Are you a senior driver looking for ways to save money on car insurance? Look no further as we are here to provide you with the tools and the knowledge to get you saving.
From taking a refresher driving courseand brushing up your driving skills to potentially switching car insurance providers, there are ways to save money for you and your family as a senior driver.
1. Senior driver safety courses for car insurance rate reduction
By taking a driver safety course, you may receive a discount or percentage off of your car insurance bill. By taking the safer driver course, you will be reminded not only of specific rules and guidelines to follow on the road, but it also is an indicator to your car insurance carrier that you are serious about road safety and the safeness of others around you. This could result in a discount to reduce car insurance premiums for mature drivers.
AAA senior defensive driving course
AAA specifically offers a senior defensive driving course. If you are a member of AAA and take the driving course, as long as you are over the age of 55, you will qualify for an insurance discount on AAA car insurance.
The class is set up like a traditional classroom. You will be free to ask questions regarding any new driving rules while also learning on the road as you are able to drive with a certified AAA driving instructor. If you would prefer to take the course online, there is an online platform available. Taking the course virtually is another excellent way to receive information and knowledge about safe driving and defensive driving techniques.
The topics covered in the course range from visibility on the roads to comfort and safety tips while driving. These topics are meant to inform you while also making you more comfortable on the road as a senior driver.
Furthermore, the course is created to teach you about the latest car technology and how it can benefit you as a driver. If you forgot any of the information about your car that you learned when you bought it, this course can serve as a reminder on any new features in your car you may not be using or know how to use efficiently.
It is important to note that not every AAA location offers the driving course, so be sure to call your local AAA office to find which locations in your area offer the course. Additionally, the AAA senior driver discount is nationwide, but make sure to reach out to your local AAA office to get the information regarding the exact discount that could be applied to your bill.
AARP Online Defensive Driving Course
AARP offers a defensive driving course for everyone, not just for senior drivers. The course is conveniently an online course. It could not only offer you a discount on your AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford, but it also provides information about driver distraction, taking medication and driving, and simple techniques for adjusting your driving to respond to age-related physical changes
If you are interested in enrolling in the course, it does have a fee of $15 for members and $20 for non-members. It is also important to note that AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford is only available to people who are 50 years old or over. You can sign up for AARP’s online defensive driver course on the company's website.
2. Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance
If you don’t drive as much as you used to, then pay-per-mile car insurance might be the best fit for your insurance needs. The way that pay-per-mile car insurance works is that the car insurance company is able to track how many miles you drive and charge you a rate based on that. Essentially, you're only paying for what you use. To track your miles, some companies use a telematics device installed in your vehicle’s diagnostics port, while others use a mobile app to track your miles.
Your monthly car insurance bill will fluctuate based on the number of miles measured. Your total bill will typically consists of a low base rate that is the same each month with an additional cost per mile you drive, as tracked by the tool.
Metromile
Metromile car insurance offers its customers pay-per-mile car insurance. Additionally, Metromile offers its customers 24/7 support, roadside assistance, and glass repair.
You may be wondering how Metromile could help low mileage drivers save money. Here’s how it works. Based on a simple equation, you pay a flat monthly rate while also paying a few cents for each mile that you drive. Your monthly rate depends on a number of factors that normally determine the cost of your car insurance including your driving history, the car you drive, where you live, and more.
Here is what it would look like:
Flat Monthly Rate + A Few Cents Based on Miles Driven = Total Monthly Bill
Metromile also offers a downloadable app for all smartphones. This allows you to view the number of miles you have driven and see how much money you have saved.
Metromile offers pay-per-mile insurance to cater to the needs of individuals who do not drive as frequently and are looking for discounts to reward their low miles. Senior drivers are a great fit for Metromile, if you don’t drive many miles per month.
Nationwide SmartMiles
Nationwide offers a pay-per-mile car insurance option for individuals who do not drive often or have a car that is not used very much, such as a seasonal car. While Metromile is a company that only offers pay-per-mile car insurance, Nationwide is a traditional car insurance company that offers a pay-per-mile option.
Your bill will be based on two parts: the base rate and the variable rate (cost per mile). The variable rate is likely to change as it is based on how many miles you drive per month.
