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Car insurance is a must-have for all drivers, and that includes senior citizens. The cost of car insurance for seniors varies depending on several factors, including their driving history, location, vehicle make and model, and more.
Here's a look at some of the best car insurance for seniors, along with advice on how seniors can keep their rates low.
State Farm doesn't have offerings that cater specifically to seniors, but it's one of the best options for them anyway because it handles everything well. State Farm offers a wide range of coverages for its auto policies, including rental insurance, rideshare insurance, and emergency roadside service. It's an industry leader in customer satisfaction, and it has a nationwide network of 19,000 agents to complement its online account management tools.
State Farm is the largest property and casualty insurance company in the U.S., with over $70 billion in premiums written. It also takes the top spot for auto insurance. State Farm is ranked No. 1 in overall customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power's 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Southwest. It ranked in the top five for 8 out of the 10 remaining regions and ranked second for four of the regions.
State Farm has an AM Best rating of A++ (Superior), which shows its ability to pay claims, debts, and other financial obligations. It is one of the few life insurance companies to receive AM Best's highest ranking. State Farm's NAIC complaint index, which shows how many complaints it has received relative to its market share, is 1.18, one of lowest on this list.
Geico is known for offering cheap car insurance to seniors in just about every state. Though it doesn't have a senior discount, it still has the lowest rate at $960 per year. Geico also offers drivers many ways to save on their premiums. The company is also transparent about how much each discount will lower a driver's rates.
Geico doesn't offer as many optional protections as some of its competitors, but it provides all the basics a driver would expect. Most seniors should be able to find the coverage they're looking for here.
Few insurers can match Allstate in terms of customization. It offers a number of coverage options that go beyond the basics to help each driver build a policy that suits them. Some of these options, including roadside assistance and rental reimbursement coverage, may be especially appealing to seniors who travel frequently.
Allstate's rates aren't typically as competitive as those of some insurers listed here, but seniors who qualify for some of Allstate's many discounts may secure an affordable premium.
Nationwide could prove to be an affordable option for seniors with clean driving records. It offers safe driving discounts, as well as discounts for drivers who enroll in its monitoring program. Plus, there's a "Vanishing Deductible" option for those who go one or more policy periods without an accident. Nationwide also offers optional features such as accident forgiveness and total loss deductible waiver.
Nationwide's selection of policy options is pretty comprehensive, and it's one of the few car insurance providers offering gap coverage. This pays off a driver's lease or loan if their car is totaled. This could provide huge peace of mind for seniors on a fixed income. In addition, Nationwide offers those over 55 a defensive driving discount, safe driver discount, and flexible rate based on how much you drive. So seniors who drive less can save even more.
The Hartford is a popular choice for those seeking car insurance for seniors. It offers flexible policies with extras you won't find anywhere else, plus some of the best claims satisfaction in the industry. But these policies are only available to AARP members. Since 1984, AARP has teamed up with The Hartford to offer discounts up to 10%. AARP members also get coverage like disappearing deductible, an optional coverage, which reduces the collision deductible on your car insurance policy over time, as long as you maintain a clean driving record.
Joining AARP is an extra hoop to jump through, but those who purchase a car insurance policy from The Hartford will probably find it worthwhile. In addition to basic protections for vehicles, they also get perks like RecoverCare, which helps pay for daily tasks for drivers recovering from car-accident injuries. Customers can also contact The Hartford for assistance finding a repair shop.
USAA is always the runaway favorite for veterans, military members, and their families. Although USAA doesn't offer senior discounts, it's known for offering affordable rates as well as its customer service. In most customer satisfaction surveys, it bests every other company featured. It's only available to military members, veterans, and their family members, though. Those who don't fall into one of these groups will have to explore other options for their auto insurance.
Not only does it offer the lowest rates, but USAA would also be ranked No. 1 in virtually all areas of the U.S. in J.D. Power's customer service rankings. Because it doesn't meet its award criteria, J.D. Power gives USAA a score but does not include it in the rankings. Most USAA members report high satisfaction with the financial service provider, with the majority of people with USAA membership purchasing multiple products.
The data found on this page is a combination of publicly available quote data obtained directly from the carrier as well as insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from the top ten (10) to fifteen (15) carrier markets, within each state, based on annual written premium and should be used for comparative purposes only -- your own quotes may be different.
