How Over 80’s can save on their car insurance

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Last Update June 2023 by MultiQuoteTime Editorial Team

Drivers over 80 are the most experienced on the road. You still have your independence and as long as your GP and optician thinks you are okay to drive then it can keep giving you a good quality of life. Most insurers do not feel the same though, sadly, many insurers are concerned that drivers aged 76 to 85 are at more risk of collision than younger drivers. The law also is slightly dubious of your skills and will ask that you renew your licence every three years once you hit 70. You can do this online, and it’s completely free of charge, and you don’t have to take another driving test, thankfully! Some keyways to reduce the cost of your car insurance is to do the following:

How to keep over 80's Car Insurance Affordable

Whilst your risk profile may result in increased premiums you can take other steps to lower the final premium cost, we list some steps that you may be able to take to keep your insurance within your living expenses budget.

Keep your mileage low. For an insurance provider, low mileage means less time on the road, meaning less risk of an accident and a claim. This can be frustrating if you wish to flex your muscles and drive off to the coast for the weekend, it’s your choice dependent on your cost’s restrictions.
Secure your vehicle. Make sure you have an alarm or immobiliser and if you can keep your car securely parked overnight on your driveway for example this will help reduce it further. These mean you are less likely to claim for theft or vandalism.
Pay the car insurance annually. Paying monthly means interest on your monthly instalments, so generally they are more expensive.
Go for higher voluntary excess. This may seem a bit frustrating but if you are a confident and careful driver then ideally you will be avoiding any collisions and claims on the insurance, so you won’t be paying this higher excess anyway! This option also makes your overall policy cost cheaper.

Over 80s Car Insurance: FAQs

Does car insurance increase at 80?

The main increase on average is at age 70, but it will also gradually increase as you get older. The good news is that it will never reach the levels that young drivers need to pay for car insurance

What is the cheapest car insurance for seniors?

Insurance providers will base their insurance quotation on the risk profile of the driver and car insurance category. The best advice for seniors to get a cheap insurance quote is to shop around and take proactive steps to lower your insurance risk profile, see section above entitled How to keep over 80's Car Insurance Affordable

Why is insurance more expensive for the old and the young?

As we age, human response time in general will slow, making car accidents more likely. This is proven statistically, with drivers of advanced age and young drivers causing a disproportionate number of avoidable accidents. As a result, these age categories will typically be offered more expensive insurance.

Does car insurance go down when you retire?

Retirement can affect your premiums if you change the primary use of your car from ‘commute’ to ‘social’ or ‘pleasure’. Naturally, when you change this your mileage annually should drop too, and sometimes you can qualify for low mileage discounts that some insurance providers offer. Some insurance companies may offer a senior discount too, which can be up to 10% off your premiums.

Motorhome insurance for over 80's

When it comes to finding motorhome insurance for over 80s, the good news is that you will find most providers of campervan insurance are not as restrictive when it comes to providing insurance cover for motorhomes for the over 80s.

Other car insurance options for over 80's

Another option is to consider temporary insurance or pay as you use model, most providers of temporary car insurance cap the upper age limit to 70 or 75, but this could change in the future as they realise they are losing out on the over 80s marketplace. We have listed the key providers of temporary insurance and advise checking their existing terms for changes to upper age limits. If you live in Northern Ireland, temporary car insurance NI is available with Goshorty,

Tesco Temporary car insurance
Goshorty Temporary car insurance
RAC Temporary Car Insurance

What is the cheapest car insurance for senior citizens?

According to Which? Latest survey review, two companies came back as best for focusing on the older driver. Here they are:

Saga. Minimum age is 50, so if you are over 80 you will be eligible for, it also stands out as it will offer in your yearly premium a full year’s worth of cover overseas. So if you still like a weekend away in the car, perhaps in France via the Dover to Calais car ferry, this one could be right up your street.
The Post Office. Minimum age is 50, it offers as standard coverage for any windscreen or window damage and lost keys cover. Which even if you still have a strong memory, it’s still a handy cover to have in as standard.

These are just two, but there are other companies out there that will offer car insurance without any age limit, it is always wise no matter what your age to use a comparison website to shop around and find the most cost-effective deal for you.

Get your quotes now for Senior Car Insurance

As our company name suggests, we can provide multiple quotes. These quotes are provided by a panel of car insurance providers selected by SEPOA. The panel is able and willing to provide seniors with car insurance, regardless of age. Simply click the Get Quotes option below and fill in a quick form to get access to multiple quotes. Then all you have to do is pick the best one!

Don’t have your registration number? No problem, click here.

*51% of consumers could save £359.61 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next five cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from November 2022 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.