Seniors may find themselves with more time on their hands but also may be working with a limited income due to reduced work or retirement. Significant life changes are also common, like moving to a new state and driving less. For many seniors, keeping a driver's license and car symbolizes freedom and independence. So the best car insurance for seniors becomes more critical.
The best car insurance for seniors offers affordability, flexibility, and strong coverage. Like other groups, seniors get the best auto insurance by shopping around.
Here are Business Insider's picks for the best car insurance for seniors in 2025.
Best Car Insurance for Seniors
- GEICO Auto Insurance: Best Discounts for Seniors
- Nationwide Auto Insurance: Best Affordable Car Insurance
- The Hartford Auto Insurance: Best Coverage Options and Benefits
- Amica Auto Insurance: Best for Customer Satisfaction
- State Farm Auto Insurance: Best National Car Insurance
- Farmers Auto Insurance: Best for Coverage Upgrades
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Best Discounts for Seniors
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- National presence with coverage in all 50 states
- Buyers can bundle with homeowners, renters, and other insurance products
- Offers some of the most competitive auto insurance rates
- Claims adjusters may be able to reduce or eliminate deductibles on some claims
- Customer satisfaction varies across products
- Claims process may be longer than some competitors based on customer reviews
GEICO offers auto, homeowners, and life insurance. It's been around since 1936 and generally offers some of the lowest rates. However, customer satisfaction may be an issue.
GEICO Auto Insurance- Discounts for safe driving, good grades, military, and more
- Available in all 50 states
GEICO Auto Insurance is known for its affordability. This online bargain insurance provider lets interested buyers run quotes on its website in minutes. In addition, the site automates discounts based on the answers it receives, along with numerous perks for seniors, making it even more competitive. Because of its size and other factors, GEICO is also more flexible for imperfect drivers and multi-generation households.
One of the popular programs for seniors is GEICO's Prime Time program. It offers drivers over 50 guaranteed renewals if they've not had any moving violations or car accidents in the previous three-year period. Unfortunately, it's not available in all states, but it provides drivers peace of mind when it's available.
GEICO also offers defensive driving discounts and lower rates for seniors with five years accident-free, former government workers, and military members and veterans. Seniors may also qualify for its multi-car discount. Senior-specific discounts are available to policyholders 50 or older.
Another way to save with GEICO is through its Accident Forgiveness program, which means your rate won't increase after a first-time at-fault accident. Of course, accidents and tickets are not the only factors determining your annual rates. Unfortunately, large incidents, supply chain issues, etc., can cause premium hikes nationwide. If you're participating in its Accident Forgiveness Program and see your premiums increase, GEICO's customer service agents are available via phone, email, and online chat.
Best Affordable Car Insurance
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- Strong customer satisfaction ratings with JD Power
- Provides nationwide auto insurance coverage with easy online quoting available
- Prices may rise substantially for higher risk drivers
- Customers may not get strong customer support via agents
- Nationwide auto good for senior drivers.
If you're retired or have reduced working hours, your budget matters more than ever. To lower costs, you want a competitive annual premium to help you pay less while staying protected. Nationwide Auto Insurance provides affordable coverage for seniors.
On top of the company's traditional auto insurance, which includes collision, coverage, and liability. Nationwide also has a signature pay-per-mile insurance offering called SmartMiles® in most states. However, it is unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, North Carolina, or New York.
This option can lower costs if you no longer commute to work or rarely drive. Instead of paying a set price, your premium is based on base and per-mile rates. Its website provides an example with a base of $60 and a per-mile rate of $0.07. This flexible approach offers many seniors a happy medium with their current driving profile.
If you're worried about driving too much, after 250 miles per day, you won't be charged anything extra. You may also qualify for a 10% safe driving discount on your renewal. For drivers 55 and up, Nationwide also offers a defensive driving discount.
Best Coverage Options and Benefits
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- Highly ranked for customer satisfaction
- Provides discounted rates across all 50 states for senior drivers
- Coverage is exclusively available to AARP members
- Drivers with a mixed driving history may not qualify
The Hartford offers auto, homeowners, and renters insurance. It's been around since 1810 and is known for providing excellent customer service and a wide array of benefits for AARP members.
