Car insurance for over 60s: your essential guide

Turning sixty can feel like a significant milestone. Getting older often comes with its perks, and when it comes to driving there's good news to share – drivers in their 60s often pay the least for their car insurance out of all age groups, since they are considered among the safest drivers on UK roads.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down everything you need to know about car insurance for over 60s, including factors that could affect your premiums, finding the right cover to suit your needs, and tips for saving money to secure the best car insurance on the market.

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Is car insurance cheaper for over 60s?

Drivers in their 60s are often seen as the safest demographic on UK roads. Since they are less likely to make a claim than younger age groups, this often translates to much cheaper car insurance premiums.

In fact, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI)*, data shows that drivers aged 66-70 pay the least of all ages for car insurance – under a third of what 18-20 year olds pay on average. This is largely due to having more experience driving and a longer history of building up no-claims bonuses.

However, while drivers in their 50s and 60s often benefit from the lowest premiums due to their combination of experience and lower risk, this trend can reverse as drivers enter their late 70s and 80s. This is because older drivers are seen as a higher risk, and as accident and claims statistics tend to increase with age, so do car insurance premiums.

How much is the average car insurance premium for over 60s?

While it's difficult to give a definitive 'average cost', there are a several factors which can affect car insurance costs for over 60s. These can include:

• Driving experience.

• Age.

• Type of vehicle.

• Where you live.

• How much you drive.

• Criminal record and claims history.

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What does car insurance for over 60s cover?

Just like any standard car insurance policies, there are three primary cover levels to choose from for over 60s car insurance:

1. Third-party only cover

The bare minimum legal level of car insurance you can have in the UK is third party. As the most basic form of insurance, it only covers damage to other vehicles and property.

What it covers:

• Third-party damage – Liability for vehicle or property damage you cause to others.

• Injuries - caused to others including your passengers.

What it doesn’t cover:

• Your own car – No protection for theft, fire, or any damage to your vehicle.

• Personal injury – Medical costs for you or passengers are typically excluded.

2. Third party, fire, and theft cover

Third-party, fire & theft (TPFT) insurance is the next level up of cover. This type of insurance protects you against major risks like theft and fire as well as covering damage you cause to others.

What it covers:

• Third-party damage – Costs if you injure someone or damage their vehicle/property.

• Fire & theft – Compensation if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.

What it doesn’t cover:

• Your own car’s repairs – No coverage for accidental damage you cause (e.g., if you crash into a wall).

• Weather or vandalism damage – Only fire and theft are included, not other non-collision incidents.

3. Comprehensive cover

Comprehensive car insurance is the most extensive coverage available, covering nearly all risks, including accidental damage to your car, theft, fire, and liability for injuries or damage to others, regardless of fault.

What it covers:

• Accidental damage - to your car or someone else’s.

• Injuries - caused to you or others, including your passengers.

• Theft - Full coverage if your car is stolen.

• Fire damage – Full coverage if your car is damaged by fire.

• Vandalism - Covers damage to your car caused by vandalism.

Optional extras for over 60s car insurance

You may want to consider some of these additional cover options for added peace of mind. Some of these optional extras may already be included in your comprehensive insurance policy, so it's always worth checking with your insurance provider to see what's included first.

Windscreen cover

Cover for cracked or chipped windscreens, including the cost of repair or replacement. This is typically already included in comprehensive car insurance.

Find out more here: What should I do if my car has a chipped windscreen?

Key cover

Provides cover for damaged, lost, or stolen car keys.

European car insurance cover

Covers you for driving your car in the EU. You'll need to request this cover to be added, and the exact level of protection offered can vary.

Breakdown cover

If your car breaks down while you're driving, breakdown cover will provide roadside assistance. This can range from simply assistance, recovery, or can extend to home start and EU breakdown.

Personal belongings cover

Protects your belongings against theft or damage.

Courtesy car replacement

Also known as replacement vehicle insurance, this cover provides a rental courtesy car while your own vehicle is being repaired at the garage.

Motor legal protection cover

If you’re involved in a non-fault accident and need to pursue legal action to reclaim uninsured losses, motor legal insurance can help cover the associated legal costs.