Allstate Milewise
Allstate is another company that offers pay-per-mile car insurance for its customers. Based on the daily rate, you will also pay for a few cents per how many miles you drive. The cost you pay depends on many factors in addition to how many miles you drive. Some of those factors include your driving history, the car you drive, where you live, and more. Here is what your car insurance cost with Milewise would look like:
Daily Rate + Few Cents Based on How Many Miles You Drive
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3. Low mileage discount
There are many car insurance companies that offer a low-mileage discount for drivers. Companies offer this discount to drivers who do not drive their car often.
In order to get a low mileage discount on your car insurance, you will have to drive fewer than a certain amount of miles in a specific time frame. Each company has different guidelines for low mileage discount qualification.
Certain policies range from age-specific (older than xx years) to driving a specific amount of miles per trip. Below are examples of a few car insurance carriers who offer a low mileage discount for their customers.
- PEMCO: If you drive fewer than 8,000 miles per year, you will qualify for PEMCO’s low mileage discount.
- American Family: If you drive fewer than 7,500 miles per year, you are likely to qualify for this discount.
Make sure to do more research on other car insurance companies that offer low mileage discounts as this can be an excellent way to save money and to find the right company that fits your insurance needs.
4. Bundle policies
By getting a bundled policy, perhaps for car and homeowners insurance, you will likely save money on your insurance policies per month. If you’re able to bundle policies with one company, the company can combine paperwork, for instance, and save time on their end, which will result in rewarding you with discounts by staying with their company.
If you are interested in purchasing a bundle policy, you can research the top rankings for bundled insurance here on Clearsurance's ranking pages with rankings based solely on customer reviews.
5. Switch insurance companies
If you have been unsatisfied with your car insurance company, you might want to consider switching carriers. By doing research on the best car insurance companies that cater to senior driver’s needs, you are likely to save money and be more satisfied with your insurance company and what it has to offer you.
By comparing prices with car insurance companies, you will be able to see in detail how much you could save on insurance. Furthermore, you could be missing out on other benefits from multiple car insurance carriers that your current insurance provider does not offer.
It never hurts to do a little research on car insurance companies that cater the needs of senior drivers. Be sure to visit Clearsurance’s car insurance rankings page to find the best customer-rated car insurance companies in your zip code based on customer reviews.
6. Options for senior car insurance
There are senior car insurance providers that offer discounts and low rates for their senior customers. Below is a short list of companies that offer insurance plans that are designed for senior drivers.
AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford
The AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford offers senior driver benefits and discounts. However, there are a few qualifications that must be met to get those discounts. You will need to be/have the following:
- At least 50 years of age
- Be a member of AARP
- Valid driver’s license
- Up to date vehicle registration
Benefits of the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford
There are a few discounts that could be of benefit to you if you decide to get insurance through the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford. The following are some of the available benefits:
- New Car Replacement†: Get full replacement value if your new car is totaled, with no deduction for depreciation.
- RecoverCare: This helps pay for up to $2,500 if you are injured in an accident. This covers transportation, cooking, cleaning, and any other assistance you may need while you recover.
- Towing and labor: If you need towing assistance, this helps pay for some of the costs, depending on what your policy limit is.
GEICO
If you are 50 years old or older, you will qualify for GEICO’s senior car insurance. There are a few requirements if you are interested in getting GEICO insurance, specifically, getting GEICO’s Prime Time contract. The following are required:
- Be at least fifty years of age
- Have no violations or accidents within the last three years
- The vehicle in use cannot be for business reasons
- Have no operators under the age of 25
GEICO discounts for senior drivers
You may be able to qualify for GEICO car insurance discounts as well. The following discounts could pertain to you:
- Defensive driving discount
- Five-year good driving discount
- Retired government and military discount
- Multi-car discount
- Membership and employee discount
These discounts vary by which state you live in, so make sure to reach out to a GEICO agent or website for information regarding discounts that apply to you.
Senior driving does not have to be stressful as there are many ways to save money on your car insurance. By doing your research and reaching out to your insurance agent, you will have the information you need to start saving on your car insurance. Use Clearsurance’s car insurance rankings page as a resource to find the top-rated car insurance companies in your zip code.
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The content on this site is offered only as a public service to the web community and does not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. This site should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an insurance company or an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter. The comments and opinions expressed on this site are of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the insurance company or any individual attorney.