Car insurance for over 80s

Young and inexperienced drivers often have to pay more for car insurance, which makes sense. However, older drivers are also required to pay higher rates sometimes, which doesn’t seem fair, as they usually have many years of driving experience under their belt. We’ve looked at how you can find the cheapest car insurance for over 80s and what it includes.

Can you get car insurance if you are over 80?

Yes, but you might have fewer options available to you. Many insurers do offer cover for people over the age of 80 though, with some having no upper age limit at all.

Is car insurance more expensive for over 80s?

It can be. Car insurers price your premiums based on how much of a risk they think you are – meaning, how likely you are to make a claim and cost them money. Older drivers are considered by some insurance providers to be higher risk, but that’s not always the case.

If you are in good health and have no history of claims or accidents, then you should still be able to get cover for an affordable price.

If you’ve managed to collect a good no claims discount over the years, that could make your premiums even lower.

What optional extras are available for over 80s?

Optional extras available with over 80s car insurance are similar to those available for drivers of other ages. These include the following:

• Breakdown cover
• Personal accident cover
• Motor legal protection
• Key cover
• No claims discount protection
• Windscreen cover

Will my car insurance be affected by medical conditions?

If you’ve developed a medical condition, you’ll need to declare it to the DVLA and your insurance provider.

Unfortunately, this can mean your premiums go up on renewal or even that you are denied cover altogether and have to go to a specialist provider.

You can find a list of conditions that must be disclosed on the DVLA website. If you fail to declare a medical condition that could affect your driving, you may end up with a fine of up to £1,000. You could even be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident.

You may need to take a course to assess your driving ability, which can be done at a local Mobility Centre.

You can also take a RoSPA Experienced Driver Assessment course. This might be a good idea even if you don’t suffer from a medical condition, just for your own peace of mind.

Frequently asked questions

• Why does car insurance cost more for over 80s?

  It may seem unfair for you to pay more, considering the wealth of experience you have on the road. Unfortunately, drivers over the age of 80 are statistically more likely to be involved in a car accident, which makes insurers see them as a bigger insurance risk, leading to higher premiums.

• Can I still get a competitive quote?

  Yes. You may be older, but that means you’re also more experienced. If you have any medical condition that may affect your driving or a history of driving convictions, you may struggle to find a good deal. But that’s true of drivers of all ages. The important thing to do is to shop around and compare quotes based on your individual criteria to find the best deal for your individual needs.

• What can I do to reduce the cost of my car insurance?

  There are a few ways you can keep car insurance costs down:

  • Drive fewer miles. When you get a quote, you’ll be asked how many miles you do in a year. Driving fewer miles will bring down the cost of your insurance. Additionally, you might be able to get pay-as-you-go cover.
  • Drive a smaller engine car. The bigger the engine, the more powerful the car, and the more you’ll pay for your insurance.
  • Drive safely. Having a history of claims, driving convictions or points on your licence will make your insurance more expensive.
  • Shop around. Compare prices from different providers to find the best value deal for you. Remember that not all insurance companies are on comparison sites.

• How can I compare car insurance specifically for over 80s?

  When you compare prices on a comparison site, such as our partner Quotezone, the quotes you get are tailored to your details. This means they will all be the price you, as a driver over 80, will pay for cover from that insurer.

  When shopping around for car insurance policies, look out for the following elements:

  • Level of cover. Different providers offer different benefits as standard and different cover limits. Make sure you get sufficient cover for your needs.
  • Optional extras. You might have to pay an additional fee for certain benefits, like breakdown cover and legal expenses. Check how much any cover item you need will cost.
  • Price. Price is important, but it’s not the most important thing. Look for a policy you can afford, but that also gives you the level of cover you need.
  • Excess amount. An excess is the amount of money you have to pay towards a claim. The amount differs by insurer, so remember to check this before you purchase a policy.

• Is there a maximum age for car insurance?

  No. As long as you are medically fit to drive, you should be able to get cover. Some providers have certain restrictions for their policies, but others, like Saga, Age Co and Swinton, offer cover with no age limit.

• Does the policy auto-renew?

  Many insurance policies automatically enrol you in their auto-renewal programme when you take out a policy. However, this can end up costing you more money since loyalty is not usually rewarded in car insurance. You can check your policy details or contact your provider to find out if your policy is due to auto-renew then opt out of that if you want to. Before your policy’s expiration date, shop around to see if a better deal is available.

• Is the policy cheaper for women over 80?

  Pricing insurance based on the driver’s gender has been illegal according to European law since 2012. However, women are still generally considered to be better drivers, and so sometimes get better deals on their premiums. This may be because women often drive less powerful cars (which cost less to insure) and tend to drive less in general, which brings premiums down.

• What happens when I pass the maximum age on my car insurance?

  Your policy will still be valid for the remainder of its term, but your insurer won’t offer you a new policy when your current one expires. You will have to shop around elsewhere, but some insurers have no upper age limit on their policies, so you should still be able to find cover.

• Should I protect my no claims discount?

  Most insurers will offer a protected no claims discount in return for an extra premium. This will keep the percentage of your discount the same, but not the price of your premium. The premiums can still go up if you make a claim or based on your age or any health issues.

  Remember that the discount is transferable, so you can carry it to a new provider who might give you a better deal.