Drivers between the ages of 55 and 65 typically pay lower rates for car insurance than almost any other age group. This is because they’re usually safer drivers than those under the age of 55. They often drive less, too. Also, most under-65 seniors have yet to experience the age-related declines in vision and cognitive function that are more common among their over-65 counterparts.
This article covers what you need to know about senior car insurance, including:
- Cheap auto insurance for seniors
- Best car insurance companies for senior drivers
- How to lower your auto insurance rates as a senior
Cheapest auto insurance for seniors: State Farm
Our research found that 65-year-old drivers pay an average $1,000 a year for car insurance. The average 70-year-old driver pays $1,065, and the typical 75-year-old driver spends $1,204 on car insurance annually.
Across seniors ages 65 to 75, State Farm provides the cheapest insurance coverage. We highlighted the seven biggest insurers below.
| Insurance company | Average annual premium | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $736 | ||
| Progressive | $991 | ||
| GEICO | $1,130 | ||
| Nationwide | $1,201 | ||
| Allstate | $1,281 | ||
| Farmers | $1,398 | ||
| USAA | $587 | ||
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
| Insurance company | Average annual premium | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $757 | ||
| Progressive | $1,086 | ||
| GEICO | $1,237 | ||
| Allstate | $1,295 | ||
| Nationwide | $1,300 | ||
| Farmers | $1,506 | ||
| USAA | $625 | ||
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
| Insurance company | Average annual premium | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $841 | ||
| Progressive | $1,360 | ||
| GEICO | $1,448 | ||
| Nationwide | $1,469 | ||
| Allstate | $1,483 | ||
| Farmers | $1,564 | ||
| USAA | $706 | ||
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for seniors. It offered our sample driver an average quote between $736 and $841.
Progressive wasn’t far behind State Farm in terms of cheap auto insurance for senior citizens. The average rate quote Progressive sent our sample senior driver ranged from $991 to $1,360.
Keep in mind:
What you pay for car insurance depends on several rate factors, including your driving record, where you live, the car you drive and more.
Senior car insurance doesn't have to be expensive.
Compare quotes to find cheap insurance.
Best car insurance for seniors with military backgrounds: USAA
USAA is also a highly affordable option and has the cheapest rates out of the seven major insurers we examined. It consistently receives positive customer service satisfaction from drivers, too. To qualify, you or a family member must be a retired or active military service member.
Best car insurance for seniors in each state
Several factors determine your car insurance rates. One is where you live. This is because each state has regulations for how much auto insurance you need to purchase to drive legally. For many states, State Farm offers the cheapest coverage for senior drivers. Erie also has low-cost rates, but is only available in certain states.
| State | Minimum coverage | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Country Preferred | $419 |
| Alaska | State Farm | $464 |
| Arizona | Progressive | $998 |
| Arkansas | State Farm | $492 |
| California | CSAA | $589 |
| Colorado | State Farm | $651 |
| Connecticut | State Farm | $670 |
| Delaware | Travelers | $903 |
| District of Columbia | State Farm | $1,179 |
| Florida | GEICO | $431 |
| Georgia | Georgia Farm Bureau | $589 |
| Hawaii | GEICO | $287 |
| Idaho | State Farm | $322 |
| Illinois | State Farm | $612 |
| Indiana | Erie | $353 |
| Iowa | Wadena Insurance | $265 |
| Kansas | State Farm | $379 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Farm Bureau | $868 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Farm Bureau | $791 |
| Maine | MetLife | $286 |
| Maryland | Erie | $638 |
| Massachusetts | Citizens | $400 |
| Michigan | MetLife | $469 |
| Minnesota | Western Agricultural | $444 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Farm Bureau | $748 |
| Missouri | State Farm | $488 |
| Montana | State Farm | $412 |
| Nebraska | State Farm | $374 |
| Nevada | State Farm | $1,070 |
| New Hampshire | State Farm | $379 |
| New Jersey | State Farm | $463 |
| New Mexico | State Farm | $455 |
| New York | Erie | $1,542 |
| North Carolina | Erie | $379 |
| North Dakota | American Family | $282 |
| Ohio | Erie | $318 |
| Oklahoma | State Farm | $478 |
| Oregon | State Farm | $601 |
| Pennsylvania | Erie | $436 |
| Rhode Island | GEICO | $1,508 |
| South Carolina | State Farm | $656 |
| South Dakota | American Family | $279 |
| Tennessee | Erie | $390 |
| Texas | State Farm | $761 |
| Utah | State Farm | $694 |
| Vermont | State Farm | $316 |
| Virginia | Virginia Farm Bureau | $311 |
| Washington | State Farm | $534 |
| West Virginia | Erie | $300 |
| Wisconsin | American Family | $383 |
| Wyoming | State Farm | $242 |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
Best car insurance companies for senior citizens
There’s more to getting your best car insurance rate as a senior than buying a policy from the cheapest company. Senior discounts and other such programs play an important role, too.
Here’s what some of the best car insurance companies offer senior drivers in terms of discounts.
AARP
AARP, which sells car insurance coverage to its members through The Hartford, offers a defensive driver course discount that can lower your premium. If your driving skills are a bit rusty, you can also sign up for AARP's Smart Driver online course. You'll receive savings that can be renewed, and you'll be a safer driver overall.
Allstate
Allstate offers several discounts, including a safe driving and safety equipment installation discount.
The company also has a defensive driver discount too but only in certain states. To qualify for it, you need to be at least 55 years old, have no at-fault claims on your record and take a qualified defensive driving course.
Farmers
Farmers offers a mature driver discount to eligible customers. Actually, it may be called the mature driver, senior driver or even defensive driver discount, depending on where you live.
No matter what it’s called, you’ll need to have completed a state-approved safe driver training course within the last three years to qualify for this senior car insurance discount. You’ll also need to be over 55 years old.
You can’t get Farmers’ senior driver discount in all states, so check with a local agent to see if it’s available in your area.
GEICO
GEICO does not have many age-specific discounts but still offers a plethora of savings options. The company has a defensive driver, good driving, as well as a retired government or military discount.
Senior drivers should also consider GEICO’s Prime Time contract. It provides guaranteed renewal to policyholders.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual doesn’t offer a defensive driver discount to seniors like the other car insurance companies mentioned, but it does offer a RightTrack program that serves a similar purpose.
By enrolling in Liberty Mutual’s RightTrack program and practicing safe driving behaviors, you can be rewarded with a discount of up to 30%.
Liberty Mutual also has a military discount for policyholders who are active, retired or reserved in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Nationwide
Nationwide may not offer a senior car insurance discount to older drivers like some companies do, but it does offer these other discounts that may help seniors save money on their premiums:
- Defensive driving discount.
- Safe driver discount.
- SmartMiles pay-per-mile insurance program.
- SmartRide usage-based insurance program
Progressive
We may have found Progressive to offer the cheapest senior car insurance rates around, but the company doesn’t do much otherwise to reward older drivers for their good behavior behind the wheel.
Still, seniors who are safe drivers may find lower auto insurance rates with Progressive’s Snapshot program. This pay-how-you-drive program adjusts your rate based on your driving habits. The safer you drive, the more you can save — with an average annual savings of $146.
State Farm
State Farm offers several discounts to drivers who want to pay less for car insurance. They include:
- Accident-free discount.
- Defensive driving course discount.
- Good driving discount.
For the company’s good driver discount, you need to go three years or more without any moving violations or at-fault accidents.
As for State Farm’s defensive driving course discount, you must take a qualifying driver safety course.
How to lower your car insurance rates as a senior driver
Three of the best ways to find cheap car insurance as a senior are to maintain a clean driving record, change the primary driver on your policy and drop unnecessary coverage.
Maintain a clean driving record
The cleaner your driving record, the lower your car insurance premium, in most cases. Your driving history is one predictor used to determine your insurance quote estimate.
Purchasing a newer car equipped with safety features often makes your car insurance premium go down. Why? Those features protect you from injury and death, and that protects your insurance provider from having to pay out expensive claims.
Change the primary driver on your policy
Older drivers who usually have their children or someone else drive them around should consider changing the primary driver on their policies. This can help reduce auto insurance rates, depending on the other driver's age and driving record.
Typically, your insurance rates decrease as you age because you accumulate more experience and become less risky to insurers. However, rates typically start to increase slightly after you turn 65.
Change the primary driver on your policy
Older drivers who usually have their children or someone else drive them around should consider changing the primary driver on their policies. This can help reduce auto insurance rates, depending on the other driver's age and driving record.
Drop unnecessary coverage
While nearly all drivers need to have liability insurance, you may not need collision or comprehensive coverage. If you drive an old or low-value car, getting rid of these optional types of coverage, or lowering your coverage limits, could make car insurance a lot more affordable for you.
Additionally, seniors who don’t plan to drive much or who intend to use their cars occasionally can potentially obtain a low-mileage discount. Plus, by limiting how much you drive annually, you might qualify for a lower rate.
If you don’t drive much, you may save money on your auto insurance coverage if you increase your deductible. By increasing your deductible, you’ll decrease your monthly premium. You’ll pay more out of pocket for repairs if you go this route, though, so keep that in mind.
Shop around for senior discounts
Many major auto insurance companies offer discounts for retired drivers or drivers over a certain age. You can also get a discount at some insurers if you are over the age of 55 and complete a defensive driving course, though the savings amount may vary by state.
For more about discounts offered to senior drivers, read our article: Car Insurance Discounts for Retired and Senior Drivers.
Methodology
The average rates highlighted in this article are based on quotes for 65-, 70- and 75-year-old male drivers with clean driving records, using a 2012 Honda Accord LX, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The minimum coverage varies by each state's individual insurance requirements. However, in instances where we discuss a full-coverage policy, coverage limits are 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverages.
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