Best car insurance for seniors

Car insurance rates begin to rise for drivers after age 65 due to insurers’ concerns about age-related risks. This makes it important to shop around and find the car insurance company that can deliver the protection you need without breaking your budget.

To uncover the best auto insurance for senior drivers, Yahoo Finance carefully analyzed 20 leading auto insurers. We compared average senior driver costs, reviewed key discounts, assessed coverage features useful to seniors, and examined claims-handling scores from collision experts. Our editors identified car insurance companies that deliver seniors the coverage they need at reasonable rates.

The Hartford offers seniors the lowest rates of all the auto insurance companies we evaluated. Cheap prices, useful discounts, and excellent coverage options for seniors made The Hartford rise to the top of our rankings. The Hartford partners with AARP to give drivers 50 and older an exclusive discount of up to 10%. The Hartford is available nationwide and offers online quotes, making it easy to get pricing when comparison shopping.

The Hartford pros and cons

Pros

• Cheapest rates for senior drivers among the companies we analyzed

• A home and auto bundling discount is available

• AARP members get a special discount of up to 10%

• Offers accident forgiveness, a disappearing deductible, gap insurance, and new car replacement

• Roadside assistance that includes towing up to 100 miles is available

Cons

• Its UBI program, TrueLane, can raise prices for risky drivers

• Doesn’t offer a pay-per-mile plan or low-mileage discount

• Average cost for senior drivers: $103 per month

• Availability: 50 states and D.C.

• Crash Network grade for claims handling: C+

• Coverage offerings: 13 options

• Available discounts: 11 types

Learn more: The Hartford auto insurance review

Affordable pricing (tied for second-cheapest with Farm Bureau), a broad range of useful coverage options, and strong discount offerings make American Family one of the best choices for senior drivers. It also has the best rates for drivers after an accident, which can be helpful for aging drivers who might experience a fender bender. Its MilesMyWay low-mileage program provides retired seniors (and others who drive fewer than 8,000 miles annually) with savings of up to 25% per month on each enrolled vehicle.

American Family pros and cons

Pros

• Second-lowest rates in our analysis

• Offers a low-mileage discount program, MilesMyWay, and a bundling discount

• Accident forgiveness, roadside assistance, new car replacement, gap insurance, and a diminishing deductible are available

Cons

• Limited availability in the U.S.

• A C+ grade for claims handling

• Its UBI program, DriveMyWay, can raise rates for risky drivers

• Average cost for senior drivers: $104 per month (tied for second-lowest)

• Availability: 19 states (mostly located in the Midwest and the West)

• Crash Network grade for claims handling: C+

• Coverage offerings: 11 options

• Available discounts: 17 types

Learn more: American Family auto insurance review

Outstanding scores for its claims handling and low car insurance costs (tied for second-lowest with American Family) make Farm Bureau a standout insurer for seniors. The CRASH Network repair grades for Farm Bureau were stellar throughout the country, ranging from an A+ in North Carolina to a B- in Texas. Its usage-based insurance program, Driveology, offers a high possible discount and, unlike many competitors, your rates won’t increase if you’re found to be a riskier driver.

Farm Bureau pros and cons

Pros

• Second-cheapest rates

• Earned high marks from collision experts nationwide for claims services

• Its UBI program, “Driveology,” offers up to a 50% discount

• Low mileage and a bundling discount

• Roadside assistance, new car replacement, and gap insurance are available

Cons

• No diminishing deductible

• Accident forgiveness, custom parts, or OEM coverage varies by location

• Average cost for senior drivers: $104 per month (tied for second-lowest)

• Availability: 46 states

• Crash Network grade for claims handling: A+in North Carolina, A- in Michigan, and B+ in multiple other states

• Coverage offerings: 6 options

• Available discounts: 8 discount types

Learn more: Farm Bureau car insurance review

Farmers offers reasonable rates, a wide array of coverage options, and generous discount opportunities for seniors. A bundling discount is offered if you buy both an auto and home or renters policy with Farmers. A low-mileage discount can help seniors who stay below 7,500 miles reduce their car insurance costs. Discounts can also be earned through its usage-based program, Signal, for safe drivers, but risky drivers may see higher rates.

Farmers pros and cons

Pros

• Senior auto insurance prices are below average

• Home and auto bundling and a low-mileage discount are available

• Offers roadside assistance, new car replacement, and gap insurance

• Accident forgiveness and a diminishing deductible are available

Cons

• Mediocre grade of C- for its claims handling

• Its UBI program, Signal, can raise rates for riskier drivers

• Average cost for senior drivers: $128 per month

• Availability: 50 states and D.C.

• Crash Network grade for claims handling: C-

• Coverage offerings: 17 options

• Available discounts: 19 types

Learn more: Farmers auto insurance review

Nationwide’s robust selection of coverage types, generous discounts, pay-per-mile, and usage-based insurance programs make it worth checking out if you’re a senior driver. SmartMiles, its pay-per-mile program, can help seniors who don’t drive much save on car insurance costs. SmartRide, its UBI program, has up to a 40% discount and won’t raise rates for riskier drivers as many competitors do.

Nationwide pros and cons

Pros

• Offers a pay-per-mile program, SmartMiles

• Accident forgiveness and a diminishing deductible are available

• Roadside assistance, new car replacement, and gap insurance are offered

• Its UBI program, SmartRide, offers a strong discount and doesn’t raise rates for risky drivers

Cons

• Not available in every state

• Senior driver rates are above average

• Average C grade on its claims handling from collision experts

• Average cost for senior drivers: $136 per month

• Availability: 46 states and D.C.

• Crash Network grade for claims handling: C

• Coverage offerings: 14 options

• Available discounts: 9 types

Learn more: Nationwide auto insurance review

We assessed 20 leading car insurance companies to find out which were best for senior drivers. The Hartford emerged as the top choice for seniors, earning 5 out of 5 stars. American Family, the number one company in our overall best car insurance list, came in a close second for seniors with a rating of 4.9 stars.

Here’s a look at how all the companies we evaluated for the best car insurance for senior drivers ranked.

Senior drivers need to buy at least the state minimum liability limits and any other mandated coverage types, but there are optional coverage types you may want for extra protection. The most common optional coverage purchases are collision and comprehensive, which protect your car. These two coverage types, along with state-required coverage, make up a full coverage car insurance policy:

• Collision coverage: Pays for repairs or replacement of your vehicle after an auto accident in which your car collides with another car or object, like a building, fence, or guardrail. It comes with a deductible.

• Comprehensive coverage: Pays for damage caused by severe weather, fire, vandalism, theft, hitting an animal, or falling objects. It comes with a deductible.

Collision and comprehensive aren’t mandated by any state, but lenders will require them if you have a lease or loan on your car.

Here are other coverage options to consider including on your senior driver auto policy:

• Accident forgiveness: Your rates won’t increase after an at-fault accident. Terms vary by insurer, and some offer it as a perk, while others offer it as an add-on coverage you pay for.

• Diminishing deductible: Lowers your collision deductible amount over time for safe driving. For instance, an insurer will lower your deductible by $100 for each year you maintain a clean driving record. A $1,000 deductible could be reduced to $500 after five years.

• Gap insurance: Pays the difference between your claim payout for a totaled vehicle and the amount still owed on a loan or lease, minus your deductible. It’s helpful to have if you owe more than what your vehicle is worth.

• New car replacement: Details vary by insurer, but typically, if you total a car that’s a year or two old, this coverage will replace it with a brand-new car of the same make and model instead of paying you out a depreciated amount.

• Roadside assistance: Typically includes services like towing a disabled vehicle, changing a flat tire, jump-starting a dead battery, and lockout assistance.

Senior driver auto insurance prices differ by insurance company, so you can really save by shopping around for coverage. The average senior driver’s monthly premium for full coverage is $129 a month, according to our analysis of data from the auto insurance marketplace Savvy Insurance Solutions.

Here are some tips to help you find the best car insurance company that is the most affordable and suitable for your senior driver needs.

As a senior driver, your insurance needs might differ from years past. Evaluate your situation and build your auto policy coverage and limits accordingly. If you have a new car, consider new car replacement or gap insurance. If you have less income, determine if you have extras that you can drop from your policy, such as roadside assistance or rental reimbursement. If you aren’t certain what coverage and limits are best for you, ask an agent for help.

Comparison shopping is one of the best ways to save. We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies, but more if you have time. Make certain your quotes are for the same exact coverage types and limits so you can accurately compare quotes to see which insurer is offering you the lowest price.

Many discounts are automatically applied when you fill out a car insurance quote form online, but others you may have to seek out. Ask about easy-to-obtain discounts, for instance, a paperless discount for getting documents online. Ask if a membership gets you a discount, such as the AARP discount with The Hartford. Look into buying both your auto insurance and home insurance (or renters insurance) with the same insurer to get a bundling discount. As you reach your golden years, ask your agent what senior-related discounts are available.

Learn more: Car insurance discounts: 17 way to save

Most states require auto insurers to offer a discount to mature drivers who complete an approved defensive driving course. This course is meant to refresh and strengthen your driving skills so that you’re less likely to be in an accident (and make a claim). Check with your insurer to make sure a course is approved for the discount before getting started.

If you’re retired or driving less, a pay-per-mile program like Nationwide’s SmartMiles could help you save. Or you may want to try out usage-based insurance programs that reward lower annual miles and safe driving behavior with discounts. Many UBI programs also include feedback on your driving, which may help seniors spot issues they need to correct as they age. Watch out for insurers that will raise your rates if your UBI data finds you to be a riskier driver.

