Car Insurance for Over 55

Individuals aged 55 and above are likely to pay more for car insurance because these drivers are considered to be high-risk compared to their middle-aged counterparts.

The basis for this includes health-related conditions such as:

• Slower reflexes
• Hearing and vision impairment
• Medications

According to the United States Census Bureau, almost 19 percent of all road accidents involve seniors aged 55 and above. In fact, older drivers come second concerning collision rates, after the young male motorists between ages 16 and 25.

Also, senior drivers suffer more serious injuries and more deaths than younger drivers. This increased risk of injury and death make older people more expensive to treat after an injury. All these factors can raise the insurers’ claim costs, and these costs are passed on.

There is, however, a flip side to all these increases. Many states dictate that drivers who are over the age of 55 should be given discounts for great driving or for undertaking approved driving courses. These discounts are offered following the below conditions.

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Overall Good Health

Some states demand that certain health issues be recorded on a person’s DMV record and driver’s license. Some of these health concerns include:

• Hearing loss
• Poor vision
• Tendency to seizures

Unfortunately, as a senior driver, if any of these conditions affect you severely, you will most likely not qualify for any considerable discounts.

Corrective actions should be taken to allow individuals with minor hearing and vision loss to still drive safely.

In most states, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and other corrective tools will be listed on an individual’s driver’s license.

However, as long as older drivers meet the state requirements for safe driving, the use of these corrective devices should not make a driver be denied a discount.

Safe Driving Record

This is the first thing insurers consider before giving discounts to senior drivers. Ideally speaking, if a 58-year-old driver has had the same insurer for ten to twenty years, he is likely to be given discounts if he has had fewer or no claims within that duration.

An accident-free record is usually the ideal situation; however, one or two minor collisions over the lifetime of an older driver can still be overlooked.

Other than accidents, auto insurance companies also look at speeding tickets and other violations.

Again, the ideal scenario would be to have a record that is free of such offenses. Fortunately, in most states, the most common violations will be scrapped off your driving record after some few years.

Most serious violations like hit-and-run or conviction for felony DWI may, however, cause you a problem for the rest of your life.

Geographic Location

Your geographic location determines the price you will pay for car insurance, regardless of your age.

For instance, the more densely populated an area is, the more inhabitants of that region will pay for their car insurance. This high insurance rate affects the seniors more, in that they are high-risk in the densely populated areas.

An older adult living in a small-to-medium-sized town or rural area will most likely get a substantial discount than another elderly residing in a more metropolitan area.

In instances where the senior has comprehensive car insurance to cater for theft cases, discounts are not easily given in metropolitan areas where the rate of car theft is high. Moreover, senior drivers are more prone to car theft due to their age and demeanor.

Tips for Saving on Your Car Insurance

The below concrete actions will help you reduce your premium costs.

• Drive less – If you no longer commute and you are driving less than in the past, then you should inform your insurance provider. Most insurers consider 5,000 to 7,500 miles to be low mileage while others are a bit more generous. You can opt for pay-as-you-drive coverage.
• Drop a driver – In states where not all licensed drivers in the family need to have auto insurance, you can eliminate anyone who no longer drives so that you can reduce your rates. Another alternative will be to change the main driver to a younger family member if that is the real picture of your situation.
• Take some courses – AAA’s Senior Driving website has significant resources to help senior drivers stay safe on the roads. You will find information on driver improvement programs and their effects on insurance rates.
• Revamp your vehicle with the latest technology – Modern car safety features can help you get a reduced rate on auto insurance.

Conclusion

As drivers under the high-risk category, seniors are likely to pay more for their car insurance. If you are a driver of 55 years or older, it is important that you become proactive in ensuring you get all the discounts that apply to you.

First, contact your insurer and ask which discounts they have and whether or not they apply in your case.

Remember, in the world of auto insurance; you are your own advocate.

If your current insurer does not have any discounts for you, then it would be wise for you to shop around and compare quotes from different insurance providers and settle with one who will give you the lowest rates to allow you save on car insurance.

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