The best car insurance for seniors in June 2026

Getting car insurance as an older driver can come with some unique considerations.

Premiums are typically lowest for people in their 60s, who have decades of driving experience and are less likely to take risks on the road. In fact, the average 60-year-old pays $1,934 annually for car insurance, less than the national average price of $2,168, according to the insurance comparison site The Zebra. Rates tick upward around age 70 — when the average becomes $2,089 per year — because insurance companies believe changes in vision, hearing, reflexes and cognition are risk factors for accidents.

Thankfully, it's still possible for this group to find reasonably priced coverage. Look for companies that offer discounts aimed at older adults and perks like accident forgiveness. Comparison shop at least once a year to make sure you're getting the best possible price.

CNBC Select reviewed more than 25 providers to determine the best car insurance companies for older people, based on price, coverage, availability and other criteria. To learn more about how we made our selections, check out our methodology.

Who's this for: Geico has below-average rates for older drivers, plus discounts for retired government employees and drivers 50 and older who complete a defensive driving course.

Standout benefits: Geico's Prime Time contract allows drivers 50 and over to get guaranteed renewal, protecting them from being dropped because of an accident.

Who's this for:  The Hartford offers RecoverCare, which pays up to $2,500 for services you may need if you've been injured in a covered accident, including transportation, housekeeping and dogwalking. Policies are available to AARP members.

Standout benefits: The Hartford's telematics program, TrueLane, can save you up to 40% for following safe driving habits.

Who's this for: Travelers' new car discount can earn you up to 3% off your premiums if your vehicle is no more than three model years old. It also offers gap coverage, which can pay off the remaining balance on your car loan if your vehicle is totaled or stolen.

Standout benefits: Doing your part for the environment? Travelers offers up to 2% off if you have a hybrid or electric car.

Who's this for: Progressive is a great option for older drivers with a less-than-spotless record — it landed on our list of best car insurance for high-risk drivers, since it offers reasonable rates for those with accidents, tickets or poor credit scores.

Standout benefits: Progressive's accident forgiveness program means your rate won't increase for claims under $500. If you stay accident-free for five years, even a larger collision won't raise your premiums.

Who's this for? Nationwide offers pay-per-mile insurance, making it ideal if you don't drive frequently.

Standout benefits: With Nationwide's SmartMiles program, your premiums are based on a low flat rate combined with a per-mile cost. According to Nationwide, SmartMiles users who drive 500 miles monthly pay an average of 28% less than they would with a regular policy.

Who's this for? Auto-Owners is for drivers who prioritize customer service — it's consistently rated highly for customer service and claims satisfaction by J.D. Power. It also receives half as many complaints as other providers, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Standout benefits: Auto-Owners allows for a lot of customization, with add-ons like diminished value coverage, rideshare insurance and additional expense coverage. If both your home and vehicle are damaged, the common loss deductible allows you to reduce or waive the auto deductible.

Who's this for? USAA is great for active or retired military, and has some of the lowest rates for full coverage. CNBC Select chose it as one of the best low-cost car insurance companies as well as one of the best options overall.

Standout benefits: USAA is available in all 50 states, so you won't have to look for a new insurer if you move in retirement.

In some ways, insurance companies reward experienced drivers: The average annual premium for a 60-year-old male is $1,934, still less than the national average of $2,168, as cited by The Zebra.

But rates start to increase at age 70, and premiums bump up to an average of $2,089. After that, rates steadily increase.

Insurance rates for older Americans are higher because they tend to drive older cars that are harder to repair. More notably, though, insurers believe they are more likely to file a claim because older drivers are statistically more likely to be in accidents. Fatal crashes increase noticeably among drivers aged 70 to 74, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and peak once you hit 85.

But age is only one factor. A good driving record and credit history can go a long way to keeping your rates down.

Insurance companies lure drivers with a variety of discounts. Most are not age-dependent, but many are ideal for older Americans.

• Defensive driving discount
• Good driving discount
• Military and veteran discount
• Multi-policy discount (bundling)
• Multi-car discount
• Low-mileage discount
• Organizational discounts
• Homeowners discounts
• AARP membership

There are several things you can do to keep your premiums from increasing with the number of candles on your birthday cake.

1. Shop for a new policy

No two insurers will offer you the same rate, so it's worth getting quotes from several providers — especially if you have good credit, a good driving record or own your home. Geico's Prime Time contract can provide guaranteed renewal if you're at least 50, have no drivers under 25 on your policy and no violations in the last three years.

2. Bundle home and auto insurance

Getting your homeowners policy from the same company that issued you car insurance can lower your premiums. Allstate has one of the best bundling discounts in the industry, with savings of up to 25% a year when you bundle home and auto online.

3. Raise your deductible

When you file a claim, your deductible is the amount you're responsible for before your insurance kicks in. Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce the cost of collision and comprehensive coverage by up to 30%, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Upping it to $1,000 could save you 40% or more.

But if you don't think you can pay more out of pocket or have a spotty driving record, this isn't the strategy for you.

4. Switch to a pay-per-mile policy

If you're driving less than you used to, you could save some money by switching from a traditional insurance policy to a pay-per-mile plan. These policies charge a low base rate per month, plus a few cents per mile you drive.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to help them make informed financial decisions. Every car insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best car insurance for seniors.

Our methodology

To determine the best car insurance for older people, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of providers and compared them based on various factors, including cost, coverage, availability and customer service. 

While narrowing down the best companies, we focused on a sample annual premium from Bankrate for a 70-year-old driver with a clean driving record, good credit, and a 2020 Toyota Camry driven 12,000 miles annually with the following coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

From there, we looked at the availability of discounts for older drivers and considered customer satisfaction scores from the Better Business Bureau, J.D. Power surveys on auto insurance and the claims process and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index, as well as financial strength ratings from A.M. Best.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools. 

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