Updated: April 14, 2025
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The average car insurance cost for seniors is $797 annually for minimum coverage. Full coverage averages $1,334 to $1,454 per year.
Senior-specific discounts, such as good driver or defensive driving discounts, often become available between ages 45 and 55, depending on the insurer.
Seniors can save further by bundling home and auto insurance, raising deductibles or opting for pay-per-mile insurance if they drive less frequently.
Senior drivers can get car insurance discounts that lower their annual premiums. Most insurers offer these discounts to drivers 55 and older, though age requirements vary by company.
Many major insurance companies and some regional providers offer senior discounts. MoneyGeek has compiled a list of companies that offer these discounts and their requirements to help you find the right option.
Aside from senior-specific discounts, older drivers qualify for other savings, such as behavior-based, loyalty and telematics-based car insurance discounts.
Discount | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Customer loyalty | Gives a percentage off your premiums for being with the same insurer for a set number of years | Seniors who have been insured with the same company for years |
Accident-free good driver | A discount if you've been a good driver with no accidents on your record for a certain number of years | Seniors with a clean driving record |
Driver's education | For taking a driver’s education course at a DMV-approved center | Seniors keen on taking driver education courses |
Vehicle and safety equipment | For those whose car has safety features like airbags, anti-lock brakes and anti-theft systems | Seniors driving newer or safer vehicles |
Pay in full | Rewards drivers for paying auto insurance in full | Seniors who can pay a lump sum on their car insurance |
Military | For being an active-duty military member or veteran | Seniors who are or have been in the military |
Some auto insurance companies, such as GEICO, Progressive, Allstate and Farm Bureau, offer senior discounts. Most require completing a safe driving course, which might be difficult if you have limited funds.
Insurers also offer many easy-to-qualify-for discounts with no extra requirements, helping you save more money. Even without discounts, some companies provide cheaper car insurance for seniors, which may be worth exploring.
Company With Senior Discount | Description |
|---|---|
21st Century | To qualify, drivers must be 55 years or older and complete a state-recognized defensive driving course. |
Allstate offers seniors a special discount, which depends on their circumstances. To qualify, seniors must complete a state-recognized defensive driving course, such as one AARP offers. | |
American Family offers a discount to drivers 55 and older who complete an approved defensive driving course. This discount isn't available in all states. | |
Direct General | If you're 55 or older and have completed a motor vehicle accident prevention course, you may qualify for a discount with Direct General. |
Farmers offers a senior defensive driver discount for drivers between 55 and 65, depending on the state. To qualify, drivers must complete a DMV-approved driver’s education course and provide a certificate of completion. | |
If you're 50 or older, GEICO offers several discounts, including defensive driving, retirement and military discounts. Eligibility rules for the defensive driving discount vary by state. GEICO also provides 12% to 15% discounts for retired federal employees and military members. | |
Kemper offers a senior discount for drivers over 65. | |
Mercury provides a discount to drivers 55 and older who have completed a driver improvement course at a DMV-approved school. | |
National General | Seniors in certain states can apply for National General’s safe driving discount. Eligibility varies by state. |
NJM | NJM offers a mature driver discount to drivers over a certain age who have completed a qualified course. Eligibility varies by state, and you must upload your information for review on the website. |
Shelter | Policyholders at least 48 years old with a Shelter property policy can get an auto insurance discount. |
Through its partnership with AARP, The Hartford offers car insurance for seniors, with special features for policyholders over 50. AARP members also receive up to 10% savings for being a member. | |
Farm Bureau - Indiana | Farm Bureau in Indiana offers drivers 45 years old or older a lower premium through its mature driver rates. |
Farm Bureau - Kentucky | Farm Bureau in Kentucky offers discounts to drivers 55 or older who have completed an approved safety course. It requires a certificate of completion. |
Wawanesa - California | To qualify for Wawanesa's discount, drivers must be 55 or older and have completed a California DMV-approved defensive driving course within the last three years. The course must not be taken as part of a court order to be eligible. |
Compare each company's offerings and narrow your options to three to five. Then, get online quotes from these insurers to better understand their costs.
