Car Insurance for Over 70s

As a driver aged 70 or over, you will undoubtedly have many years of experience and – if you’ve been careful – a useful no claims bonus, which is why car insurance for over 70s is generally cheaper than cover for many other age groups.

You may have gathered that more experienced drivers are usually offered cheaper car insurance than most other age groups, but you could cut the cost of your cover even further by following the quick money-saving tips in this article.

Here’s a guide to car insurance for over 70s, including where to find the best policy for you, how much your premiums might cost, and how to reduce the amount you pay per year.

Over 70s car insurance: The basics

Drivers over 70 years of age are entitled to the same cover as all other motorists, so there are generally three main policies to choose from:

• Third party only insurance
• Third party, fire and theft insurance
• Fully comprehensive cover

With the most extensive level of cover, fully comprehensive insurance, the following will be covered:

• Damage to your own vehicle
• Damage to other vehicles
• Injuries to yourself
• Injuries to others

There are also some optional extras that you may want to add, depending on your preferences, including courtesy car cover and breakdown cover.

How much does car insurance for over 70s cost?

According to Compare the Market’s data, 50% of drivers over the age of 70 should be offered annual premiums of up to £304, which is considerably cheaper than the national average of £702 across all age groups.

As long as you have not been involved in too many accidents, have built up a good no-claims bonus, and shop around to find the best deal, you should be able to find yourself a cheap deal for around £300 or less.

Read more: The Average Cost of Car Insurance in the UK

How is car insurance cheaper for over 70s?

Car insurance companies take a variety of factors into consideration when they calculate the cost of your premiums, including:

• Age of the driver
• Where they live
• Where they park their car
• Driving experience
• Make and model of the vehicle
• Level of cover required
• Previous claims or driving convictions

As a rule of thumb, the older and more experienced you are, the cheaper your car insurance will be; which is why elderly drivers’ premiums are among the lowest.

On the other end of the spectrum, insurance providers see young drivers (17- to 25-year-olds) as the highest risk age category to insure and therefore charge them higher premiums.

While it may seem unfair at first glance, insurers base all of their prices on industry statistics and figures, justifying the premiums they charge. 

No claims bonus

A no claims bonus (NCB) – or no claims discount – can be a massive help, and because you’ve probably been driving for a long time at 70-years-old, it’s likely to knock a significant amount off the overall cost of your cover.

According to MoneySuperMarket, a no claims discount on your car insurance could help you save an average of 24% on your premiums.

Even without a good NCB, drivers over 70 are usually offered far cheaper premiums than young drivers, simply because of their extensive driving experience.

How to get cheap car insurance for over 70s

Drivers over 70 are likely to have relatively cheap car insurance as it is, but there are still some tips you can follow to save even more money!

The best ways to get cheaper car insurance include:

• Choose a smaller car with a smaller engine
• Park your car off-road or in a garage (depending on where you live)
• Consider telematics insurance (black box car insurance)
• Invest in security gadgets like dash cams, reversing sensors or alarms
• Avoid cars with modifications
• Drive fewer miles if possible to reduce your annual mileage

Those are just some of the tips that could help you get cheaper car insurance; for more, head over to our full guide on reducing the cost of your cover.

You might like our guide to car insurance for over 50s (which includes a review of Age Co). 

Car insurance for older drivers with medical conditions

Although car insurance is, on average, cheaper for elderly drivers, there are also some occasions where a driver’s age can increase the cost of insurance.

Unfortunately, elderly people are typically at a greater risk of being diagnosed with medical conditions, such as diabetes and strokes, which could lead to higher premiums or even a refusal of cover.

If you are diagnosed with any of the following medical conditions, it’s required that you notify your insurer as soon as possible:

• Dementia or Alzheimer’s
• Diabetes
• Eyesight conditions
• Syncope (frequent fainting)
• Heart conditions
• Epilepsy
• Strokes

You should still apply for insurance if you have a medical condition, but it’s worth noting that some providers may not be willing to cover you.

You should always be up front and honest about any medical conditions, as lying on your application for insurance could invalidate your policy and make it far more difficult to get affordable cover in the future.

There are no ‘over 70 driving licence restrictions’, as such, but you do have to renew your licence every three years when you reach that age. Contrary to popular belief, there is no formal re-testing requirement when you reach a certain age.

What if you're over 80? See our guide to car insurance for over 80s for more information. 

What do you need to get a car insurance quote?

In order to get an over 70s car insurance quote, all you need is:

• Your personal details (name, age and address)
• The vehicle’s registration number and/or make and model
• Your average annual mileage
• Your job title or employment status
• Any no claims discounts you have
• Any driving convictions or accidents (your driving history)

Black box insurance for older drivers

While black box car insurance is generally associated with young or inexperienced drivers, it can also be used by older drivers looking to reduce the cost of their premiums.

It may not have as much of an impact on your premiums as an older driver, as your cover will be relatively cheap anyway, but it could still help you save some money.

Black box cover can be particularly useful if you don’t use your car very often, as policies are often partly based on your annual mileage.

You could also be rewarded with a black box car insurance discount if you don’t use your vehicle at night or during rush hour, as those are the most common times for accidents. 

Get the best car insurance for over 70s

If you are looking for the best car insurance providers for over 70s cover, the best place to start is a trusted, reliable comparison site like Quotezone or Confused.com.

It’s important that you shop around yourself, but these sites will do a lot of the work for you, as they compare quotes from a variety of providers in the UK and show you the best deals on offer for your personal situation.

Here are some features that many of the best over 70s car insurance quotes will include:

• Personal belongings cover
• Windscreen cover
• Loss or theft of keys
• Protected no-claims discount
• Courtesy car cover
• Repairs guaranteed

Read through the policy carefully before signing on the dotted line, and be sure to make your decision based on the cover offered, as well as the price.

You certainly want an affordable car insurance policy, but you should also ensure that it protects you against all relevant eventualities.

Related articles:

• Over 50s Car Insurance
• Cheap Car Insurance for over 60s
• Is There an Age Limit for Driving in the UK?
• Get a Car Insurance Quote