It’s a smart move to review your car insurance policy at least once a year, to make sure the coverage, limits, and price still work for your needs. Comparison shop again and make any changes to the policy that your current situation dictates to help you save money and provide the protection you need.

The Hartford is the best car insurance company for senior drivers, according to our evaluation of 20 leading auto insurers. In addition to competitive rates and solid coverage options, The Hartford partners with AARP, providing members a discount of up to 10%. To find the auto insurer that best suits your needs, comparison shop with multiple companies.

Our analysis of rates for senior drivers found that The Hartford offers the lowest rates at $103 per month. American Family and Farm Bureau tied for the second-cheapest, with an average rate of $104 per month. Rates for seniors start to rise after 65, so make sure to shop around to find costs that fit your budget.

Tim Manni edited this article.

To identify the best car insurance companies for seniors, Yahoo Finance evaluated 20 insurers across price, senior-relevant discounts, claims performance, and protective add-ons. Each company was scored using a standardized rubric that reflects what matters most to older drivers, including affordability, low-mileage flexibility, and financial protections after an accident.

All factors were converted to a standardized point scale and combined into a composite score for each insurer. Senior rate competitiveness carried the greatest weight, followed by discounts tailored to retired or low-mileage drivers, claims handling performance, and the availability of key add-ons.

1. Senior rates (40% of score). The average rate estimates are provided by Savvy Insurance Solutions (“Savvy”). Savvy operates a marketplace for home and auto insurance, plus an agency licensed in all 50 states. Estimates are generated using Savvy’s in-house machine learning models based on over 3 million data points, and include more than 15 of the largest insurance companies in Savvy’s nationwide data set. Savvy creates estimates by running models against multiple inputs to the parameters of interest. For instance, the “senior driver” estimates were created by adjusting the policyholder age input into the pricing model while keeping all other variables steady from the baseline for “full coverage.” Full coverage car insurance includes liability insurance, any other state-required coverage, plus collision and comprehensive coverage.

2. Senior-relevant discounts (25% of score). We evaluated insurers on discounts most meaningful to older households: Bundling, low-mileage discount or pay-per-mile option, and usage-based insurance (UBI) programs. For UBI programs, we differentiated between programs that could raise a senior’s premium based on the UBI data versus those that did not. Additional points were granted for other senior-oriented discounts offered, such as a dedicated mature-driver or age-based discount, including credits tied to approved defensive-driving courses.

3. Protective, senior-focused add-on coverages (25% of score). We awarded additional credit to insurers that offer features that can reduce financial risk and out-of-pocket costs for older drivers: Roadside assistance, accident forgiveness, diminishing deductible, new car replacement, and gap insurance. Each available add-on contributed incremental points to the insurer’s total.

4. Claims handling performance (10% of score). We incorporated grades from the 2025 CRASH Network Insurer Report Cards, which reflect feedback from collision-repair professionals about how insurers handle real-world claims. Companies with higher CRASH scores – indicating fairer repair processes and better support for policyholders – received more points.

Unless stated otherwise, the estimates above are provided by Savvy Insurance Solutions (“Savvy”). Savvy operates a marketplace for home and auto insurance, plus an agency licensed in all 50 states. Estimates are generated using Savvy’s in-house machine learning models based on over 3 million data points, and include more than 15 of the largest insurance companies in Savvy’s nationwide data set. This includes data from more than 2 million insurance accounts connected through Trellis Connect, an in-house technology allowing consumers to “link” their insurance accounts before searching for insurance, and tens of thousands of policies bound by Savvy’s own agents. It takes into account a myriad of factors to create predictions, such as:

• Policyholder age

• Number of vehicles

• ZIP code

• Vehicle age

• Insurer

• …and more

Savvy creates estimates by running models against multiple inputs to the parameters of interest. For instance, the “teen driver” estimates were created by adjusting the policyholder age input into the pricing model while keeping all other variables steady from the baseline for “full coverage.” The models enable hyper-personalized estimates that take into account a plethora of user attribute permutations (e.g., teen drivers in specific states, teen drivers with new vehicles, teen drivers in specific states with new vehicles) to provide individuals with a unique and tailored experience. The charts above are a subset of the kinds of personalization Savvy can do.

The following are definitions used by Savvy when providing its rate estimates for various types of coverage.

Full coverage car insurance: A policy with comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage.

Average policyholder: A 48-year-old driver who owns a 13-year-old vehicle and lives in an average-income ZIP code.

Senior driver: A 70-year-old policyholder with full coverage car insurance.

Good driver: Drivers across all coverage types, vehicle types, and locations who have no tickets, accidents or DUIs.