The cheapest option isn't always the best. The best car insurance often provides superior service, coverage and financial security. By using eligible discounts, you can find affordable options with quality protection.
Seniors can save on auto insurance beyond discounts by comparing quotes from different companies, bundling car insurance with home or other policies or raising their deductibles. Occasional drivers might benefit from usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance, which bases charges on mileage. Eliminating unnecessary coverage can also reduce premiums.
To find the cheapest car insurance company, shop around for quotes. Gather several quotes from different providers to compare your options.
Getting a home and auto insurance bundle is a great way to save money on your premiums, as insurers reward loyal customers.
A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance covers costs when you file a claim. Higher deductibles lead to lower premiums.
Pay-per-mile insurance charges seniors based on how far they drive, benefiting those who drive less than 12,000 miles a year.
Removing comprehensive coverage makes sense if your premiums exceed 10% of your vehicle's cash value. However, this could leave you underinsured. Determine your auto insurance needs before adding or dropping any coverage.
While no-down-payment car insurance allows you to get insured with the lowest upfront payment, paying in full will save you more money in the long run. Also, some insurance companies provide discounts for full payment.
Auto insurance rates depend on several factors including your age, location and coverage level. As a senior, premiums typically increase, making discounts important.
After age, your coverage level affects rates most significantly. Each state requires minimum coverage regardless of age. You can estimate your auto insurance costs using MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator.
Auto Insurance Type | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
Minimum coverage | $797 |
Comprehensive/Collision (50/100/50) | $1,334 |
Comprehensive/Collision (100/300/100) | $1,454 |
Senior car insurance discounts typically start between ages 45 and 55. Loyalty, accident-free and good driver discounts help reduce premiums. Combining these with bundling policies or pay-per-mile insurance maximizes savings while maintaining needed coverage.
Finding car insurance discounts for seniors can be challenging if you're not sure where to begin. Check out the most frequently asked questions below to help guide your search.
Some insurers offer senior-specific auto insurance discounts but often require drivers to complete a DMV-approved driver safety course to qualify.
Bundling your policies or increasing your deductibles are effective ways to save on premiums and earn discounts.
How much you can save with a senior discount depends on the insurer.
Minimum coverage costs an average of $797 for 70-year-olds per year. Full coverage with 100/300/100 in limits averages $1,454.
In addition to senior-specific car insurance discounts, drivers can qualify for other discounts that aren't age-related. For example, senior drivers may be eligible for good driver, customer loyalty, vehicle safety equipment or military discounts. They may also receive a discount for paying their policy in full.
Many insurers offer a discount for completing a defensive driving course, but check each provider's qualifying requirements and rules.
To save on auto insurance, seniors can compare quotes from different providers, bundle policies, increase their deductibles or opt for pay-per-mile insurance. Learning about safe driving for seniors also helps.
Why Trust MoneyGeek?
MoneyGeek analyzed data from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments. The study highlighted how important it is to compare car insurance rates, as a driver profile can result in significantly different rates across insurance companies.
Study Overview
Comparing car insurance is essential for finding the best rates and coverage. Rates vary greatly based on age, location, vehicle type, driving record, credit history and insurer. To provide accurate insights, MoneyGeek gathered quotes based on these factors and created data-backed averages to help you compare car insurance quotes and find the best affordable options.
Data Acquisition, Depth and Analysis
MoneyGeek collected quotes from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments, analyzing 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes.
Driver Profiles
MoneyGeek used a sample driver profile to collect consistent average insurance rates. The average driver profile includes:
We adjusted this profile for age, location, vehicle, driving history and credit history to collect additional data and provide more accurate averages for different driver needs.
Coverage Levels and Deductibles Explained
Unless otherwise noted, the average rates on this page are for a full coverage policy with 100/300/100 liability limits and comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
100/300/100 policy means:
A $1,000 comprehensive and collision deductible means you must pay $1,000 before your insurance covers a claim for car damage. Generally, a higher deductible results in a lower premium.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