The base vehicle used for benchmarking purposes is a 2019 Honda Civic averaging 14k miles driven per year.
The base driver persona is a 65 year old male with a clean driving record that uses their vehicle for personal commuting with coverage limits set to the following: (unless otherwise noted)
Insurance products are then rated on a scale of one to five stars, primarily focusing on:
With so many options for insurance across the board these days, it's easiest, and quite effective, to first look at the bottom line. Do single out competitive prices across insurance categories it's important to focus on:
Insurance provides coverage for unexpected financial burdens and piece of mind. But it's important to check your policies and see how you can lower your premium. Insurance companies offer discounts for all sorts of things now from safe driving to good grades to automatic bill pay. Pay attention to:
The benefits of insurance these days have gone far beyond just what your policy covers. Most companies and policies come with perks -- some of which may be completely unrelated to your insurance policy. Take a look at:
Policy research and coverage options are great, but how is the process when you have to actually use your insurance policy? The best coverage doesn't hold much value if it's a hassle to get paid out. Pay special attention to:
Offer | Best For | Next Steps |
---|---|---|
State Farm
|
Great For: Best overall car insurance for seniors | |
Geico
|
Great For: Best cheap car insurance for seniors | |
Allstate
|
Great For: Best for customizable policies | |
Nationwide
|
Great For: Best for safe drivers | |
The Hartford
|
Great For: Best for AARP members | |
USAA
|
Great For: Best for military members and their families |
Car insurance rates tend to be lower for seniors, and there are a few reasons why. For one, seniors often have a lifetime of experience behind the wheel, so they tend to be safer drivers overall. They've had more time to learn and develop good habits, like checking blind spots and following the speed limit.
Additionally, seniors typically drive fewer miles per year than younger adults, which means they're less likely to get in accidents. Finally, many insurers offer special discounts to seniors as a way to reward them for their years of safe driving. All of these factors combine to make car insurance more affordable for seniors.
The average annual auto insurance premium is $3,017, but the average premium for seniors is $2,140. Seniors typically pay less because they're seen as less risky drivers than younger adults. Some car insurance companies offer discounts to seniors, which helps shave even more off their rates. Here's a look at the average cost of car insurance for seniors in every state.
STATE | CAR INSURANCE COST FOR SENIORS |
---|---|
Alabama | $2,136 |
Alaska | $1,521 |
Arizona | $2,392 |
Arkansas | $1,979 |
California | $1,882 |
Colorado | $2,244 |
Connecticut | $2,049 |
Delaware | $2,609 |
District of Columbia | $2,355 |
Florida | $2,699 |
Georgia | $2,157 |
Hawaii | $1,226 |
Idaho | $1,436 |
Illinois | $1,712 |
Indiana | $1,466 |
Iowa | $1,653 |
Kansas | $2,352 |
Kentucky | $2,895 |
Louisiana | $3,283 |
Maine | $1,503 |
Maryland | $2,366 |
Massachusetts | $1,384 |
Michigan | $3,817 |
Minnesota | $2,082 |
Mississippi | $1,908 |
Missouri | $2,316 |
Montana | $2,003 |
Nebraska | $2,089 |
Nevada | $2,364 |
New Hampshire | $1,976 |
New Jersey | $3,110 |
New Mexico | $1,844 |
New York | $3,094 |
North Carolina | $1,582 |
North Dakota | $1,729 |
Ohio | $1,568 |
Oklahoma | $2,139 |
Oregon | $1,804 |
Pennsylvania | $1,817 |
Rhode Island | $2,638 |
South Carolina | $2,370 |
South Dakota | $2,339 |
Tennessee | $1,617 |
Texas | $2,148 |
Utah | $2,028 |
Vermont | $1,560 |
Virginia | $1,911 |
Washington | $1,331 |
West Virginia | $2,163 |
Wisconsin | $1,661 |
Wyoming | $1,844 |
Here are a few things seniors can do to lower the cost of auto insurance:
Car insurance rates tend to be a little bit lower for seniors since they generally have more experience behind the wheel, tend to be safer drivers, and typically drive fewer miles per year than younger adults, which means they're less likely to get in accidents.
Many insurers offer special discounts to seniors. Make sure to ask when shopping around and comparing auto insurance policies.
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