Cheapest car insurance for seniors |Insurance.com

What is the cheapest car insurance for senior citizens?

Erie has the lowest rates, with annual premiums averaging $1,972, among major carriers. Travelers is the cheapest national company at $2,076. USAA, only available to military drivers and their families, is the only company other than Erie that comes in under $2,000 a year, and the cheapest of all carriers.

Compare car insurance rates by company below.

Cheapest car insurance companies for seniors

Select your age and state below to see the average annual and monthly rates.

Currently showing results for age 60 in California

Company name	Avg. annual premium	Avg. monthly premium

Cheapest car insurance for seniors with tickets or accidents

Erie Insurance is the cheapest car insurance company for senior drivers with a ticket on their record at $2,081 a year; again, Travelers ($3,030) is the cheapest national carrierAn insurance carrier is the company that provides your car insurance policy and pays claims.. The same two are the cheapest for drivers with an accident: Erie at $2,431 and Travelers at $3,148. USAA is the cheapest if you’re eligible.

Compare rates by company for a clean driving record to rates for one speeding ticket and one accident below.

Company	Annual average clean record	Annual average speeding ticket	Annual average accident
Allstate	$3,154	$3,740	$4,997
American Family	$2,012	$2,555	$2,835
Amica	$2,877	$5,114	$4,135
Auto-Owners	$2,058	$2,617	$2,638
Erie Insurance	$1,972	$2,081	$2,431
Farmers	$2,978	$4,014	$4,731
GEICO	$2,196	$3,466	$3,737
Nationwide	$2,299	$3,385	$3,698
Progressive	$2,408	$3,100	$3,720
State Farm	$2,719	$3,063	$3,174
Travelers	$2,076	$3,030	$3,148
USAA	$1,585	$1,780	$2,392

Read our methodology

*USAA is only available to military members and their families

How much is car insurance for seniors? Average rates by age

Car insurance rates for seniors start to rise at age 65. The average cost of a full coverage policy is:

Age 65: $2,274
Age 70: $2,140
Age 75: $2,620

Below are the average costs for three different age groups and three types of insurance coverage. We include the cost of a bare-bones state minimum policy, a liability-only policy with higher limits of $50,000 for bodily injury coverage per person, $100,000 per incident and $50,000 in property damage coverage, written as 50/100/50. We also included a policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 plus collision and comprehensive, with a $500 deductible.

Expert tip: You need collision and comprehensive coverage if you have a financed or leased car or a newer car you can't afford to replace.

Age	State minimum	50/100/50, liability only	100/300/100, $500 deductibles
65	$597	$775	$2,274
70	$647	$831	$2,410
75	$719	$917	$2,620

Read our methodology

While car insurance for seniors isn’t nearly as expensive as for other groups, notably teens, it’s higher than for people in their 50s, who have the safest record on the road."Seniors have experience driving, so it is not comparable to teens," says Janet Ruiz, director of strategic communications at the Insurance Information Institute. "Many companies do have safe driving courses for seniors to alert them to the specific things they may encounter as they age. Some give a discount if you take the safe driving course, which is usually offered online."

PEOPLE ASK

What is the best and cheapest car insurance for seniors?

The most affordable company for seniors is Erie Insurance, or Travelers for national carriers. Additionally, Travelers also ranks as the best car insurance company for seniors overall.

Car insurance for seniors by state

Car insurance rates for seniors vary by state. Compare the average rates in your state below.

