Car Insurance for Seniors: The Best and Cheapest

NerdWallet ranked the best and cheapest companies offering car insurance for seniors.
Ryan Brady
By Ryan Brady 
Updated
Edited by Ben Moore

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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.

Company

Average annual cost of full coverage insurance

Star rating

$1,120

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,280

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,316

4.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,345

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,359

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,471

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Plymouth Rock

$1,609

$1,619

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,622

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$986

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

*USAA is available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.

For a more comprehensive breakdown of price, click here to navigate to the best car insurance rates 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:

NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed full and minimum coverage car insurance rates from analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We focused our analysis on car insurance companies with a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher that also provide pricing data. We considered pricing, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more to determine the best car insurance companies for seniors.

We then distilled this list to ten companies offering the cheapest average full coverage car insurance rates for 70-year-old drivers in all ZIP codes across the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., with good credit and a variety of driving histories.

All senior drivers had a 2020 Toyota Camry L.

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every ZIP code in the country where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing. Read our methodology.

A combination of coverage types that typically includes your state’s minimum car insurance requirements plus comprehensive and collision insurance. It’s meant to provide coverage for most scenarios.

The bare minimum amount of car insurance required to drive legally in your state.

Best car insurance for seniors: star rating

NJM 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. An added bonus? In certain states NJM offers a “mature driver” discount for seniors who take a qualified driving course.

NJM car insurance is only available in five states: Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. If you don’t live in one of these states, take a look at American Family, which had the second-highest raw score.

Best star rating
insurance-product-card-logo

NJM

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
NJM is among our best car insurance companies for 2024, but it is available in only five states.

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Average

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected
Best star rating
insurance-product-card-logo

NJM

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
NJM is among our best car insurance companies for 2024, but it is available in only five states.

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Average

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

» Read the full review: NJM 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 $93 per month for full coverage. Mapfre also had the lowest average rate for minimum coverage, at just $25 a month. However, your own rate will likely be different, since car insurance companies price rates using a variety of factors.

Best budget pick
insurance-product-card-logo

Mapfre

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

Discounts

Average set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected
Best budget pick
insurance-product-card-logo

Mapfre

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

Discounts

Average set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

» Read the full review: Mapfre insurance review

Best car insurance for seniors: fewest complaints

Country Financial 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. Country Financial 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.

best for fewest complaints
insurance-product-card-logo

Country Financial

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Country Financial has few customer complaints for auto insurance but is available in only 19 states.

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Average

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected
best for fewest complaints
insurance-product-card-logo

Country Financial

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Country Financial has few customer complaints for auto insurance but is available in only 19 states.

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Average

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Best car insurance for seniors: ease of use

State Farm 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. State Farm also has the highest app store ratings for iOS and Android devices.

Best for ease of use
insurance-product-card-logo

State Farm

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
State Farm offers numerous discounts and extras including travel expense coverage, making it a good choice for most drivers.

Discounts

Average set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected
Best for ease of use
insurance-product-card-logo

State Farm

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
State Farm offers numerous discounts and extras including travel expense coverage, making it a good choice for most drivers.

Discounts

Average set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

» Read the full review: State Farm 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 $2,052 per year for full coverage. That drops to $709 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 20 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.

Seniors that 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.

Company

Average annual cost of full coverage

Average annual cost of minimum coverage

$1,120

$303

$1,280

$485

$1,316

$456

$1,345

$446

$986

$340

*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 analysis found that NJM has the cheapest average full coverage rate after an accident for a 70-year-old driver.

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

Company

Average annual cost of full coverage

Average annual cost of minimum coverage

$1,280

$485

$1,540

$479

$1,731

$594

$1,788

$562

$1,550

$558

*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. NJM has the cheapest average rate for full coverage after a ticket for a 70-year-old. Meanwhile, Mapfre has the cheapest average rate for minimum coverage.

Company

Average annual cost of full coverage

Average annual cost of minimum coverage

$1,524

$587

$1,540

$479

$1,594

$538

$1,746

$616

$1,189

$411

*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 average full and minimum coverage rate for a 70-year-old driver with a DUI. Here’s a look at where other companies stand.

Company

Average annual cost of full coverage

Average annual cost of minimum coverage

$1,524

$587

$1,904

$966

$2,126

$922

Plymouth Rock

$2,216

$876

$1,901

$658

*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.

State

Cheapest company

Average annual cost of full coverage

Donegal

$1,391

State Farm

$1,130

Noblr

$768

State Farm

$1,033

State Farm

$969

American National

$757

State Farm

$1,434

California Casualty

$1,448

State Farm

$1,602

Central Insurance

$1,264

State Farm

$1,022

American National

$418

State Farm

$1,034

Hastings Mutual

$761

State Farm

$692

State Farm

$1,052

Shelter

$1,412

Southern Farm Bureau Casualty

$2,098

Concord Group

$676

Penn National

$1,356

Geico

$645

Secura

$1,056

Farm Bureau Financial Services

$753

Progressive

$1,117

Missouri Farm Bureau

$1,102

State Farm

$1,068

American National

$510

CIG

$1,119

Concord Group

$792

NJM

$1,280

Central Insurance

$1,043

Main Street America

$1,272

North Carolina Farm Bureau

$1,001

State Farm

$971

Buckeye

$643

State Farm

$1,368

State Farm

$915

Cumberland Mutual

$918

Travelers

$1,588

American National

$598

Kemper

$877

Auto-Owners

$1,036

Redpoint County Mutual

$974

QBE

$1,297

State Farm

$804

Erie

$870

CIG

$761

Erie

$1,096

Encompass

$1,257

State Farm

$856

American National

$627

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.

Methodology

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 2019-2021. 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 2020 Toyota Camry L 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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