Throughout your driving life, you’ve been used to seeing your insurance rates decrease with each passing birthday celebration. Barring, of course, you haven’t been in a recent accident and have a good driving record.

But at 70, drivers will start seeing their rates steadily rise, which may come as a shock.

“If somebody has a clean driving history, we usually don’t see much of a change,” says Jana Foster, owner of Nevada Insurance Agency Co., a full-service brokerage with offices in Carson City and Reno. “But starting at around 70, 75 carriers begin to take a closer look.

“If they see some interesting things on your driving record, they may potentially start doing it (raising rates) a little earlier.”

The average national car insurance rate for a 70-year-old driver is about $1,563 per year or $130 per month, for a full coverage policy. That’s about $76 more than how much a driver would expect to pay at age 65, and $127 more than at age 60.

Read on to learn more about car insurance for 70-year-olds and ways to save on car insurance.

Key Highlights
  • For a full coverage policy, a 70-year-old driver pays an average of $1,563 per year or $130 monthly for car insurance.
  • Male drivers will pay slightly more than females at this age, but not much. 
  • Males pay an average of $1,586 for a full coverage policy, while females pay $1,541. 
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Written by:
Mel Duvall
Contributing Researcher
Mel Duvall is an award-winning senior business writer and communications professional. He served as Senior Media Manager for Husky Energy, a fully integrated energy company with operations in Canada, the United States, China and Indonesia. Mel also served a three-year term on the Mount Royal University Journalism Committee.
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Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
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Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

What’s the average cost for a 70-year-old?

Tip iconAverage car insurance rates for 70-year-olds

The average car insurance rate for a 70-year-old at three coverage levels is as follows per year:

  • State minimum liability coverage: $509
  • Liability coverage with limits of 50/100/50: $636
  • 100/300/100 liability with a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible: $1,563

What you pay will vary depending on many factors, ranging from the insurance company you choose, to where you live, coverage levels and the deductible you select.

See the table below to see how much car insurance costs for males vs. females at various coverage levels in each state.

Average car insurance cost by coverage levels in each state for 70-year-old male & female
State State Minimum Female State  Minimum Male Liability Only Female Liability Only Male Full Coverage Female Full Coverage Male
Alaska$370$377$451$455$1,338$1,370
Alabama$397$420$565$585$1,398$1,469
Arkansas$369$387$458$475$1,334$1,392
Arizona$486$514$689$712$1,457$1,531
California$631$631$914$914$2,155$2,155
Colorado$470$487$764$781$1,740$1,801
Connecticut$808$821$899$914$1,790$1,836
Washington D.C.$607$618$698$711$1,827$1,876
Delaware$833$861$1,021$1,046$1,983$2,054
Florida$908$923$1,596$1,618$2,531$2,632
Georgia$540$564$674$698$1,548$1,602
Hawaii$389$389$519$519$1,306$1,306
Iowa$277$287$341$351$1,182$1,227
Idaho$310$321$381$393$1,016$1,049
Illinois$454$465$507$519$1,357$1,400
Indiana$370$383$433$445$1,164$1,200
Kansas$413$415$440$443$1,386$1,429
Kentucky$628$630$824$829$1,832$1,868
Louisiana$662$685$1,233$1,246$2,531$2,587
Massachusetts$445$445$547$547$1,264$1,264
Maryland$662$671$704$713$1,554$1,600
Maine$319$322$322$326$1,023$1,064
Michigan$811$811$860$860$2,138$2,138
Minnesota$505$493$543$532$1,401$1,409
Missouri$498$525$567$600$1,731$1,841
Mississippi$416$433$567$586$1,432$1,498
Montana$363$363$504$504$1,658$1,658
North Carolina$404$404$444$444$1,317$1,317
North Dakota$347$348$363$364$1,171$1,211
Nebraska$348$362$386$400$1,834$1,892
New Hampshire$426$431$469$474$1,290$1,302
New Jersey$1,043$1,029$1,194$1,183$1,913$1,925
New Mexico$403$416$595$608$1,462$1,514
Nevada$698$745$1,050$1,100$1,929$2,057
New York$974$981$1,071$1,081$2,135$2,209
Ohio$306$319$371$384$982$1,013
Oklahoma$350$367$551$566$1,579$1,660
Oregon$590$575$641$625$1,240$1,241
Pennsylvania$335$335$436$436$1,225$1,225
Rhode Island$679$680$841$840$1,873$1,898
South Carolina$709$712$907$901$1,940$1,960
South Dakota$281$291$305$316$1,352$1,420
Tennessee$352$369$438$457$1,261$1,320
Texas$567$596$716$737$1,788$1,867
Utah$543$567$676$705$1,416$1,481
Virginia$491$516$494$524$1,201$1,270
Vermont$296$306$329$341$1,086$1,118
Washington$486$491$639$643$1,215$1,245
Wisconsin$348$368$390$416$1,219$1,293
West Virginia$459$461$520$522$1,533$1,542
Wyoming$289$296$330$338$1,577$1,629

Note:

  • State Minimum: State Minimum Liability Only 
  • Liability Only: 50/100/50 Liability Only
  • Full Coverage: 100/300/100 is liability with comp/collision and $500 deductible.

