The best car insurance for seniors in 2024

Best car insurance company for seniors: State Farm

Finding the best auto insurance company depends on what's most important to you. For some, finding the company with the cheapest full coverage insurance rates for seniors is the most important factor, while for others, a company’s stellar reputation for customer service is more important than getting the lowest price.

To determine the best auto insurance company for seniors, we looked at a number of factors, including annual rates for seniors, how well the company scored in the latest customer satisfaction survey by J.D. Power, the number of complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and its financial stability as assessed by credit rating agency AM Best. Each category was given a weighted score with premiums having the highest weighting.

State Farm came out on top of the list as the best full coverage auto insurance company for seniors. While its rates for seniors were in the middle of the pack, it had the second-highest score in the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey and the lowest number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC.

Here’s how each of the top eight national insurance companies fared, based on average rates for a male and female driver aged 65-75 for a full coverage 100/300/100 insurance policy with $500 collision comprehensive deductibles.

Cheapest car insurance rates for seniors

Some drivers are willing to make a few sacrifices in order to get the best deal on car insurance rates. Perhaps, you’re less interested in a company’s great reputation for customer service because it’s more important to find a company within your budget. 

If price is your biggest concern, Nationwide offers the best insurance rates for seniors, with an average insurance premium of $1,456 for a 65- to 75-year-old male or female driver. It’s followed by Travelers. USAA provides cheaper rates for military members and their families.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Allstate, which had the highest premiums for seniors in our survey at $2,477 per year.

The average insurance rate for a senior aged 65-75 among the top eight national providers was $1,855. Here’s how each compared on car insurance rates for seniors.

*USAA only offers coverage to military members and their families. 

Government-mandated auto insurance discount for seniors

While older drivers will eventually see their car insurance rates increase, many states mandate that drivers over 50 be given discounts for good driving or for taking approved driving courses.

For example, if you have an AARP membership, you can enroll in the AARP Smart Driver Course. This online or in-person defensive driving class helps you refresh your driving skills and could help you get a discount on your car insurance. AARP's Smart Driver Course is available in all 50 states and Washington D.C., but you should check with your insurance carrier to see if they will honor the discount.

In addition to AARP's program, senior drivers can also take state-approved defensive driving courses through AAA and The National Safety Council (NSC). Depending on your insurance company and the course you take, you could be eligible for a discount of 5% to 15% on your car insurance.

Currently, about 34 states and Washington D.C. have such programs. Eligibility requirements and discounts vary from state to state. 

In most cases, senior drivers will be required to take a mature driver safety course. These courses are designed to refresh driving skills, update knowledge of traffic laws, and promote safe driving practices.

Don’t expect your insurer to simply offer up the discount – you may need to ask. Follow these simple steps:

1. Ask your insurer if a government-mandated seniors discount is available in your state.
2. Find out what the eligibility requirements are and find an approved course. AAA, the National Safety Council and AARP are among the organizations that provide mature driver courses.
3. Check whether you will need to complete the course in person or online. 
4. Take the class and submit your proof of completion to your insurance company.

If your state doesn’t offer such a program, you might still qualify for other discounts offered to senior drivers, such as a low mileage discount, time of day driving discount or a good driver discount.

Best car insurance companies for seniors

For some people, best means cheapest. The cheapest auto insurance for seniors depends on the driver, vehicle and location. However, to get an idea of what you'll pay, we provide average rates for full coverage with a $500 deductible. The data is based on rates from up to six major insurers in nearly every ZIP code.

Progressive has the cheapest car insurance for a 65-year-old in California, while Geico is the cheapest company for that same driver in Florida. Find your best option below. The table shows average rates for drivers aged 60, 65, 70 and 75 in all states for a driver with a clean record and good credit.

Below, we’ve got the best auto insurance companies for seniors, no matter what’s on your record, including:

• Best for speeding tickets
• Best for bad credit
• Best for accidents
• Best for a DUI

Best for seniors with speeding tickets: Allstate and State Farm

If you have a speeding ticket on your record, Allstate and State Farm will penalize you the least.

A driver with a speeding ticket on their record may see a rate increase of about 19% at Allstate and State Farm, while the company with the biggest penalty is Geico at 64%. 

Below are the best car insurance companies for senior citizens with speeding tickets.

*USAA only offers coverage to military members and their families. 

Best for seniors with bad credit: Nationwide

If you're a senior with less than stellar credit, Nationwide is your best bet. Our data shows that Nationwide penalizes drivers with bad credit the least among the top national insurers, followed by Allstate and Geico.

Nationwide premium increases were an average of 35% for seniors with bad credit compared to an increase of 160% at State Farm, which penalized drivers the most.

Below are the best car insurance companies for seniors with bad credit.

*USAA only offers coverage to military members and their families. 

Best for senior drivers with accidents: State Farm

State Farm was among the best when we looked at rates for seniors after an accident. An accident on your record can result in a dramatic premium increase, but our analysis found that State Farm will only increase rates by about 26%.

