Car Insurance for Seniors: The Best and Cheapest

Car insurance rates are likely to start crawling uphill as you coast into your senior years. And unlike age, your car insurance premium is more than just a number. That’s why NerdWallet analyzed the top-rated insurers in the country to find the best car insurance for seniors.

Since car insurance rates tend to creep up for senior drivers, we focused our analysis on finding the best companies that also offer the cheapest rates.

Cheap car insurance for seniors

Here are the 10 cheapest companies with a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher for a 70-year-old driver with good credit and no driving violations, according to our June 2024 analysis.

For a more comprehensive breakdown of price, check out our list of the and tips on how to get a better deal.

But there’s more to car insurance than just price. We’ll explore which of these companies win our pick for best car insurance for seniors based on the following categories:

Best car insurance for seniors: star rating

Travelers had the highest raw score out of the 10 companies we analyzed. NerdWallet’s auto insurance star ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices, so this category represents a solid choice for seniors seeking a well-rounded insurance company.

One of the 10 largest insurers in the country, Travelers is available in 41 states, Washington, D.C., and certain areas of Florida. The company offers a wide variety of car insurance products and discounts, including savings for homeowners, members of certain credit unions and associations and those who enroll in an approved driver training course.

» Read the full review:

Best car insurance for seniors: budget pick

Mapfre is the best car insurance for seniors when it comes to your wallet. Out of the companies analyzed, it had the lowest average rate for 70-year-olds at $101 per month for full coverage. Mapfre also had the lowest average rate for minimum coverage, at just $32 a month. However, your own rate will likely be different, since car insurance companies price rates using a variety of factors.

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Best car insurance for seniors: fewest complaints

American Family had the lowest complaint index out of the companies we analyzed. This index is based on the total number of complaints to state regulators relative to the company’s size. American Family has far fewer complaints to state regulators than other companies of similar size, which is a strong signal that its customers are relatively satisfied with their policy and overall experience.

An added bonus? American Family is the second-cheapest company for seniors for full coverage, out of the companies we analyzed.

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Best car insurance for seniors: ease of use

Progressive scored highest for ease of use out of the companies we analyzed. It has an easy-to-use website that makes filing claims relatively painless. Its website also features an extensive library of articles explaining how to manage your policy and answering common questions about coverage. Progressive has the highest app store ratings for iOS and Android devices among the companies we analyzed.

» Read the full review:

The cheapest car insurance for seniors

Across the country, the average cost of car insurance for a 70-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving history is $1,607 per year for full coverage. That drops to $493 for minimum coverage. But car insurance premiums are different for everyone, so use these rates as a benchmark when shopping around for car insurance.

Below, you’ll find the cheapest auto insurance companies for seniors from our list of 15 companies with a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 and higher. We’ve included the cheapest companies for a variety of driving histories, including good drivers, drivers with a recent accident or traffic violation, plus drivers with a recent DUI.

While USAA often offers some of the lowest median rates for seniors, we didn't select it as the cheapest option for the profiles analyzed below because its policies are available only to active military members, veterans and their families.

Seniors who are good drivers

Seniors who don’t have a recent violation or accident on their driving record will typically pay less for insurance than those who do. Mapfre has the cheapest average full coverage and minimum coverage rates for 70-year-old good drivers, according to our June 2024 analysis.

Seniors with an at-fault accident

A recent accident can increase how much you pay for car insurance. Our June 2024 analysis found that NJM has the cheapest average full coverage rate after an accident for a 70-year-old driver.

Meanwhile, Shelter has the cheapest average rate for minimum coverage.

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Seniors with a speeding ticket

A recent speeding ticket on your record can bump up your auto insurance premium. Shelter has the cheapest average rate for full coverage after a ticket for a 70-year-old, according to our June 2024 analysis. Shelter also has the cheapest average rate for minimum coverage among the insurers we analyzed.

If minimum coverage is what you’re after, you may also want to take a look at Geico, which has a median annual cost of $495.

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Seniors with a DUI

If you have a DUI, you'll likely pay more for car insurance until it drops off your record. NJM has the cheapest median full and minimum coverage rate for a 70-year-old driver with a DUI. Here’s a look at where other companies stand.

