Drivers aged 75 and older see higher car insurance rates than middle-aged drivers, but many senior drivers have found affordable car insurance with companies like Nationwide, Travelers, GEICO, and AARP.
The top five best car insurance companies for seniors
Here’s our list of the best auto insurance companies for seniors. While you should still shop around for quotes before settling for the provider with the best rates or customer satisfaction rating, these insurance options are a great place to start.
Average monthly rate: $129
Pro: Seniors who drive less than 13,000 miles per year can save an average of $450 to $540 with the SmartMiles® pay-per-mile insurance program.
Con: Nationwide isn’t available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, or Massachusetts.
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| Rating | Score |
|---|---|
| Jerry rating | 96/100 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating | 861/1000 |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating | 868/1000 |
| NAIC complaint index | 1.23 (above average) |
Average monthly rate: $257
Pro: GEICO’s unique Prime Time contract offers guaranteed policy renewal for drivers with clean records over 50.
Con: The Prime Time offer is only available in 30 states, and drivers with at-fault accidents may see their rates increase significantly.
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| Rating | Score |
|---|---|
| Jerry rating | 96/100 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating | 861/1000 |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating | 868/1000 |
| NAIC complaint index | 1.23 (above average) |
Average monthly rate: $121
Pro: You can only purchase a State Farm policy through a local agent, which makes it ideal for tech-averse seniors.
Con: State Farm is missing some key benefits like accident forgiveness and diminishing deductibles.
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| Rating | Score |
|---|---|
| Jerry rating | 81/100 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating | 877/1000 |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating | 882/1000 |
| NAIC complaint index | 1.48 (above average) |
Average rate: $114
Pro: Travelers offers the lowest average rates for drivers over age 55 in Florida.
Con: Customers report higher-than-average complaints with Travelers’ claims process.
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| Rating | Score |
|---|---|
| Jerry rating | 93/100 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating | 848/1000 |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating | 854/1000 |
| NAIC complaint index | 1.09 (above average) |
Average rate: $197
Pro: AARP offers members auto insurance policies through The Hartford, which include free benefits like new car replacement, accident forgiveness, lifetime car repair assurance, and RecoverCare, which pays for things you can’t do after an accident, such as house and yard work.
Con: The Hartford has a higher than average rate of consumer complaints.
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| Rating | Score |
|---|---|
| Jerry rating | 85/100 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating | 887/1000 |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating | 869/1000 |
| NAIC complaint index | 1.12 (above average) |
Honorable mention: Are you a veteran? USAA offers affordable senior car insurance for active-duty military members, veterans, and their families.
How to shop for car insurance for seniors
As we age, our bodies change in ways that make driving more difficult. Mature drivers may experience decreased mobility, difficulty hearing or seeing, and slower reaction times, all of which can contribute 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.
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.
- Phone: 1-833-445-3779 (8am – 8:30pm, 7 days a week)
- Email: hi@getjerry.com
Essential car insurance for seniors
Like all other drivers, senior drivers will be required to purchase at least state minimum car insurance. Mature drivers who have a financed or leased vehicle will usually also be required to purchase a full-coverage car insurance policy.
However, senior drivers are particularly susceptible to severe injuries in the event of a car accident. This makes some other coverage options worth it for older drivers, including:
- Personal injury protection (PIP): PIP offers more medical coverage for senior drivers and can help to pay expensive medical bills after an accident.
- Medical payments (MedPay): Similar to PIP, but less comprehensive, MedPay helps drivers cover medical expenses, including hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, and even funeral expenses.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: Uninsured motorist coverage helps drivers pay medical expenses after an accident with an uninsured driver.
In addition to these extra medical protections, seniors might choose to add roadside assistance to their policy. Roadside assistance comes in handy if you’re stuck with a flat tire, a dead battery, or a similar type of vehicle issue without a way to get home.
The average cost of car insurance for seniors
Seniors can expect to pay an average of approximately $1,500 to $1,800 per year for car insurance.
However, in most states, your age can play a significant role in your rate. You’ll start to see increases in your auto insurance rates once you hit 75, and drivers over 85 pay the highest premiums of all older adults.
This is true for two reasons:
- Older adults are less likely to survive a car accident: While seniors aren’t as likely to get into car accidents as other age groups, drivers over 55 are more likely to sustain serious bodily injuries when they do encounter car crashes.
- Older drivers are more likely to drive unsafe vehicles: According to recent studies, drivers aged 70+ are more likely to drive older vehicles without essential safety features like electronic stability control and side airbags. These vehicles are more expensive to insure because they’re riskier to drive.
To give you a broader picture, here’s how much senior drivers pay for their car insurance on average.
| Age | Average monthly premium | Average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | $145 | $1,738 |
| 56 | $146 | $1,756 |
| 57 | $140 | $1,675 |
| 58 | $143 | $1,711 |
| 59 | $134 | $1,613 |
| 60 | $138 | $1,651 |
| 61 | $134 | $1,609 |
| 62 | $135 | $1,620 |
| 63 | $133 | $1,595 |
| 64 | $137 | $1,645 |
| 65 | $137 | $1,642 |
| 66 | $134 | $1,607 |
| 67 | $135 | $1,620 |
| 68 | $145 | $1,742 |
| 69 | $134 | $1,609 |
| 70 | $136 | $1,626 |
| 71 | $146 | $1,757 |
| 72 | $131 | $1,572 |
| 73 | $146 | $1,748 |
| 74 | $148 | $1,779 |
| 75 | $150 | $1,806 |
| 76 | $136 | $1,633 |
| 77 | $162 | $1,945 |
| 78 | $134 | $1,610 |
| 79 | $136 | $1,633 |
| 80 | $130 | $1,557 |
| 81 | $151 | $1,816 |
| 82 | $133 | $1,591 |
| 83 | $139 | $1,664 |
| 84 | $129 | $1,545 |
The best ways to save on seniors’ car insurance
There are several ways to save money on senior car insurance, including:
- Reduce your mileage: Seniors who drive less than 13,000 miles per year should consider a low-mileage policy or a usage-based insurance program like Nationwide’s SmartMiles or Allstate’s Milewise. These programs offer cheap car insurance to drivers who don’t spend much time on the road.
- Take a defensive driving course: In 34 states, drivers over 50 are guaranteed lower car insurance rates by taking a defensive driving course. Even outside of those 34 states, your insurance provider may offer a discount for taking a defensive driving class.
- Ask about a safe driving discount: Senior citizens who are considered safe drivers—that is, those with a clean driving record, vehicle safety upgrades, and accident-free driving history—can earn car insurance discounts for their good driving habits.
- Bundle homeowners and auto insurance: Drivers who choose to bundle their insurance with one provider may see lower insurance premiums due to bundling discounts. Some insurance providers may also allow you to bundle other types of insurance, like renters and life insurance, with your auto insurance policy.
- Opt for a safer vehicle: In some cases, a new car can significantly improve car insurance coverage rates. Try to opt for a vehicle with good anti-theft technology and lots of safety features, as these vehicles see lower rates. Some great newer vehicles with excellent safety features include the Subaru Forester and the Mazda CX-5.
- Ask about other discounts: While senior discounts are rare in the car insurance world, some insurance companies offer other driver discounts, such as telematics discounts for good drivers and military discounts for veterans.
- Increase your car insurance deductible: If you need to lower your car insurance rates, one possible option is a higher car insurance deductible. Just remember that you’ll be responsible for your deductible out-of-pocket in the event of an accident, so don’t raise it higher than you can afford.
FAQ
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Which insurance company offers the cheapest car insurance for seniors?
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Can you get cheap senior car insurance after a traffic violation?
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Are senior drivers eligible for accident forgiveness?
Methodology
The Insurance Research Team analyzes insurance products and services to drive insights and help consumers make informed purchase decisions. We analyzed over 25 million car insurance quotes and conducted the largest insurance shopping survey (over 15,000 customers surveyed and 85 carriers reviewed in the past 18 months). All average quote data is based on rates for single drivers with a clean record and a single car between the ages of 35 and 65.
We surveyed insurance policyholders for their experience with their insurers in the following areas: (1) insurance cost (2) customer service (3) insurance buying experience (4) insurance renewal experience (5) claim experience. In addition, we asked people what they like about their insurers and what areas in which their insurers could improve.
For the quotes and sold policies included in this article, please note that personal information has been hidden. Not all customers find savings.
Team: The team consists of licensed insurance agents, insurance industry veterans, and data scientists.
Liz Jenson is an insurance writer who specializes in general automotive and insurance topics. Liz’s mission is to produce informative and useful content to help car owners make smart choices when buying cars and car insurance. Since joining Jerry in 2021, Liz has written nearly 4,000 long- and short-form articles on topics including state-specific insurance recommendations, common car insurance questions, and deep dives into vehicle model details. Before they came to Jerry, Liz was a full-time student at Indiana University, Bloomington working on a double major in English and French.
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.