Excess protection cover

Excess protection insurance is designed to reimburse your policy excess in the event of a claim.

No-claims discount protection

This will help maintain the maximum discount allowable and prevent your earned no claims bonus being stepped back following a fault claim (terms can usually differ between insurance providers).

Find out more here: How Does a No-Claims Bonus Work?

Will my health affect getting car insurance for over 60s?

Provided you're fit to drive and not impacted by any medical conditions that could affect your safety on the road, you'll be able to get car insurance without a problem.

However, regardless of your age, if you have a medical condition, you must inform DVLA and your insurance company of any medical conditions listed by the DVLA.

Insurance companies take particular interest in health conditions because they may affect:

• Your reaction times on the road

• Your ability to see clearly and judge distances

• Your physical capability to control the vehicle safely

• The likelihood of having a medical emergency while driving

Certain conditions may lead to higher premiums, but if you fail to disclose them your insurance policy could be invalidated, and you could face a £1,000 fine and possible prosecution if you're in an accident.

Besides your health, it’s also important to keep your eyesight in check to meet driving standards. If you’re 60 or older, you can get a free eye test through the NHS.

Do drivers over 60 need specialist car insurance?

There is no requirement for drivers over 60 to use specialist providers for their car insurance. That being said, there's no harm in considering specialist car insurance, as they could have features that are better suited to you.

Specialist policies typically offer benefits like no upper age limits, medical condition coverage, discounts for experienced drivers, and plans tailored for limited mileage or infrequent driving.

However, you shouldn't just limit your search to specialist providers, as they don't always guarantee cheaper car insurance. Many insurers still provide cover for older drivers, so be sure to compare car insurance quotes from different providers to get the most value for your money.

How to get cheap car insurance for over 60s

Although certain factors, like age and driving history, are beyond your control, there are still a number of ways to get cheap car insurance for over 60s. Here are 9 top tips to reduce the cost:

1. Reduce your annual mileage

Generally speaking, the fewer miles you drive, the less you pay for insurance, as reduced time on the road decreases the likelihood of an accident. Some insurance providers also offer limited mileage policies, which is a type of car insurance designed for drivers who only use their car occasionally. It typically offers lower premiums in exchange for agreeing to stay within a certain annual mileage limit.

2. Drive carefully

The longer you are on the road without making a claim, the more you can build up your no-claims discount, often resulting in cheaper premiums.

3. Drive a safe car in a lower insurance group

Opting for a car in a low insurance group is a practical way to keep premiums affordable. Cars in group 1 are the cheapest to insure, while group 50 is the most expensive. Smaller, less powerful vehicles with modern safety features generally fall into lower groups, and are seen as a lower risk by most insurers.

4. Improve the security of your car

Keeping your car in a locked garage or private driveway is ideal, but if that's not possible consider fitting your car with security features such as an immobiliser or alarms to reduce risk of attempted theft.

5. Pay annually

If possible, paying your policy annually rather than in monthly instalments avoids paying interest meaning you will pay less for your insurance overall.

6. Take out black box insurance

A telematics device, also known as a black box, records and transmits data about a vehicle’s driving habits, such as speed, acceleration, and braking, to an insurance company.

Taking out black box insurance can reduce your premium rate when its time for renewal - given that you drive safely and sensibly - as it shows your insurer that you are a responsible driver, potentially leading to lower insurance premiums.

7. Increase your voluntary excess

Choosing to add a higher excess to your policy can also help reduce the cost. In general, the larger the voluntary excess you choose, the lower the premium. Make sure you choose an amount you'll be able to afford in the event of a claim.

8. Avoid modifications

Generally speaking, it's best to avoid modifying your car, unless it's for safety purposes - vehicles equipped with aftermarket stereo systems or alloy wheels, for example, tend to attract thieves and are more likely to be stolen.

Some insurers outright refuse to provide cover for modified cars, and those that do may charge much higher premiums.

9. Compare car insurance quotes

It's always worth shopping around online and comparing prices across the market to find the best deal for your car insurance.

*Source: ABI, Age and motor insurance