Age	State	Average monthly rates	Average 6-month rates	Average annual rates
65	Alaska	$172	$1,031	$2,061
65	Alabama	$157	$939	$1,878
65	Arkansas	$197	$1,185	$2,369
65	Arizona	$185	$1,110	$2,219
65	California	$237	$1,420	$2,840
65	Colorado	$245	$1,467	$2,935
65	Connecticut	$208	$1,249	$2,498
65	Washington, D.C.	$265	$1,593	$3,186
65	Delaware	$227	$1,360	$2,720
65	Florida	$292	$1,753	$3,506
65	Georgia	$218	$1,310	$2,620
65	Hawaii	$143	$860	$1,721
65	Iowa	$159	$951	$1,902
65	Idaho	$135	$812	$1,623
65	Illinois	$139	$835	$1,669
65	Indiana	$135	$811	$1,623
65	Kansas	$177	$1,063	$2,127
65	Kentucky	$225	$1,347	$2,694
65	Louisiana	$322	$1,934	$3,867
65	Massachusetts	$166	$995	$1,990
65	Maryland	$177	$1,063	$2,126
65	Maine	$132	$794	$1,589
65	Michigan	$229	$1,372	$2,743
65	Minnesota	$184	$1,104	$2,207
65	Missouri	$175	$1,050	$2,101
65	Mississippi	$180	$1,083	$2,165
65	Montana	$189	$1,135	$2,270
65	North Carolina	$213	$1,276	$2,552
65	North Dakota	$148	$890	$1,781
65	Nebraska	$180	$1,078	$2,155
65	New Hampshire	$128	$767	$1,534
65	New Jersey	$223	$1,337	$2,673
65	New Mexico	$191	$1,145	$2,291
65	Nevada	$263	$1,580	$3,159
65	New York	$219	$1,316	$2,632
65	Ohio	$129	$774	$1,548
65	Oklahoma	$199	$1,193	$2,387
65	Oregon	$144	$864	$1,729
65	Pennsylvania	$177	$1,060	$2,121
65	Rhode Island	$229	$1,377	$2,754
65	South Carolina	$181	$1,084	$2,167
65	South Dakota	$190	$1,141	$2,281
65	Tennessee	$161	$964	$1,927
65	Texas	$195	$1,172	$2,344
65	Utah	$176	$1,054	$2,109
65	Virginia	$143	$859	$1,719
65	Vermont	$114	$684	$1,369
65	Washington	$172	$1,035	$2,070
65	Wisconsin	$150	$902	$1,804
65	West Virginia	$188	$1,127	$2,253
65	Wyoming	$160	$960	$1,920
70	Alaska	$183	$1,097	$2,195
70	Alabama	$168	$1,005	$2,010
70	Arkansas	$207	$1,242	$2,483
70	Arizona	$193	$1,161	$2,321
70	California	$252	$1,511	$3,022
70	Colorado	$260	$1,559	$3,117
70	Connecticut	$231	$1,387	$2,775
70	Washington, D.C.	$278	$1,668	$3,336
70	Delaware	$237	$1,421	$2,842
70	Florida	$313	$1,876	$3,751
70	Georgia	$232	$1,390	$2,781
70	Hawaii	$143	$860	$1,721
70	Iowa	$165	$989	$1,978
70	Idaho	$141	$847	$1,693
70	Illinois	$148	$886	$1,773
70	Indiana	$145	$868	$1,736
70	Kansas	$186	$1,118	$2,236
70	Kentucky	$232	$1,391	$2,782
70	Louisiana	$322	$1,931	$3,861
70	Massachusetts	$175	$1,049	$2,098
70	Maryland	$177	$1,063	$2,126
70	Maine	$136	$816	$1,631
70	Michigan	$250	$1,500	$3,001
70	Minnesota	$189	$1,135	$2,270
70	Missouri	$185	$1,109	$2,219
70	Mississippi	$190	$1,140	$2,280
70	Montana	$197	$1,181	$2,363
70	North Carolina	$226	$1,359	$2,717
70	North Dakota	$152	$915	$1,830
70	Nebraska	$191	$1,145	$2,289
70	New Hampshire	$140	$842	$1,684
70	New Jersey	$234	$1,402	$2,804
70	New Mexico	$199	$1,192	$2,383
70	Nevada	$280	$1,680	$3,361
70	New York	$234	$1,405	$2,811
70	Ohio	$139	$833	$1,665
70	Oklahoma	$210	$1,261	$2,522
70	Oregon	$155	$929	$1,858
70	Pennsylvania	$194	$1,167	$2,334
70	Rhode Island	$233	$1,397	$2,794
70	South Carolina	$189	$1,136	$2,272
70	South Dakota	$192	$1,150	$2,301
70	Tennessee	$172	$1,032	$2,063
70	Texas	$208	$1,247	$2,494
70	Utah	$187	$1,123	$2,245
70	Virginia	$151	$908	$1,816
70	Vermont	$121	$726	$1,451
70	Washington	$181	$1,087	$2,175
70	Wisconsin	$162	$972	$1,944
70	West Virginia	$201	$1,206	$2,413
70	Wyoming	$164	$986	$1,973
75	Alaska	$204	$1,223	$2,445
75	Alabama	$184	$1,106	$2,212
75	Arkansas	$224	$1,345	$2,690
75	Arizona	$216	$1,294	$2,589
75	California	$266	$1,595	$3,190
75	Colorado	$283	$1,696	$3,391
75	Connecticut	$258	$1,551	$3,101
75	Washington, D.C.	$314	$1,885	$3,770
75	Delaware	$272	$1,632	$3,264
75	Florida	$348	$2,090	$4,181
75	Georgia	$256	$1,534	$3,069
75	Hawaii	$143	$860	$1,721
75	Iowa	$177	$1,060	$2,119
75	Idaho	$161	$968	$1,937
75	Illinois	$164	$985	$1,969
75	Indiana	$161	$965	$1,931
75	Kansas	$204	$1,222	$2,445
75	Kentucky	$255	$1,529	$3,059
75	Louisiana	$322	$1,929	$3,859
75	Massachusetts	$185	$1,110	$2,221
75	Maryland	$179	$1,073	$2,146
75	Maine	$136	$814	$1,628
75	Michigan	$274	$1,644	$3,288
75	Minnesota	$206	$1,238	$2,476
75	Missouri	$201	$1,205	$2,409
75	Mississippi	$219	$1,317	$2,634
75	Montana	$224	$1,345	$2,689
75	North Carolina	$231	$1,385	$2,771
75	North Dakota	$167	$1,004	$2,008
75	Nebraska	$203	$1,221	$2,442
75	New Hampshire	$155	$928	$1,857
75	New Jersey	$251	$1,506	$3,011
75	New Mexico	$215	$1,292	$2,584
75	Nevada	$314	$1,884	$3,767
75	New York	$251	$1,507	$3,014
75	Ohio	$156	$938	$1,876
75	Oklahoma	$226	$1,357	$2,714
75	Oregon	$171	$1,026	$2,053
75	Pennsylvania	$219	$1,311	$2,623
75	Rhode Island	$245	$1,468	$2,936
75	South Carolina	$211	$1,265	$2,531
75	South Dakota	$208	$1,251	$2,502
75	Tennessee	$192	$1,150	$2,301
75	Texas	$222	$1,334	$2,669
75	Utah	$217	$1,300	$2,600
75	Virginia	$173	$1,037	$2,073
75	Vermont	$139	$833	$1,665
75	Washington	$200	$1,201	$2,401
75	Wisconsin	$177	$1,064	$2,128
75	West Virginia	$222	$1,331	$2,663
75	Wyoming	$198	$1,185	$2,371

