor
Ashlee Valentine
Insurance Editor
Michelle Megna
Insurance Lead Editor
Les Masterson
Insurance Editor
Comparison Shop With Multiple Companies
Shopping around with multiple insurers is key if you’re looking for the lowest rates for seniors. You can switch car insurance companies any time. I recommend getting quotes from at least three companies.
Insurance Senior Writer
Ask for Discounts
I say don’t be bashful about contacting your insurance agent or insurer to make sure you’re getting all of the car insurance discounts you’re eligible for. Many discounts are automatically applied, but others may be available that you could get for changing something, like going paperless or paying in full.
Insurance Managing Editor
Take a Defensive Driving Course
Many auto insurers offer mature drivers a discount for taking an approved defensive driving class. Some states mandate insurers provide this discount to persuade drivers ages 55 and up to sharpen their skills. I recommend talking to your insurer to see if it offers such a discount.
Insurance Editor
Drive Less and Save
If you’re retired, work less or just drive less overall, inform your auto insurance company. As my parents started to drive less, I reminded them to tell their insurance agent and see if they qualified for a low-mileage discount.
Insurance Lead Editor
Maintain a Good Driving Record
Keeping your driving record clear of traffic violations is a good way to offset rate increases due to age. If you have a ticket, I recommend comparing car insurance quotes when the ticket falls off your driving record to see what company is offering the lowest prices then.
Insurance Editor
Car Insurance Discounts for Seniors
Car insurance discounts can help lower the overall price of a senior auto policy. Discounts that may be especially helpful include:
Are There Government-Mandated Auto Insurance Discounts for Seniors?
There is no blanket federal government requirement for auto insurance discounts for senior drivers. However, a discount for seniors age 55 and older who successfully complete an approved driving course is mandated by many states, such as California, Florida and Tennessee. The discount amount may be left up to auto insurers and tends to range between 5% to 15%.
The hope is that seniors taking the course will renew their skills and be less likely to be involved in accidents. To take advantage of this mature driver discount, you should:
- Ask your insurer about the discount. Contact your car insurance company to see if a discount is available. Also, find out if the course can be online or must be in-person.
- Find an approved driving course. Many organizations offer defensive driving or accident prevention classes, such as AAA, AARP and the National Safety Council. Your auto insurer can likely give you a list of approved courses.
- Enroll and complete the course. A certain amount of time may be required for the course to be successfully completed. For instance, California requires at least 400 minutes of instruction and Tennessee requires at least eight hours.
- Provide proof to your auto insurer. You’re responsible for showing proof of completing the course to your car insurance company and requesting the discount.
Methodology
To identify the best car insurance companies for seniors we evaluated each company based on its average rates for senior drivers, coverage options, collision repair grades from auto body professionals and our surveys of customer service, pricing and claims satisfaction.
Auto insurance rates (60% of score): We analyzed average rates from each company for average rates for good drivers ages 65 to 80 and a 70-year-old driver who has caused an accident, received a speeding ticket, had a DUI conviction, had poor credit and was caught without insurance.
Unless otherwise noted, rates are based on a Toyota RAV4 and coverage of:
- $100,000 for injuries to one person, $300,000 for injuries per accident and $100,000 of property damage (known as 100/300/100).
- Uninsured motorist coverage of 100/300.
- Collision and comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible.
State minimum coverage rates reflect the minimum amount of auto insurance required in each state.
Source: Quadrant Information Services.
Car insurance coverage options (15% of score): Any auto insurance company can provide the basics of liability insurance, collision and comprehensive coverage and other standard offerings. But it’s also important to have access to additional coverage types that can provide greater protection or cost savings. In this category, we gave points to companies that offer:
- Accident forgiveness
- New car replacement
- Vanishing deductibles
Collision repair (5% of score): We incorporated insurance company grades from collision repair professionals. We used data provided by CRASH Network, a weekly newsletter covering the collision repair and auto insurance market segments.
Source: CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card provides grades from more than 1,100 collision repair professionals to gauge auto insurers on the quality of their collision claims service.
Auto Insurance Collision Repair Grades
| Company | CRASH Network collision repair grades |
|---|---|
| A- | |
| C | |
| C | |
| C | |
| D+ |
Satisfaction with customer service and price; satisfaction with claims process (20% of score): For customer satisfaction, we surveyed 3,000 American drivers with car insurance who purchased a new policy or renewed their policy within the last 12 months, 200 per company. This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11-29, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.5 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
For satisfaction with the claims process, we surveyed 3,000 American drivers who had filed a car insurance claim within the past 12 months. This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11 to November 12, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.8 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
Other Car Insurance Companies We Rated
Here are other car insurance companies we analyzed as part of our best car insurance for seniors research but did not make our list of top picks.
| Company | Forbes Advisor rating |
|---|---|
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Best Car Insurance Companies 2025
With so many choices for car insurance companies, it can be hard to know where to start to find the right car insurance. We've evaluated insurers to find the best car insurance companies, so you don't have to.
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Via Forbes Advisor's Partner
Best Car Insurance for Seniors Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does auto insurance go down when you retire?
No, car insurance is not guaranteed to go down when you retire. Car insurance costs tend to increase around age 65 and continue to rise as you age. That is because car insurance companies find senior drivers are more likely to be in accidents and make claims.
See about lowering your car insurance costs after you retire by comparing car insurance quotes and asking for extra discounts. Ask about a defensive driving course discount and low-mileage discount. Or, try out a pay-per-mile insurance program to see if that helps lower your car insurance costs.
Does car insurance increase at age 70?
Yes, car insurance costs continue to increase at and after age 70 because insurers are concerned about the rising accident risk of senior drivers.
Our analysis of rates for senior drivers finds that typically, costs begin to rise around age 65 and steadily increase afterward. Rates at age 70 are 11% higher compared to age 60. The cost of auto insurance goes up an average of 35% from age 60 to 80. To combat rate increases, comparison shop to find out which companies offer the cheapest auto insurance rates.
How do I get a defensive driving discount as a senior driver?
You can get a defensive driving car insurance discount as a senior driver by completing an approved course. Check that your insurer offers the discount and you qualify for it. The age eligibility can vary, with some insurers requiring you to be 55 or older and others starting at 50.
If the discount is not state-mandated, it’s up to the discretion of your insurance company. It may have qualifications for the discount beyond age, such as having a driving record free of violations or accidents. Speaking to an agent before taking the class is essential to determine eligibility and the discount amount, which typically varies from 5% to 15%.