Other companies that senior drivers with an accident on their record should look at are Travelers and Nationwide, however, their increases are double State Farm’s.

Regardless of the insurer you use, ensure you get all the discounts you qualify for. Ask your agent to conduct a discount review to ensure all discounts are applied to your policy.

Here are the best car insurance companies for older drivers with an accident.

*USAA only offers coverage to military members and their families. 

Best for senior drivers with a DUI: Farmers

A DUI will result in a dramatic premium increase regardless of your age, but Farmers had the lowest increase for seniors of the insurers we surveyed. The company bumped rates up 39% after a DUI. Progressive increased rates by 49% and State Farm hiked premiums by 71%.

Geico hits senior drivers with a DUI with the biggest increase of 167%.

Below are the companies with the best car insurance for seniors with a DUI.

*USAA only offers coverage to military members and their families. 

Car insurance rates for seniors

Auto insurance rates for seniors increase over time because insurers see older drivers as riskier to insure. Statistics show that seniors are more accident-prone than younger drivers. This is caused by age-related changes in hearing or vision, slower reflexes and changes in overall health. Car insurance rates for seniors start to rise at 65 but really jump after 80.

In addition, older drivers suffer graver injuries and more fatalities in car accidents than younger people. This means larger claim payments and, as a result, increased car insurance rates.

How much your premiums will increase will depend on your insurance company.

While Insurance.com data shows that older drivers do pay more than middle-aged drivers as a group, they don’t pay nearly as much as teens. Explore our car insurance calculator to see what rates apply to you.

Senior auto insurance rates by age group

Drivers in their 50s will see some of the lowest premium rates offered to any driver at any age. Unfortunately, the trend begins to reverse by the time you hit 65.

At that age, experience and industry data shows that drivers are more susceptible to getting involved in accidents and as a result, insurers charge more.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for seniors’ insurance in the various age groups for a full coverage 100/300/100 policy with a $500 collision/comprehensive deductible.

Car insurance discounts for seniors

There are plenty of discounts available to older drivers, and you should pursue all that apply to you. Below are eight specific actions you can take to reduce your premium costs:

1. Drive less. You can save with a low mileage discount.
2. Consider usage-based insurance. Usage-based or pay-as-you-drive insurance programs can save you up to 40%.
3. Take a defensive driving class. Mature driver courses offered by AARP and others, as discussed earlier, can reduce your premiums by 5% to 15%
4. Drop a driver. If someone in your household no longer drives, you can remove them from the policy.
5. Upgrade your car. The latest vehicle safety features may get you lower rates and also keep you safer on the road.
6. Keep a clean record. Good driver discounts can be up to 40%.
7. Join a club. Membership in organizations such as AARP can get you a discount.
8. Dial back coverage. If you have an older car, you can consider dropping full coverage.
9. Bundle it up. Auto and home insurance bundles can save you a lot of money.
10. Stop driving. If your insurance rates are sky-high because of your driving record, it might be time to quit. 

For more information, review our tips on being a safe driver. Drivers of any age can raise deductibles, bundle with home or renter's insurance or reduce coverage in order to save on premiums.

Safety tips for older drivers

Here are the most important tips from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to be safe on the road. 

• Maintain your health. Have your hearing, vision and general health evaluated regularly, and keep any prescription equipment such as glasses and hearing aids up-to-date. If you don't see well after dark, avoid driving at night.
• Stay physically active. Physical activity may foster quick reaction times.
• Change your vehicle. A car with the latest safety features can keep you safer on the road.
• Review medications. Understand how your medications may affect your driving ability. Avoid driving after taking any drugs with warnings about operating machinery.
• Create a healthy buffer zone. Follow at a greater distance and avoid busy parts of town and busy times of day.
• Sharpen skills. Defensive driver classes and behind-the-wheel refresher courses can sharpen your skills and lead to lower insurance rates.
• Maintain your vehicle. Regular inspections and tune-ups reduce the chance of roadside breakdowns.

State laws specific to senior drivers

Some state motor vehicle departments treat you differently once you meet their definition of "older driver." You may no longer be allowed to renew your license by phone or online. Your renewal period may be shortened, and you may be required to pass extra screenings.

Below is information from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) about the differences by state.

If you realize that you may not be the driver you once were, talk to your physician. You may come up with a plan to address your limitations and decide that it is time to give up driving or get a license with limits. Some states offer a restricted license. For example, some licenses prohibit driving at night if that is an area of concern for you. 

It may also be time to look at alternative modes of transportation, such as community-offered senior rides, Lyft or Uber. If you sell your vehicle, you could easily offset other transportation costs from the savings you receive from no longer owning and maintaining a vehicle.

– Mel Duvall contributed to this story.

Methodology

In 2023, Insurance.com collected rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 60, 70, and 75-year-old male and female driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violation on record for a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductible. We analyzed 53,409,632 records, 34,588 ZIP codes and 170 insurance companies nationwide.