Best Car Insurance for Seniors

Based on our research, State Farm offers some of the cheapest premiums for older drivers with an average rate for 67-year-olds of $880 per year for full coverage insurance, which comes out to about $73 per month.

State Farm also offers many discounts for seniors who want to get an even better deal on their car insurance. You can get discounts by:

• Maintaining a clean driving record
• Taking a defensive driving course
• Bundling your policies
• Enrolling in the Drive Safe & Save program
• Having a car with advanced safety features
• Having an anti-theft device in your vehicle

Although State Farm's selection of discounts is impressive, some are only available in certain states. Senior drivers in California can take a mature driver improvement course to access a discount, but this is not offered in most other states.

On the downside, State Farm's add-on coverages fall short of its competitors' offerings. The add-ons the insurer does offer include:

• Roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement
• Rideshare insurance endorsement

Another mark against State Farm is that coverage is not available everywhere. Seniors can purchase State Farm auto insurance in every state and Washington, D.C., except Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

USAA offers deals and discounts to active duty or retired military members and their immediate families.

The caveat is that you must meet the insurer's military service requirements. But if you're a senior who previously served in the military or you're an immediate family member of a current or former service member, you may qualify for great rates and some solid discounts.

Our research showed the average annual full coverage car insurance premiums for 67-year-old drivers is $772, the cheapest car insurance for seniors on our list.

Seniors may also qualify for discounts, including those for:

• Insuring multiple vehicles
• Maintaining a clean driving record
• Driving under a certain annual mileage
• Taking a defensive driving course
• Participating in the SafePilot driver program
• Having a newer vehicle

Where USAA falls short is the availability of add-ons. In fact, the only add-on policies we could find were for roadside assistance and rental car reimbursements, pretty meager add-on offerings.

Still, if you qualify, you won't find a better rate and some of the discounts are particularly attractive to senior drivers.

Since AARP caters to the needs of seniors, drivers 50 and older can find good deals on their premiums and perks they might not have access to from other insurers.

The Hartford only sells car insurance to active AARP members, so if you aren’t a member you have to join the organization and pay the annual membership fee before you can apply for a car insurance policy. It costs $12 for the first year and $16 thereafter.

The Hartford stands out for its add-on coverages, something the other two providers on this list lack. If customization is important to you, this is a great provider. Some of its endorsement policies include:

• Accident forgiveness
• New car replacement
• Full glass coverage
• RecoverCare coverage
• Lifetime car repair assurance
• Gap insurance
• Disappearing deductible
• 24/7 emergency roadside assistance

Despite these perks, The Hartford offers fewer discounts than some of the providers we reviewed. But you can save up to 10% for just being an AARP member. The Hartford provides discounts for:

• Having antilock brakes and airbags
• Having a hybrid or electric vehicle
• Taking a defensive driving course
• Bundling a home and auto policy
• Paying your annual premium in full

On the plus side, the company has excellent claim satisfaction ratings and fewer customer complaints than average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The Hartford is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

GEICO offers solid coverage and policies tailored to the needs of drivers in this stage of life. Its coverage is available in all states, and GEICO offers all the usual car insurance discounts, including savings for good driving (up to 25%) and membership in more than 500 groups, such as alumni associations and professional, military, and recreational organizations. Also, it offers a discount in many states if you take a defensive driving course, as do several other insurers.

If you’re 50 or older, GEICO’s Prime Time provides guaranteed renewal to qualified applicants, as long as you don’t allow people under age 25 to drive your car, have any violations or accidents in the past three years, and don’t use your car for business. However, it’s available in only 30 states.  

Although GEICO does not have a pay-as-you-go mileage-based insurance plan, it does offer lower premiums for reduced mileage. This option could be useful if you’re no longer commuting, although it’s not unusual among insurers. GEICO also offers extra coverages like roadside assistance, mechanical breakdown coverage, and Mexico car insurance.

GEICO provides discounts for:

• Defensive driving
• Five-years of good driving
• Retired government and military
• Multiple vehicles
• Membership and employee

Overall, GEICO checks most of the boxes for coverage options and discount opportunities, which is why it’s our top pick for the best car insurance for older drivers. GEICO ranks as #1 for its digital experience by J.D. Power.

Maybe you’ve retired and no longer need to commute, you run most of your errands by e-bike, or you’re staying closer to home for other reasons. Nationwide is a great choice for older adults whose odometers don’t rack up as many miles as they used to. The SmartMiles program tracks your mileage using a telematics device installed on your car and adjusts your car insurance rates accordingly. Only a few insurers offer this kind of pay-per-mile program, and Nationwide’s is available in 32 states.

Nationwide also has many discounts. In some states, drivers 55 and up may be eligible for a defensive driving discount if they’ve had no at-fault accidents in the past three years and complete an approved driving course. Other cost savings with Nationwide include SmartRide, a usage-based telematics program that offers up to 40% savings based on your driving habits, including the number of miles you drive.

Nationwide also offers multiple add-on coverages, including:

• Accident forgiveness
• Roadside assistance
• Vanishing deductible
• Total-loss deductible waiver

J.D. Power reports that Nationwide’s claims satisfaction scores are below average. Its overall customer satisfaction also ranges from way below to just below average in different U.S. regions.