The Hartford- Accident forgiveness for first accident
- New car replacement coverage
- Only available to AARP members
The Hartford Auto Insurance is only available to AARP members. It provides the essential coverage senior drivers need with unique coverage options and benefits to customize coverage. A few coverage options include:
- New car replacement coverage: The value of your car drops as soon as you drive it off the lot when you're buying new. If you total your car in your first year of ownership, The Hartford gives policyholders the funds to replace their old car with a new one of a similar make and model.
- RecoverCare: This specialty care offers extra TLC for seniors recovering after a car accident. It pays for everyday living expenses, such as additional transportation costs, food preparation, dog walking, and lawn mowing.
- Lifetime car repair assurance: It connects you with a service provider to repair your vehicle after a qualified claim. If you use an approved repair shop, The Hartford will pay to fix any future related issues if something goes wrong. This protection applies as long as you own the car.
- 24/7 claims hotline available: Whenever you need help, The Hartford offers support 24/7.
As you might expect, The Hartford offers accident forgiveness if you're accident-free for five years. Your first accident after this won't count against you or raise your rates. Policyholders also enjoy an optional disappearing deductible. If you choose this additional coverage, your collision deductible will drop each year you maintain a spot-free driving record.
Policyholders enjoy 10% off for being an AARP member, bundling discounts of up to 5%, and many other discounts. Ultimately, these discounts can make full coverage accessible to seniors on a tight budget. If you're interested in this company, review its website for state-specific information to verify coverage is offered in your state.
Best for Customer Satisfaction
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- Many discounts and options to bundle insurance policies
- high customer satisfaction according to JD Power's auto insurance study
- Long history in the insurance industry
- Not available in Hawaii
- May not provide the most competitive rates for higher risk drivers
- Ranks high in customer satisfaction
- Discount for students and vehicle safety
When shopping for auto insurance, an excellent place to start is customer satisfaction rankings. Amica Auto Insurance was ranked number one in overall customer satisfaction as part of the JD Power Auto Insurance Study, with 903 out of 1,000 points.
Amica offers minimum liability coverage, collision, and comprehensive coverage with add-ons like roadside assistance and gap coverage. The company also provides Platinum Choice® Auto, which includes glass repair, credit monitoring, new car replacement coverage in qualified events, and rental coverage.
Amica Mutual offers discounts of up to 30% for bundling insurance (i.e., home or renters) and up to 25% off if you insure at least two vehicles with the company. You may qualify for additional discounts if you take a defensive driving course and remain accident-free for three years.
Best National Car Insurance
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- Nationwide presence
- High customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction rankings
- Discounts for bundling insurance products
- Quotes are only available through captive agents (who only quote State Farm)
- Pricing may be higher or products unavailable for high-risk drivers
- Rates may rise quickly for households with teen drivers
State Farm auto insurance offers coverage across all 50 states and Washington, DC. It has comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage along with less common options like rideshare coverage.
State FarmMany seniors move to a lower-cost area or to be closer to family after retirement. While this has clear benefits, it can also translate into unknown risks and different insurance needs. The last thing you need is the added complication of switching auto insurers because your current company is not licensed in the state you're moving to.
State Farm auto insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, DC. Its standard coverage includes liability, comprehensive, collision, emergency road service coverage, car rental, and travel expenses coverage. If you're a car collector with sports or antique cars, you can also get those covered through State Farm.
If you bundle insurance policies with State Farm Auto Insurance, you could save up to $1,127 on your auto and home insurance coverage, according to the company website. It offers additional discounts for taking a defensive driving course, being accident-free, and having no moving violations or incidents within three years.
Best for Coverage Upgrades
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- Diverse coverage options for qualified buyers
- Wide array of discounts and bundling options
- Available in all 50 states and Washington, DC
- Prices may not be competitive against many budget auto insurance companies
- Online quoting may not be as easy as some competitors
Most car insurance companies offer standard liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage with rental car coverage, medical payments, and limited roadside service. But if you want optional coverage providing even more, Farmers Auto Insurance can customize your plan to help you find a solution for your unique needs.
