Car Insurance for Seniors: The Best and Cheapest
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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.
Company | Average annual cost of full coverage insurance | Star rating |
|---|---|---|
$1,216 | ||
$1,227 | ||
$1,314 | ||
$1,339 | ||
$1,344 | ||
$1,351 | ||
$1,409 | ||
$1,545 | ||
$1,548 | ||
USAA* | $1,076 | |
*USAA is available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families. | ||
For a more comprehensive breakdown of price, check out our list of the cheapest car insurance companies for seniors 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.
Travelers
Discounts
Ease of use
NAIC complaints
Travelers
Discounts
Ease of use
NAIC complaints
» Read the full review: Travelers auto insurance 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.
Mapfre
Discounts
Ease of use
NAIC complaints
Mapfre
Discounts
Ease of use
NAIC complaints
» Read the full review: Mapfre insurance review
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.
American Family
Discounts
Ease of use
NAIC complaints
American Family
Discounts
Ease of use
NAIC complaints
» Read the full review: American Family auto insurance review
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.
Progressive
Discounts
Ease of use
NAIC complaints
Progressive
Discounts
Ease of use
NAIC complaints
» Read the full review: Progressive auto insurance 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.
Company | Average annual cost of full coverage | Average annual cost of minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
$1,216 | $386 | |
$1,227 | $518 | |
$1,314 | $582 | |
$1,339 | $391 | |
$1,076 | $301 | |
*USAA is available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families. | ||
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.
Company | Average annual cost of full coverage | Average annual cost of minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
$1,418 | $632 | |
$1,661 | $568 | |
$1,675 | $552 | |
$1,870 | $594 | |
USAA* | $1,724 | $505 |
*USAA is available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families. | ||
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.
Company | Average annual cost of full coverage | Average annual cost of minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
$1,503 | $455 | |
$1,524 | $632 | |
$1,661 | $568 | |
$1,699 | $764 | |
USAA* | $1,289 | $359 |
*USAA is available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families. | ||
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.
Company | Average annual cost of full coverage | Average annual cost of minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
$1,699 | $766 | |
$2,031 | $619 | |
$2,038 | $660 | |
$2,051 | $958 | |
USAA* | $1,963 | $563 |
*USAA is available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families. | ||
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.
State | Cheapest company | Average annual cost of full coverage |
|---|---|---|
Geico | $1,236 | |
Geico | $1,299 | |
QBE | $1,248 | |
Geico | $1,317 | |
Auto Club of Southern California | $1,187 | |
American National | $861 | |
Travelers | $1,243 | |
Travelers | $1,163 | |
Geico | $1,456 | |
Central Insurance | $1,350 | |
Geico | $1,303 | |
American National | $728 | |
Geico | $940 | |
Hastings Mutual | $886 | |
Hastings Mutual | $796 | |
Geico | $897 | |
Shelter | $1,458 | |
Geico | $2,280 | |
Vermont Mutual | $638 | |
Geico | $761 | |
Vermont Mutual | $581 | |
Hastings Mutual | $1,234 | |
Farm Bureau Financial Services | $904 | |
Direct Auto | $1,142 | |
Travelers | $1,183 | |
QBE | $1,205 | |
American National | $606 | |
Travelers | $1,232 | |
Encompass | $876 | |
Geico | $1,044 | |
Geico | $1,251 | |
Preferred Mutual | $1,022 | |
Progressive | $892 | |
Nationwide | $802 | |
Hastings Mutual | $820 | |
Geico | $1,535 | |
Geico | $1,050 | |
Travelers | $869 | |
Travelers | $1,820 | |
American National | $604 | |
Kemper | $822 | |
Tennessee Farm Bureau | $908 | |
Texas Farm Bureau | $1,034 | |
Nationwide | $961 | |
Union Mutual | $605 | |
Virginia Farm Bureau | $647 | |
CIG | $862 | |
Erie | $1,146 | |
Encompass | $1,417 | |
Travelers | $836 | |
American National | $760 |
Note: For this list, we expanded our analysis to include all insurance companies we analyze rates for, regardless of their NerdWallet star rating. We looked at each company’s average annual cost of full coverage car insurance for a 70-year-old driver with good credit and a good driving history. Although USAA is the cheapest option in many states, we didn’t include the company in this table since its policies are available only to active military members, veterans and their families.
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.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for 70-year-old men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are average rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
For minimum coverage rates, sample drivers had the minimum required coverage by law in each state. Some policies include additional coverage at the insurer’s discretion.
For full coverage rates, sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
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