If minimum coverage is what you’re after, you may also want to take a look at American Family, which has a median annual cost of $753.

» MORE:

Cheapest car insurance for seniors by state

Rates vary widely by state, so the cheapest car insurance company in one state may not be in the next state over. Check out the table below to find the cheapest car insurance for seniors in your state, according to our June 2024 analysis.

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How to get the best car insurance rates for seniors

Just because rates may increase as you get older doesn’t mean you don’t have opportunities to save. Here are some tips on how seniors can lower their car insurance premiums.

1. Take a driving class

Seniors who take a defensive driving course may earn a car insurance discount on their auto policy.

Many classes are offered online through groups like AAA, AARP and The National Safety Council. Check with your state insurance department to see which ones are approved for getting the discount.

The classes are relatively cheap and cover a lot of ground. You’ll learn how aging and medications affect driving, how to accommodate those changes safely, and how to navigate common but challenging driving situations.

2. Choose a car that’s cheap to insure

Car insurance rates vary widely depending on the type of car you drive. The next time you go car shopping, get insurance quotes for the models you’re considering. The cheapest cars to insure usually don’t cost a lot to repair and replace, and are built to protect drivers and passengers in crashes.

Make sure you get all the discounts you can from your car’s features. Many auto insurance companies offer discounts for cars equipped with anti-lock brakes and airbags.

3. Protect your car

Besides helping you avoid a loss, anti-theft devices can score you discounts with many insurers.

Technology products that could save you money include alarms, disabling devices (which don’t allow the car to start if someone tries to steal it), and vehicle tracking systems such as OnStar. If you have any of these devices in your car, make sure to check with your insurer to see if you qualify for an insurance discount.

And you don’t have to go high-tech to get a discount. Many insurance companies also offer discounts for etching the vehicle identification number onto a car’s windshield.

4. Get credit for driving less

Recently retired and driving less? Let your insurer know. Your premium should go down if you no longer commute to a job every day and log fewer miles.

If you drive infrequently, you might want to consider pay-per-mile insurance, which bases premiums in part on how many miles you drive. You’ll use either a device plugged into your car’s diagnostic port to record your mileage or download an app to your smartphone which tracks your driving behavior and sends the data to your insurer.

5. Raise your deductible

If your policy has a low car insurance deductible, you can reduce your premium by choosing a higher one. A deductible is the amount your insurance company subtracts from a claim payout for coverage types like comprehensive and collision insurance. For example, if car repairs cost $5,000 and your deductible is $1,000, the insurer will pay $4,000.

Consider raising your deductible if you can afford to pay more out-of-pocket in the event of a claim, if you don’t drive much, and if you park your car in a protected area, like a garage.

6. Drop coverage you no longer need

Look closely at the details of your policy. If you drive less frequently these days, you may no longer need coverage for a rental car when yours is in the shop for repairs. If you owe little or nothing on your car loan, gap insurance isn’t necessary; it’s only for those who owe more on a loan than the car is worth.

If you drive an older car, think about whether it makes sense to drop collision and comprehensive insurance. These coverage types pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged or stolen, but the maximum payout is limited to the current value of the car, minus your deductible. Check what your car is worth to determine the coverage value. If the cost of your policy and deductible combined are more than your car’s value, it’s time to drop collision and comprehensive coverage.

7. Consider bundling your insurance policies

If retirement means relaxing on your boat on the lake or traveling the country in an RV, you may have opportunities to save by bundling insurance.

Companies often give discounts for buying multiple policies from the same insurer. A typical bundle combines auto and home insurance, but some insurers also offer price breaks for bundling a car policy with boat, RV, motorcycle, renters or life insurance.

8. Shop around for coverage

Car insurance for seniors tends to creep up over time, so it’s a good idea to shop yearly for other options. Compare multiple quotes to make sure you’re still getting the best rate possible.

Rates vary widely by company, state and neighborhood. If you’ve retired and moved to a new location, the company that gave you the lowest prices in the past may not be the cheapest for you today. You can easily compare rates with NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool.