Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Expert reviewed
Expert reviewed
This article has been reviewed by a licensed Policygenius expert to ensure that sources, statistics, and claims meet our standard for accurate and unbiased advice.
Kristi Sullivan, CFP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, she was a regional consultant at Fidelity Investments for nine years.
We found that the best car insurance for most seniors is State Farm, which has some of the cheapest rates in the country. The Hartford is our pick for the best insurance for seniors who are also AARP members. Seniors who are members of AARP can get special discounts and a few perks (at no extra cost) from the Hartford.
Best car insurance for most seniors
Rating: 3.8/5 ★
Monthly cost: $90 per month
What we like: Cheap rates and national availability
The easiest way for seniors to find the best (and cheapest) car insurance for them is by comparing rates from multiple companies. Policygenius can help you do this securely — and for free.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
How we found the cheapest car insurance for seniors
Policygenius found the cost of auto insurance for seniors using rate data from 130 companies. We also used J.D. Power scores from the 2021 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study and complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Our data experts analyzed rates provided by Quadrant Information Services from every ZIP code in the country for drivers ages 60, 65, and 70 years old. The average rates in this study are for full-coverage car insurance for a 2017 Toyota Camry with the following limits:
Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for most seniors
Cost of full-coverage
$90 per month
State Farm has the best car insurance rates for seniors of any major insurance company. Its national footprint makes it easy for you to contact with any questions. State Farm also gets fewer-than-average complaints.
Pros
Cheapest car insurance for seniors of any large company
Thousands of offices across the country
Exceptional reputation for customer service
Cons
Doesn’t offer gap insurance or new car replacement
State Farm is our pick for the best auto insurance for seniors. On average, full-coverage car insurance from State Farm costs senior drivers $90 per month. That’s $491 less per year than the average cost for all seniors.
In addition to cheap car insurance rates for seniors, State Farm has dependable customer service, and has received far fewer policyholder complaints over the years than some of its competitors. [1]
It’s also easy to stay in touch with State Farm’s network of nearly 20,000 agents if you have questions about your policy or need help with a claim.
Although State Farm doesn’t offer that many coverage add-ons, (gap insurance for leased or financed vehicles isn’t available), it does have some useful ways to personalize a policy. Optional coverage includes emergency roadside assistance and coverage for a replacement rental car if yours is in the shop.
Best car insurance for AARP members: The Hartford
The Hartford
3.8
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for seniors in AARP
Cost of full-coverage
$140 per month
AARP auto insurance through The Hartford allows members to access a handful of exclusive discounts and coverage perks, including new car replacement and extra expense reimbursement after an accident, for free.
Pros
AARP members get new car replacement coverage for free
Available accident forgiveness and diminishing deductible
The Hartford partners with AARP to provide senior car insurance exclusively for members. With the Hartford, seniors can get couple extra coverage perks for free, like:
New car replacement: Replaces your totaled vehicle with a new one that’s the same model and age as your previous car.
Assistance after an accident: The Hartford’s RecoverCare coverage gives $2,500 in coverage for extra expenses after an accident. This money can be used for food prep, pet care, home cleaning and maintenance, and transportation.
Drivers can also add more coverage and features for a price, like accident forgiveness, roadside assistance, disappearing deductible, and rental car reimbursement after an accident.
The Hartford doesn’t have the cheapest insurance rates for seniors, but it’s only $9 more expensive than average per year. Plus, you could qualify for additional discounts — like savings for paying for car insurance all at once or bundling policies.
Best car insurance rates for seniors: MAPFRE
MAPFRE
4.1
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Cheapest overall for seniors
Cost of full-coverage
$77 per month
Seniors who want the cheapest car insurance around should consider MAPFRE (if they live in the states where MAPFRE is available). MAPFRE’s discounts also mean older drivers may save even more on insurance.
Pros
Cheapest average rates for senior drivers
Discounts for paperless billing, paid-in-full, and more
Optional accident forgiveness and disappearing deductible
We found that MAPFRE has the best car insurance rates for seniors of any company. Drivers over 60 can get covered for an average of $77 per month (or $929 per year) — $642 cheaper per year than average.
Senior drivers who are on a budget and looking for the cheapest rates can also lower their car insurance rates even more if they qualify for some of MAPFRE’s available discounts. With MAPFRE, senior drivers could save by:
Driving fewer miles than average each year
Switching to paperless billing
Being a safe driver by avoiding accidents
Taking a defensive driving course
Signing up for MAPFRE’s MotionSmart insurance
Drivers can also add accident forgiveness, disappearing deductible, emergency roadside assistance, and rental car reimbursement to their insurance policy.
While MAPFRE is the most affordable car insurance company for seniors, it’s not available everywhere. MAPFRE offers auto insurance in 19 states:
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Idaho
Indiana
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Washington
Vermont
Best car insurance for seniors who are veterans: USAA
USAA
4
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for senior veterans
Cost of full-coverage
$81 per month
Seniors who were in the armed forces are eligible for coverage from USAA, even if they’re retired. When it comes to big car insurance companies, USAA has the cheapest rates for seniors. It also has high claims satisfaction ratings from its drivers.
Pros
Cheapest senior car insurance of any large company
Coverage is available in every state and Washington, D.C.
Receives very positive reviews from customers for its claims process
Cons
Does not offer gap coverage or new car replacement
USAA has the best insurance for seniors who are military veterans. The average cost of car insurance with USAA for veterans and their families is $81 per month ($969 per year). This is $602 cheaper than the overall average — and almost as cheap as MAPFRE.
There are plenty of opportunities to save money with USAA’s discounts, like up to 10% off for bundling homeowners and auto insurance. USAA also offers safe driver and low mileage discounts.
In addition to cheap rates for seniors, USAA also boasts highly rated customer service. USAA earned the highest score on J.D. Power's 2021 Claims Satisfaction Study, beating out 18 other competitors.
Best and cheapest car insurance for seniors in Florida: GEICO
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Best for seniors in Florida
Cost of full-coverage
$164 per month
We found that GEICO’s rates are thousands of dollars less than the average in the Sunshine State. Plus, drivers can save even more with GEICO’s discounts for retired federal workers, veterans, and more.
Pros
Best rates for seniors living in Florida
Tends to receive fewer driver complaints than average in Florida
Offers discounts for retired federal employees and veterans
Cons
Does not offer gap insurance or new car replacement
Florida is a notoriously expensive state for auto insurance. But if you're one of 4.5 million seniors who live in Florida, you could get the cheapest car insurance from GEICO. [2] Senior drivers in Florida can get car insurance from GEICO for $164 per month, which is $2,197 cheaper per year than average in the state.
Insurer
Monthly cost
Annual cost
GEICO
$164
$1,969
State Farm
$187
$2,247
Travelers
$276
$3,314
Nationwide
$306
$3,673
UAIC
$366
$4,390
AIG
$367
$4,402
MetLife
$368
$4,415
National General
$387
$4,640
Allstate
$408
$4,890
Mercury
$481
$5,766
Farmers
$510
$6,122
Table shows average rates for full-coverage auto insurance for senior drivers age 60, 65, and 70 in Florida.
In addition to having the best rates for seniors living in Florida, GEICO also has a few discounts that can help seniors save even more, like lower rates for drivers who worked for the federal government or the military before retirement.
Which company has the best car insurance rates for seniors?
At an average of just $77 per month, MAPFRE has the best car insurance rates for seniors. But coverage from MAPFRE is only available in 19 states.
Seniors who want affordable rates from a larger company — or who don’t live anywhere that MAPFRE offers coverage — can also get cheap car insurance from State Farm. It’s the cheapest company that’s available to most seniors.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 37% of veterans are 65 years or older. [3] If you’re a veteran of the armed forces, USAA is the company where you’re most likely to find cheap senior car insurance.