The company offers a long list of optional coverages to enhance customer satisfaction. The important part is if it doesn't fit your budget or doesn't seem applicable to your needs, Farmers' base insurance coverage protects you from the big stuff. A few riders available include:
- Loss of use: Even with rental car coverage, you may need other transportation assistance while your car is in the shop. This is particularly common after a severe accident (involving injuries). Its loss of use coverage offers the flexibility to cover your unique transportation needs after a claim.
- Guaranteed Value™: It offers a flat sum if your car is totaled. This coverage is used for collector cars, restoration projects, and other cars with greater value than traditional appraisal methods might conclude.
- Customized equipment: A traditional insurance policy covers your car as originally built. If you customize your vehicle for style or to make it more accessible for someone with mobility issues, standard insurance may not cover it. The customized equipment rider with Farmers ensures you're compensated for your chosen vehicle upgrades.
- Personal umbrella: It can elevate your liability coverage limits and help against potential lawsuits. Many people buy the minimum liability coverage to meet state requirements, mistakenly thinking extra coverage would cost too much. Increased liability coverage is often affordable. But suppose you have a home, auto, and other policies. In that case, an umbrella policy can be bundled in to raise coverage where needed instead of paying for higher liability limits on home, auto, and any other policies you have on an individual basis.
- Glass deductible buyback: This unique Farmers insurance rider provides glass repair with a $100 deductible. Alternatively, its full windshield and glass coverage offers glass repair or replacement with no deductible.
- Spare parts coverage: Many car owners don't need spare parts coverage. If you're rebuilding a car, like to tinker, etc., Farmers offers up to $750 to replace any spare parts you have. This is most commonly purchased for collector cars and classic cars.
- Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM): OEM coverage is available for cars up to ten years old. If you're in a covered accident, it will kick in to pay the extra cost of original manufacturer parts. Particularly with newer cars, the idea is OEM parts are more compatible with your vehicle and will perform more efficiently.
- New car replacement coverage: Unfortunately, not all new cars last as long as we want. When you leave the dealer lot, new cars drop in value, but you can get in an accident anytime. This rider offers enough coverage to replace your brand-new car if it's totaled within the first two years of ownership up to 24,000 miles.
- Accident forgiveness: This perk is offered to accident-free drivers, and it kicks in to cover one accident every three years. If you file a claim under accident forgiveness, your rates will not increase with Farmers.
Given the range and volume of optional coverage, you can tailor your policy to your needs and be protected in many ways. If you're interested in buying a Farmers auto, home, or other policy, we recommend working with a Farmers insurance agent.
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Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose The Best Car Insurance for Seniors
We know many car insurance options exist, and seniors have unique needs when seeking coverage. To find the best insurance for seniors, we researched popular insurers. We factored in annual premiums, senior discounts, coverage options, customer service and customer satisfaction, financial stability, and online reviews.
Auto liability coverage is required in most states, and the options available can vary based on your state. That means the best auto insurance coverage for seniors can change state by state. As part of our review, we looked at diverse providers offering excellent coverage for seniors.
All reviews are based on independent research, and our ratings and reviews reflect facts gathered. Positive reviews and top spots cannot be purchased by any provider. Updates are made only when confirmed by official announcements and information readily available to consumers. This allows us to help consumers find insurance options for their needs.
Read more about how Business Insider rates car insurance.
FAQs
What are the best auto insurance options for seniors on a tight budget?
The best senior auto insurance for affordability is Nationwide with competitive premiums and a signature pay-per-mile program.
What is the cheapest type of car insurance for seniors?
The cheapest type of car insurance for seniors is liability-only insurance, which just covers the cost of injuries and damages of other drivers in an accident that is your fault.
How do I save money on car insurance as a senior?
You can save money on car insurance as a senior by bundling your car insurance with other types of insurance, like homeowners insurance. You can also look for discounts like good driving discounts.
What is the best cheap car insurance provider for seniors?
GEICO is our pick for the cheapest car insurance for seniors with low premiums and numerous discounts to boot. If you're over 50, you may qualify for senior discounts if you take a defensive driving course or insure multiple vehicles.
