The Best Car Insurance for Seniors in 2024

Nationwide, Travelers, and AARP offer some of the best options for affordable senior car insurance with special benefits for mature drivers.
Written by Amy Bobinger
Edited by Kathleen Flear
Seniors often pay some of the lowest
car insurance
rates up to age 75—but in your mid-70s, you can expect to see your car insurance quotes go up as the risk of driving increases. 
Comparison shopping, safe driving discounts, and low-mileage, usage-based car insurance programs are some of the best ways to save on senior car insurance.

Top 5 auto insurance companies for seniors 

Although the right provider for you will depend on several different factors, here’s our list of the
best auto insurance companies
for seniors. 
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Honorable Mention
USAA offers affordable senior car insurance for active-duty military members, veterans, and their families.

How to shop for car insurance for seniors

As you get older, you may face added risks behind the wheel: decreased mobility, difficulty hearing or seeing, and slower reaction times. These factors can lead to higher car insurance costs.
Look for a company that will help you save on your insurance premium. The easiest way to do this is to shop around with at least 3 providers. If you’re shopping for coverage with
Jerry
, you can provide a bit of personal and vehicle information and see customized rates from among 55 trusted insurers.
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Prefer to speak to a live agent?
Jerry’s team of 100+ licensed insurance agents is available by phone, text, chat, and email to answer your coverage questions, help you make changes to your policy, or find you the best rate.

Essential car insurance coverage for senior drivers

A basic car insurance policy for senior drivers should include bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance, along with any other
state minimum coverage requirements
. Financed and leased vehicles must be protected by a
full-coverage car insurance policy
Seniors have unique driving challenges that make a few other additional coverage options worth it: 
  • PIP or MedPay: Drivers over 70 are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a car crash than any other age group.
    Personal injury protection (PIP)
    and
    medical payments (MedPay)
    include death benefits and robust medical coverage that can supplement health insurance after a serious accident. 
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: A crash with an uninsured driver can leave you with steep medical expenses that health insurance may not cover.
    Uninsured motorist coverage
    is an important add-on for most seniors. 
  • Roadside assistance: Being stranded after a mechanical breakdown is bad for any driver, but it can pose extra challenges for seniors. Reliable and robust towing and labor coverage is a smart investment for mature drivers. 
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Explore different coverage types in an instant with the Jerry app.
You can easily adjust your coverage levels and deductibles in the Jerry app and see how it changes your premium.

Average cost of car insurance for seniors

Your auto insurance rates will likely be the lowest between 50 and 70 years old. Once you hit 75, you’ll start to see increases—and drivers over 85 pay the highest rates. Here’s why.
Older drivers are less likely to survive a crash
While the overall rate of crashes for drivers over 55 is going down, older drivers are still more likely to sustain serious and even fatal injuries as a result of a collision.
Older drivers are more likely to drive unsafe vehicles
Recent studies
have shown that drivers 70 and over are more likely than young and middle-aged drivers to drive older vehicles lacking essential safety features like electronic stability control and side airbags. 
Here’s a breakdown of the average rates for senior drivers by age. If you’re paying more than the average rate for your age, it’s a good time to
compare car insurance quotes
.
AgeAverage monthly premiumAverage annual premium
55$145$1,741
56$146$1,747
57$140$1,684
58$143$1,713
59$136$1,629
60$137$1,649
61$133$1,597
62$136$1,633
63$132$1,587
64$136$1,633
65$136$1,632
66$134$1,610
67$135$1,625
68$145$1,734
69$133$1,591
70$133$1,594
71$146$1,755
72$130$1,556
73$145$1,745
74$146$1,749
75$150$1,800
76$137$1,642
77$160$1,916
78$136$1,635
79$140$1,678
80$130$1,557
81$153$1,833
82$136$1,634
83$139$1,668
84$125$1,506
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The best ways to save on seniors’ car insurance

Shopping around for coverage is the best way to make sure you’re not overpaying for car insurance—but it’s not the only way to save money.
  • Reduce your mileage: Senior drivers are logging more miles than in the past, but seniors who drive less than 13,000 miles a year can save significantly by enrolling in a
    low-mileage policy
    or usage-based insurance program like Nationwide’s SmartMiles or Allstate’s Milewise. 
  • Track your driving habits: Senior drivers are more likely to make simple driving errors, like failing to look both ways or failure to yield right-of-way. Using a telematics program to track your driving could help you practice safe driving habits and save you 10% or more on your car insurance premiums. 
  • Ask about driver discounts: A clean driving record, vehicle safety upgrades, and accident-free driving history can all earn senior citizens
    car insurance discounts
    .
  • Bundle home and auto insurance:
    Combining your homeowner's insurance with your car insurance policy can save you an average of 15% on your total insurance cost. When you shop with Jerry, you can comparison shop for the best bundled prices without any complicated forms.
  • Revisit your vehicle choice: Consider investing in a newer vehicle with up-to-date safety features, such as the
    Subaru Forester
    or
    Mazda CX-5
    . Both SUVs have a significantly lower rate of personal injury, medical payments, and bodily injury insurance claims than the average vehicle.
  • Take a defensive driving course: In 34 states, policyholders over 50 who take an approved defensive driving course are guaranteed a senior discount by law. Even if you don’t live in one of those states, your insurance company might offer a defensive driving discount.
  • For seniors with older vehicles:
    CarFit
    is an educational program that helps seniors identify vehicle safety issues and ensure that their car is properly adjusted to their needs. 
  • For seniors facing difficulty driving: The
    American Occupational Therapy Association
    works with providers who offer clinical driving assessments to identify driving challenges and work on solutions. 
  • For seniors buying a new car: AAA’s
    guide to advanced driver assistance technology
    helps seniors understand what safety features to prioritize in their vehicle. 
  • For mature drivers who want to keep driving: AAA’s
    self-rating tool
    for drivers 65 and over can help drivers evaluate and improve their safe driving skills. 
  • For seniors with disabilities: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a
    guide to adapted vehicles
    for drivers with disabilities. 

FAQs

What is the cheapest car insurance for senior citizens?

Nationwide, GEICO, and State Farm tend to offer the
cheapest car insurance
for drivers over age 55, on average.  

Does car insurance go down after 65?

Sometimes. Most drivers see their lowest car insurance rates from ages 55 to 70, but rates typically increase around age 75. 

What is AARP car insurance called?

The AARP® Auto Insurance Program is underwritten by The Hartford, a top-rated car insurance company based in the Northeast.  

What is the best car insurance for older cars?

Generally speaking, if you have a vehicle that’s more than 10 years old, it makes financial sense to consider carrying liability-only protection. That said, what insurance is best for you depends on more than just your car’s age, so be sure to speak with a licensed insurance professional before making any big decisions.

What usually happens when car insurance expires? 

When your car insurance policy expires, you will be in a coverage lapse unless you renew before the expiration date. Many car insurance companies allow policyholders to set up auto-renewal, so you never have to worry about an accidental coverage lapse. 

Methodology

Our insurance experts analyzed thousands of real car insurance quotes from Jerry users aged 55 and older to determine the average cost of coverage. To find the best car insurance companies for senior drivers, we looked at data from real customer reviews, J.D. Power ratings, and NAIC complaint index scores. 

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