We found that the difference between the cheapest and most expensive car insurance for senior citizens is more than $200 per month, which is a big gap, especially for older drivers who are living on a fixed income.
This is why it’s so important to compare quotes before you get coverage — and re-shop every time your policy is up for renewal — to find your best rates.
Company
Monthly cost
Annual cost
MAPFRE
$77
$929
USAA
$81
$969
Erie
$90
$1,077
State Farm
$90
$1,080
GEICO
$92
$1,105
Auto-Owners Insurance
$96
$1,146
COUNTRY Financial
$102
$1,227
NJ Manufacturers
$106
$1,268
American Family
$109
$1,311
Nationwide
$110
$1,317
Farm Bureau
$111
$1,331
Travelers
$114
$1,367
Shelter Insurance
$115
$1,382
Progressive
$132
$1,587
Kemper
$136
$1,634
Cost for a full-coverage auto insurance policy.
Senior auto insurance rates by age
While auto insurance for drivers 60 and older is much cheaper than it is for, say 21-year-olds, costs do start to go up slightly after 60. That’s because, as they age, older drivers gradually become more likely to get into accidents and file claims for damage. [4]
We found that 60-year-old drivers pay slightly less for car insurance than drivers just five years younger. But a 65-year-old's car insurance will cost 3% more than a 60-year-old's. And a senior who is 70 pays 5% more than a 65-year-old — 8% more for insurance than someone aged 60.
Age
Annual cost
Change
55
$1,528
--
60
$1,515
-1%
65
$1,562
3%
70
$1,637
5%
Who has the best car insurance rates for seniors of different ages?
MAPFRE has the cheapest car insurance for senior drivers, whether they’re 60, 65, or 70 years old. While we found that the cost of the cheapest companies change as a driver gets older, the same five providers remain the most affordable companies.
Cheapest car insurance for 60-year-olds
MAPFRE is the cheapest company for 60-year-old drivers. Older drivers can get car insurance from MAPFRE for $71 per month, though every company in the top five offers coverage for less than $100 per month on average.
Company
Monthly cost
Annual cost
MAPFRE
$71
$855
USAA
$78
$932
Erie
$85
$1,022
State Farm
$89
$1,068
GEICO
$90
$1,083
Cheapest car insurance for 65-year-olds
The best insurance for 65-year-old drivers is MAPFRE, which has coverage for $80 per month, on average. MAPFRE and USAA are the only companies that offer 65-year-old drivers car insurance for less than $1,000 per year.
Company
Monthly cost
Annual cost
MAPFRE
$80
$955
USAA
$81
$966
State Farm
$89
$1,064
Erie
$89
$1,071
GEICO
$90
$1,083
Cheapest car insurance for 70-year-olds
MAPFRE has the cheapest average rates for 70-year-old drivers. This age group only pays $1 more per year with MAPFRE than 65-year-olds, while other companies raise their rates by slightly more for these older drivers.
Company
Monthly cost
Annual cost
MAPFRE
$81
$966
USAA
$85
$1,021
State Farm
$92
$1,107
Erie
$95
$1,138
GEICO
$96
$1,150
Cheapest car insurance for seniors in every state
Our analysis found that USAA has the lowest average rates for senior drivers in 20 states, and GEICO is the cheapest in 11.
Senior drivers still tend to pay less for auto insurance than younger drivers. However, if you live in a state where car insurance rates are already expensive, you can find cheap rates that fit within your budget by comparing quotes from more than one company before picking a policy (and re-shopping yearly).
We found that the average cost of car insurance for seniors is $132 per month (or $1,583 per year). But average auto insurance rates vary significantly by location.
The state with the cheapest auto insurance for seniors is Ohio, where drivers 60 and older pay an average of just $79 per month for coverage. The average cost of senior auto insurance in Louisiana is $225 per month — $1,757 more per year than in Ohio.