Read our methodology

Car insurance discounts for seniors

Allstate offers the largest discount percentage for seniors at 16%, but even with the discount, it’s not the most affordable company; a 65-year-old driver will pay $467 a month with Allstate after the discount. GEICO has the lowest rate for a 65-year-old driver with the senior discount at $185 a month; USAA is the cheapest if you qualify.

Most states have laws that require insurance companies to offer senior drivers a discount if they complete a defensive driving course to sharpen their skills. Ask about this discount and compare rates from top companies below.

Company	Average annual premium, 65-year-old	Annual premium after discount	Dollar Savings	Percentage Savings
Allstate	$3,002	$2,536	$467	16%
Farmers	$2,754	$2,402	$351	13%
GEICO	$2,009	$1,824	$185	9%
Nationwide	$2,182	$1,973	$209	10%
Progressive	$2,219	$1,981	$238	11%
State Farm	$2,587	$2,321	$265	10%
Travelers	$1,925	$1,675	$250	13%
USAA	$1,462	$1,361	$101	7%

Read our methodology

How to find cheap insurance rates if you’re a senior citizen

Daniel Ferrara, owner of Ferrara Insurance Group, has several suggestions for getting the best rates as a senior driver:

Bundle your auto and home insurance with the same carrier for a multi-policy discount.
Take a defensive driving course. Even if you have a clean driving record, you’ll likely get about 10% off your rates.
Raise your deductibles on the collision and comprehensive portions of your coverage.
Ask about senior citizen discounts or a low mileage discount. Even though rates tend to increase as you get older, some carriers offer a senior citizen discount.
Consider usage-based insurance for a discount. After monitoring your driving habits for some time, you'll earn a discount of as much as 30%.
Buy a newer car. "Newer cars have many benefits for seniors with automated driving assistance features, backup cameras, etc. IIHS Safety ratings are often considered by insurance companies when putting together the cost of the auto policy,” the Insurance Information Institute’s Ruiz says.
Ask about low-mileage discounts or consider pay-per-mile insurance. Perhaps you have retired, and you're driving a lot less. "Driving fewer miles means you have less road time, resulting in a lower risk of getting into an accident," Ruiz says. "Most insurers ask for yearly mileage to give a lower rate to drivers who are on the road less."

Why do auto insurance rates for seniors go up?

Car insurance companies base rates on the level of risk a driver poses to them. If statistics show you are in a group more likely to file a claim, you'll pay more for auto insurance. Mature drivers have experience but also start to see a decline in vision, response time and other things that affect driving skills.

Statistically, the risk of an accident and the severity of the injuries in that accident go up after age 65. As a result, insurers charge higher rates.

Expert Advice

Daniel Ferrara

Emeritus Sales Rep for Liberty Mutual, based out of Katonah, N.Y.

“Car insurance rates tend to rise as drivers get older because insurance carrier statistics prove that older drivers get into more accidents as their reflexes get slower. Drivers' reactions’ time slow as they age,” Ferrara says. “What age do rates go up? That varies from carrier to carrier but generally, it is around age 64.”

Methodology

We partner with Quadrant Information Services to field average car insurance rates across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates were fielded for drivers aged 65, 70 and 75 years.

Averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on: