CarInsurance.com Insights
- The age, make and model of your car, your risk tolerance and overall financial situation can help you determine the best car insurance coverage.
- Travelers, GEICO and USAA offer affordable auto insurance coverage for seniors after 70.
- If you don’t drive often because you’re retired, a pay-per-mile policy or low-mileage discount might help you save on a policy.
Since some age groups are more prone to car accidents than others, your age will play a role in your car insurance rates. However, contrary to popular belief, older drivers don’t always pay more for coverage.
If you’re a senior over 70, you can still land a good deal on an auto policy — especially if you have a clean record, only drive on occasion or complete a defensive driving course.
As long as you shop around and compare your options, you shouldn’t have any problem finding the cheapest car insurance for seniors over 70.
How age impacts your car insurance rates after 70
So, does car insurance go up at age 70? It depends.
“By the time drivers reach their 70s, those same clean records that merited discounts in their 50s might carry less weight. Insurers statistically link this age group to slower reaction times and a higher risk of injury, especially after 75,” says Jordan Blake, director of operations at Shoreline Public Adjusters in Naples, Florida.
That isn’t to say that your driving has shifted, but the algorithm doesn’t recognize that.
“In reality, you’ll often see minor hikes kick in at 70 and sharper ones after 75 or 80 – even if you haven’t filed any claims,” Blake says.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors over 70
Fortunately, there are a number of insurance companies with affordable car insurance for seniors over 70. If you’re seeking coverage as an older driver, here are a few options to explore:
GEICO
GEICO advertises various senior-specific discounts, including the retired government and military discount, five-year good driving discount and membership discount. Plus, you can sign up for DriveEasy, a telematics program that may reward you for driving responsibly.
Travelers
A local Travelers agent can help you zero in on the best car insurance for seniors over 70. Also, Travelers offers an IntelliDrive telematics program, plus a number of discounts that might apply to you, such as the safe driver discount, continuous insurance discount and affinity program discounts.
USAA
USAA might be a good fit if you’re a veteran. In addition to cheap auto insurance for seniors over 70, the insurer offers SafePilot Miles, which allows you to only pay for the miles you drive and can lead to serious savings if you only drive occasionally. You can also enroll in SafePilot, a telematics program that tracks your driving and saves if you practice safe driving habits.
This table shows the cheapest monthly car insurance rates for seniors over 70:
| ompany | Average state minimum cost | Average liability only cost (50/100/50 BI/PD) | Average full coverage cost (100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $88 | $97 | $271 |
| Farmers | $85 | $96 | $266 |
| Geico | $54 | $66 | $195 |
| Nationwide | $82 | $84 | $203 |
| Progressive | $66 | $76 | $208 |
| State Farm | $86 | $95 | $235 |
| Travelers | $69 | $75 | $172 |
| USAA* | $42 | $48 | $146 |
*USAA only offers its services to military members, veterans and their families.
State-by-state cheapest rates for seniors over 70
Your state will affect your car insurance rates as a driver over 70. For example, if you live in Iowa, you’ll pay less than someone in California or Connecticut. The cheapest states for seniors aged 70-75 are Vermont, Maine, Hawaii, Ohio, Indiana, New Hampshire, Idaho and Virginia.
Here’s a look at the cheapest rates for seniors over 70, broken down by state:
| State | Average state minimum cost | Average full coverage cost |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $59 | $190 |
| Alabama | $54 | $176 |
| Arkansas | $63 | $237 |
| Arizona | $73 | $212 |
| California | $83 | $283 |
| Colorado | $65 | $278 |
| Connecticut | $99 | $245 |
| Washington, D.C. | $85 | $298 |
| Delaware | $112 | $263 |
| Florida | $100 | $315 |
| Georgia | $95 | $243 |
| Hawaii | $40 | $146 |
| Iowa | $47 | $198 |
| Idaho | $54 | $165 |
| Illinois | $50 | $167 |
| Indiana | $47 | $161 |
| Kansas | $63 | $207 |
| Kentucky | $67 | $221 |
| Louisiana | $86 | $313 |
| Massachusetts | $60 | $178 |
| Maryland | $72 | $169 |
| Maine | $38 | $142 |
| Michigan | $121 | $350 |
| Minnesota | $73 | $210 |
| Missouri | $53 | $179 |
| Mississippi | $59 | $211 |
| Montana | $50 | $219 |
| North Carolina | $61 | $226 |
| North Dakota | $50 | $200 |
| Nebraska | $49 | $179 |
| New Hampshire | $54 | $161 |
| New Jersey | $126 | $271 |
| New Mexico | $54 | $219 |
| Nevada | $112 | $371 |
| New York | $114 | $232 |
| Ohio | $46 | $160 |
| Oklahoma | $53 | $239 |
| Oregon | $73 | $170 |
| Pennsylvania | $42 | $197 |
| Rhode Island | $80 | $253 |
| South Carolina | $77 | $215 |
| South Dakota | $40 | $198 |
| Tennessee | $58 | $188 |
| Texas | $80 | $260 |
| Utah | $88 | $220 |
| Virginia | $66 | $166 |
| Vermont | $36 | $137 |
| Washington | $62 | $218 |
| Wisconsin | $57 | $208 |
| West Virginia | $53 | $202 |
| Wyoming | $31 | $189 |
Note: Average full coverage cost (100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll)
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How seniors over 70 can get cheaper car insurance
If you’re over 70, these strategies can help you secure affordable premiums on an auto policy:
- Regularly shop around: “The biggest mistake seniors make is being loyal, out of a sense of habit, to one company,” Blake says. Shop your policy every two years, especially if your insurer starts to increase your rate.
