Best Seniors’ Car Insurance Companies of 2021

GEICO: Best Overall

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GEICO is our choice for the best car insurance company for older adults, as it offers solid coverage and policies tailored to the needs of drivers in this stage of life. Its coverage is available in all states, and GEICO offers all the usual car insurance discounts, including savings for good driving (up to 26%) and membership in over 500 groups, such as alumni associations and professional, military, and recreational organizations. Also, it offers a discount in many states if you take a defensive driving course, as do several other insurers.

If you’re 50 or over, GEICO’s PrimeTime provides guaranteed renewal to qualified applicants, as long as you don’t allow people under age 25 to drive your car, have any violations or accidents in the past three years, and don’t use your car for business. However, it’s only available in 30 states.  

Although GEICO does not have a pay-as-you-go mileage-based insurance plan, it does offer lower premiums for reduced mileage. This option could be useful if you’re no longer commuting, although it’s not unusual among insurers. GEICO also offers extra coverages like roadside assistance, mechanical breakdown coverage, and Mexico car insurance.

Overall, GEICO checks most of the boxes for coverage options and discount opportunities, which is why it’s our top pick for the best car insurance for older drivers.

Amica Insurance: Runner-Up for Best Overall

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With a #1 ranking for customer satisfaction in New England and the second-best national score for claims satisfaction in J.D. Power studies, Amica seems to keep its policyholders happy. That’s why the company is our runner-up pick for the best car insurance for older adults.  

As a mutual insurance company, Amica is owned by its policyholders, not shareholders. Because of that, it offers dividend policies in addition to traditional car insurance policies. Depending on your state and the type of coverage you purchase, with a dividend policy, you may be eligible to receive 5% to 20% of your annual premium back when your policy expires. 

Amica offers all the standard discounts, like claim-free and multi-policy savings, but the company also has a few loyalty-based perks and ways to save: 

• Loyalty discount: If you’ve been with your current insurer for at least two years, you’ll save when you switch to Amica. The discount increases with the length of your loyalty; you’ll save up to 10% once you’ve been insured by the previous insurer and Amica for a total of six years. 
• Good Driving Rewards: This add-on coverage is available either individually or as part of Amica’s Platinum Choice package. You’ll accumulate points for staying insured with Amica, having a safe driving record, and referring friends and family to Amica. You can use your points to reduce or eliminate your deductible or keep rates from going up after a claim (similar to accident forgiveness programs from other insurers). 
• Legacy discount: Once you’ve been insured with Amica for five years, the company will extend a discount to your children (who must be under 30). 

Amica gives older drivers a discount for completing an online defensive driving course and offers a discounted price for the course. However, GEICO, State Farm, and several other insurers offer the same course, so it’s worth comparing rates from several companies before you sign up for the course.

Overall, with excellent scores for claims satisfaction and a long list of discounts, Amica is our runner-up pick for best car insurance company for older drivers.

State Farm: Best for Safe Drivers

Read the full review: State Farm Car Insurance

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State Farm is the largest car insurer in the U.S. It’s highly ranked in several U.S. regions for customer service and has some of the highest claims satisfaction ratings of all national insurers. State Farm’s local agents offer personalized service, especially if you prefer to discuss your insurance needs in person. 

State Farm is our top pick for safe drivers because it offers one of the highest usage-based discounts we’ve seen—up to 30%, depending on your state. You can sign up for the program through the insurer's smartphone app or by using OnStar in your vehicle. 

The company also offers a discount for taking a defensive driver course, as well as a discount for having all drivers under 21 take a driver training course, which could help offset the cost of adding your children to your policy.

Allstate: Best for Perks and Discounts

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Allstate is the fourth-largest car insurer in the U.S. and offers several perks, usage-based insurance programs, and discounts that may appeal to older adults:

• A claim satisfaction guarantee: If you’re not satisfied with your claim, it gives you credit equal to the cost of your six-month premium (available in 43 states).
• Milewise: A pay-per-mile program for people who drive 1,000 to 10,000 miles per year, which may be useful to retired people who find they’re driving less.
• Drivewise: A usage-based insurance program that allows you to earn rewards for safer driving, which could help offset additional mileage costs from road trips.
• Allstate Rewards: Earn points through the Milewise or Drivewise programs and use them for savings, daily deals, and gift cards 
• Classic car insurance: Allstate’s classic car insurance policy has no mileage restrictions, which is unusual among insurers covering classic vehicles.
• Deductible Rewards: Get $100 off your deductible when you sign up, then earn another $100 off for each accident-free year (up to $500 total).

Allstate also offers 24/7 roadside assistance either as an add-on to your policy or on a pay-per-use basis. And if you’re planning a road trip south of the border, Allstate’s Mexican car insurance includes roadside assistance, GAP coverage, and medical evacuation coverage.

Allstate offers service online, by phone, and through local agents. However, buying your policy through a local agent will likely cost you more than buying the same policy online, so consider whether the in-person service is worth paying a little extra.

The AARP® Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford: Best Membership Option

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The Hartford provides car insurance for AARP members, who must be 50 or older. AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford is designed specifically for older drivers and offers several ways to keep rates lower through discounts or policy features. 

AARP membership costs $16 per year or $12 if you auto-renew and comes with several discounts (prices subject to change). Policyholders with The Hartford will see some fairly standard benefits with their auto insurance, such as lifetime guarantees on repairs from authorized repair shops. But depending on your state, you’ll also have unique perks, such as replacement coverage for a new car or RecoverCare, which offers reimbursement to help you pay for cooking, cleaning, or other help you need after an accident.

Nationwide: Best for Older Adults with Low Mileage

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Maybe you’ve retired and no longer need to commute, maybe you run most of your errands by e-bike, or maybe you’re staying closer to home during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Nationwide is a great choice for older adults whose odometers don’t rack up as many miles as they used to. The SmartMiles program tracks your mileage using a telematics device installed on your car and adjusts your car insurance rates accordingly. Only a few insurers offer this kind of pay-per-mile program, and Nationwide’s is available in 32 states.

Nationwide also has all the usual discounts. In some states, drivers 55 and up may be eligible for a defensive driving discount if they’ve had no at-fault accidents in the past three years and they complete an approved driving course. Other cost savings with Nationwide include SmartRide, a usage-based telematics program that offers up to 40% savings based on your driving habits, including the number of miles you drive. 

J.D. Power reports that Nationwide’s claims satisfaction scores are above average. However, overall customer satisfaction ranges from below to above average in different U.S. regions.

Progressive: Best for Cost-Conscious Drivers

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Progressive is a great option for older drivers because of the various ways it allows potential customers to compare prices, as well as the transparency with which it explains how age affects its car insurance rates. Progressive’s best average rates are for drivers aged 50 to 74, and in our research, we found its prices to be among the lowest for older drivers in many states. However, your actual premium will also depend on several other factors, like driving history and location. In addition, Progressive offers all the standard car insurance discounts. 

With years of driving experience behind them, mature drivers often have safe driving habits and obey the rules of the road. Progressive offers a usage-based insurance program called Snapshot that may reduce your insurance cost if you tend to drive safely. However, about 20% of participants see an increase, so consider your driving style before you sign up.

One unique option is the company’s Name Your Price tool. When you enter the amount you want to pay for your car insurance, the tool shows you what kind of coverage is available in that price range. Then you can tinker with the options to find a combination of price and coverage that meets your needs.

Progressive has below-average overall claims satisfaction rankings compared to other national insurers, although its overall customer satisfaction scores are mostly average.