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People over 55 are often eligible for auto insurance discounts of around 10% (the amount varies by state), as well as other discounts. A lot of states have a government-mandated care insurance discount specifically for senior citizens.
The following article will run through some of the important facts and need-to-knows about government-mandated auto insurance discounts for seniors.
Driving Insurance for Seniors
Young male drivers are the only demographic that has a higher accident rate than seniors. This fact causes the auto insurance rate to inflate.
There are three primary areas of concern when it comes to assessing a senior’s auto insurance rate. These are geographical location, previous driving record, and health condition.
Seniors can counter high insurance rates by assessing which discounts they may be eligible for.
Senior Car Insurance Discounts
Certain car insurance companies will offer people over 55 discounts as long as specific requirements are met. The first port of call is to proactively contact your insurance provider and ask what discounts are available to you.
A lot of major insurers will offer discounts if you have many years of driving experience without an accident. Others will offer discounts if drivers complete a driver improvement course. The official AAA Senior Driving website has many useful resources geared towards aiding seniors to continue to be safe on the road.
Where Can I Get a Government-Mandated Auto Insurance Discount for Seniors
There are quite a few states that employ a government-mandated car insurance discount for seniors. The full list in full includes:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and DC.
There are some states which require a driving course to be passed in order to grant a discount to seniors.
How Does Your Driving Record Affect Your Car Insurance Rates?
Individual driving records are very important when it comes to assessing the insurance rate of a senior. The longer you have been accident-free with the same insurer, the better your chances. Records don’t necessarily have to be squeaky clean, one or two minor accidents over the course of your driving life should not greatly affect your rate.
Other than accidents, insurers will also be looking for speeding tickets and other driving violations that may negatively affect your rate. The cleaner the record, the better your chances of getting a good deal on your car insurance. Most states wipe the record for common violations after a set number of years. Serious violations like convictions and hit and runs are less easily overlooked and could cause issues.
How Geography and Health Affects Your Car Insurance Discount
Irrespective of age, your location will influence your quote. The more densely populated an area, the higher your rate is likely to be if you are a senior driver. Larger discounts are more likely to be found in rural areas than in metropolitan locations.
Certain states will need specific health issues to be identified on senior’s driving licenses alongside their DMV record. Health issues can include, a loss of hearing, poor vision, and a tendency to have seizures. Provided seniors can meet their individual state requirements to drive safely, corrective devices should not be a hindrance to a discount.