Check out our detailed guide on what are the average car insurance rates by age

How much is car insurance for a 70-year-old each month?

The table below shows how much car insurance costs for a 70-year-old per month, on average.

Monthly cost for car insurance for 70-year-olds 
Coverage level
National average cost per month
Liability-only coverage$42
50/100/50 coverage$53
Full 100/300/100 coverage$130

How much is car insurance for a 70-year-old male?

At age 70, men pay an average of $1,586 for a full coverage policy. While that is about $45 more than what a woman pays per year, it’s still comparable. It’s also a far cry from their teens and early 20s when males are assessed substantially more than females.

For example, a 20-year-old male driver pays almost $470 more per year than a female driver for a full coverage policy.

Average annual insurance rates for 70-year-old males
70-year-old policy maleYearly national average
Liability-only coverage$514
50/100/50 coverage$642
Full 100/300/100 coverage$1,586

How much is car insurance for a 70-year-old female?

A 70-year-old female driver with a good driving record will still enjoy some of the cheapest rates of their life, but rates are heading back up. 

The average national cost of a full coverage insurance policy for a 70-year-old female with a $500 comprehensive/collision deductible is $1,541. That’s an increase of about $69 from what they would pay if aged 65. 

Average annual insurance rates for 70-year-old females
70-year-old policy femaleYearly national average
Liability-only coverage$503
50/100/50 coverage$631
Full 100/300/100 coverage$1,541

What’s the best car insurance for 70-year-old drivers?

The bare minimum is liability car insurance, which pays for others’ injuries and damage you cause to their property in an accident. But typically, the state-minimum coverage isn’t enough – particularly, as you accumulate assets, such as a house and various investments. Medical costs can quickly escalate if significant injuries follow an accident and property damages, potentially putting your assets at risk.

If you’re financing a vehicle, lenders usually require comprehensive and collision coverage. If you paid off your car, you decide to continue with these coverages, which cover your car following a crash and for damage due to fire, hail, vandalism and animal strikes.

Most older adults get comprehensive insurance and collision coverage, which pays for repairs following an accident. If you have a higher deductible, you can lower your rate, but will have to pay for minor repairs following an accident.

Foster says drivers at this age typically drive less and their driving time changes. They may avoid driving in rush hours, limit driving at night and stick closer to home. That’s not always the case, of course. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says in a report on older drivers that the number of drivers aged 70 and older is growing. That’s partly because they make up a more significant proportion of the population than they used to, but also because they’re keeping their licenses longer.

Drivers aged 65-69 have the lowest property damage liability and collision claims rates per insured vehicle. However, starting after age 70, those rates begin to climb.

Car insurance discounts for 70-year-olds

The three most significant factors for getting the lowest insurance rates are to stay accident-free, have a clean, infraction-free driving record and maintain a good credit score.

After that, it pays to look for various discounts and affiliations that could bring further savings.

While people at this age are less likely to take advantage of discounts for establishing paperless billing, carriers often offer them. Paying your premium upfront, bundling discounts and multi-vehicle discounts are also available.

If you’ve retired, many carriers will still offer discounted rates to former employees of companies or corporate retiree associations that may have partnerships.

Kevin Lynch, an associate professor of insurance at The American College of Financial Services, says you may also want to consider joining seniors-oriented organizations like the AARP that have partnerships with insurers. AARP, for example, has partnered with The Hartford for discounted rates for seniors. 

“Don’t forget to remember the value in bundling insurance,” he adds. Even if you sell your home and move into a condo or retirement village, there’s still an opportunity to bundle auto with condo or renter’s insurance.

“Several carriers that previously only offered auto insurance have partnered with other companies and can now offer discounts for bundled auto and home insurance,” he says. He points to Geico as a prime example.

Final thoughts on car insurance for 70-year-olds

Many drivers will continue to be healthy and drive well into their 80s and even 90s. However, your rates will increase, and insurers may ask more questions. 

Nevada Insurance Agency’s Foster says the carriers begin to scrutinize your driving record more closely, watching for abrupt changes. 

“From 75 up, the questions they ask and how they look at your risk profile gets harder,” she says. 

 It’s wise to shop around and compare rates from multiple insurance providers. This should help you get an excellent policy at the best price with an online calculator.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. “ Report on Older Drivers.” Accessed May 2023.
  2. AARP. “Auto and Property Insurance.” Accessed May 2023.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2023 to field rates for auto insurance for 70-year-olds at various coverage levels and for males and females by gender.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

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John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Contributing Researcher

Mel Duvall is an award-winning senior business writer and communications professional. He served as Senior Media Manager for Husky Energy, a fully integrated energy company with operations in Canada, the United States, China and Indonesia. Mel also served a three-year term on the Mount Royal University Journalism Committee.