State
Monthly cost
Annual cost
Alabama
$104
$1,253
Alaska
$134
$1,612
Arizona
$133
$1,596
Arkansas
$123
$1,474
California
$147
$1,764
Colorado
$135
$1,620
Connecticut
$142
$1,702
Delaware
$143
$1,713
District of Columbia
$158
$1,901
Florida
$224
$2,689
Georgia
$132
$1,580
Hawaii
$100
$1,200
Idaho
$83
$1,001
Illinois
$84
$1,008
Indiana
$107
$1,279
Iowa
$93
$1,121
Kansas
$113
$1,350
Kentucky
$163
$1,956
Louisiana
$225
$2,699
Maine
$114
$1,369
Maryland
$142
$1,704
Massachusetts
$86
$1,036
Michigan
$181
$2,176
Minnesota
$105
$1,264
Mississippi
$113
$1,358
Missouri
$123
$1,482
Montana
$141
$1,694
Nebraska
$83
$996
Nevada
$99
$1,188
New Hampshire
$127
$1,529
New Jersey
$96
$1,147
New Mexico
$181
$2,169
New York
$116
$1,391
North Carolina
$169
$2,027
North Dakota
$166
$1,987
Ohio
$79
$942
Oklahoma
$147
$1,762
Oregon
$113
$1,352
Pennsylvania
$117
$1,407
Rhode Island
$155
$1,865
South Carolina
$151
$1,816
South Dakota
$115
$1,381
Tennessee
$101
$1,208
Texas
$138
$1,654
Utah
$118
$1,417
Vermont
$98
$1,172
Virginia
$85
$1,023
Washington
$131
$1,568
West Virginia
$80
$961
Wisconsin
$127
$1,529
Wyoming
$106
$1,271
Table shows rates for a full-coverage insurance policy.
How to save on senior car insurance
If you're a senior driver paying too much for car insurance coverage, you may be able to lower your premiums by taking the following steps:
Sign up for a driving safety course: Seniors can get a discount on their car insurance by completing eligible driving courses, which may be offered by AAA, AARP, the National Safety Council, or even by your state. Even if you've never had an accident, these classes are an easy way to lower your insurance costs.
Check how often you actually drive: Insurance companies usually offer lower rates to drivers who use their cars infrequently. If you're no longer commuting every day and you're driving less, find out how many miles per year your car travels and report it to your insurer — you may get a discount if it’s lower than average.
Sign up for usage-based insurance: If you have a clean driving history, consider signing up for a usage-based insurance or telematics program. Your insurance company will monitor your driving for a set period, then adjust your rates based on how you drive. This can be one of the best ways to get more affordable insurance.
Search for discounts for senior drivers: Some insurance companies offer car insurance discounts specifically for senior drivers, or even drivers older than the age of 50.
In addition to these cost-saving steps, the best way to get cheap insurance quotes is by comparing rates from multiple companies in your area. That way you can be sure you’re finding your cheapest option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do seniors need a certain type of car insurance to drive?
No, seniors can get the same car insurance from the same companies as younger drivers. They just have to get enough insurance to meet their state’s minimum coverage requirements. If a senior driver has leased or financed their car, they also need comprehensive and collision coverage.
Is car insurance cheaper after you retire?
Car insurance isn't necessarily cheaper after you retire, but it may be more affordable due to your age (and experience) relative to younger drivers. You may also pay less for car insurance after you retire since you won't have to drive to work anymore.
When do seniors start paying more for auto insurance?
While older drivers tend to pay less than younger drivers for car insurance, seniors ages 65 and up can pay more for car insurance. As you get older, your rates will continue to increase, so an 80 or 85-year-old driver would see even higher premiums than someone who is a decade younger.
References
Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of our
Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Kristi Sullivan, CFP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, she was a regional consultant at Fidelity Investments for nine years.