- Take a defensive driving course: A defensive driving course goes beyond improving your driving skills. It can also knock off a hefty amount on your rate. Just ensure the discount is available in your state and your insurer is on board.
- Consider pay-per-mile insurance: Pay-per-mile insurance may be worthwhile if you’re retired or don’t drive a lot because you prefer to stay in your local area. You’ll only pay for the miles you drive.
- Bundle your coverage: Chances are, you need home insurance, renters insurance or another type of insurance in addition to auto insurance. You’ll likely save some cash if you buy more than one policy from the same insurer.
Senior-specific car insurance discounts
Most insurance companies offer car insurance discounts that may apply to seniors over 70. Before you finalize an auto policy, determine whether an insurance company offers these discount opportunities:
- Automatic payment/online billing discounts: If you agree to have your premiums automatically deducted from your account, you might qualify for an autopay discount. Some insurers will slash your rate if you sign up for online billing.
- Retiree discounts: Retiree discounts are specifically designed for drivers out of the workforce.
- Low-mileage discounts: Some insurance companies offer specific discounts for those who drive less than 12,000 miles per year, for example.
- Membership discounts: If you’re a member of AARP or another organization, you might be eligible for a discount.
What coverage do seniors really need?
Full coverage isn’t a necessary expense for all drivers.
“If your car is worth less than $5,000 and you could go out and buy another one tomorrow without touching your emergency fund, it may be wise to forgo comprehensive and collision car insurance,” Blake says.
However, in many cases, it makes sense to purchase additional liability insurance beyond what is required by the state.
“If you only have state minimums, one bad accident can erase decades of savings. He explains that hiking liability limits is nonnegotiable for those with assets, home equity, retirement accounts,” he says.
In addition, medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP) may be worth the extra cost.
“Even if you have Medicare and other types of health insurance, there is plenty of room where PIP or MedPay activates more quickly or covers gaps, in deductible, co-pay or out of network, for example,” Blake says.
Blake knows some seniors who have passed up medical care after an accident solely because of cost. PIP, however, eliminates this issue.
“It can give you the courage to actually pursue treatment without concern for the bill,” he says.
Frequently asked questions
Does car insurance automatically decline for seniors who are over 70 and retired?
Unfortunately, car insurance premiums won’t automatically go down because you’re retired. The good news is you can shop around, take advantage of discounts, explore pay-per-mile insurance and complete a defensive driving course to lower your rates.
What type of car insurance do seniors over 70 need if they have an older car?
If you have an older car that isn’t worth much, full coverage insurance might not be worth it. It might cost you more than the payout after an accident. You may be better off with a basic liability plan — especially if you’re looking for cheap coverage.
Will my car insurance rates remain the same if I move after 70?
Since location impacts car insurance costs, you might notice that your premiums increase or decrease after you move. For example, if you move to a small town with a lower accident and theft rate, you may qualify for a cheaper policy. On the flip side, your rates will likely increase if you go from a rural area to an urban city.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- California Department of Insurance. “Driving for Seniors.” Accessed June 2026.
- Insurance Information Institute. “Senior Driving Safety and Insurance Tips.” Accessed June 2026.
Methodology
CarInsurance.com editors analyzed rate data from Quadrant Information Services (2026) for 70 and 75-year-old males and females, driving a Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violations on record.
Rates are shown for state-minimum, liability-only (50/100/50 BI/PD) and full coverage (100/300/100 BI/PD with $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles), and are reported as monthly averages. Read the detailed methodology.
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