Compare Car Insurance Quotes For Over 70s

Car insurance in the UK isn’t cheap, with prices steeply increasing over the past few years. These high costs are even more pronounced for drivers over 70, as insurers place a higher risk to this category of driver. All of this means that you’re likely paying more for car insurance than you ever have before.

Understanding car insurance for over 70s

Car insurance for over 70s tends to be a little more expensive because of how insurers rate these drivers. The higher costs associated with the claims made by drivers of this age, as well as factors such as health conditions that might affect driving ability, cause these policies to cost more. Issues such as slower reflexes while driving or poor eyesight contribute to the higher quotes provided by insurers for car insurance for over 70s.

Although older drivers typically drive less than younger ones, the number of claims per mile driven goes up with age. Insurance companies use this information to create risk levels for different driver categories, which is why your insurance may cost more if you’re over 70. Similarly, this information is also used to create the notoriously expensive young driver insurance policies.

Legal requirements for drivers over 70

Just like all other road users in the UK, drivers over 70 must have all of the right documentation to drive. This includes a full, valid driving licence, car tax (where applicable) and car insurance. One of the key differences is that all drivers over 70 must renew their driving licence every three years. You also need to let the DVLA know if you have any new medical conditions that may impact your driving, such as eyesight impairment.

How your health may impact car insurance

For drivers over 70, keeping up-to-date with your current health conditions is important. Drivers of this age are at a higher risk of conditions that may impact driving ability, such as eyesight impairments or mobility issues. Other conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or sensory issues can also impact your ability to drive. You will need to declare this to your insurer, which can incur higher insurance premiums.

Different levels of coverage

There are three main categories of car insurance coverage in the UK that you can choose from. Your choice will largely depend on your vehicle usage, the value of your car and your overall budget. These categories include:

• Third-party insurance: This level of cover is the bare minimum that you can take out and it is a legal requirement to have it. Third-party insurance covers any damage you cause to a third party but not your vehicle.

• Third-party, fire and theft: This is the same form of coverage as third party only but it also covers damage or loss of your vehicle through fire or theft.

• Comprehensive insurance: This is the top level of coverage and will also protect your vehicle in the event of an accident or theft. This is the most useful form of coverage for you as a driver, so it is advisable to consider this option.

The type of coverage you choose for your car will depend on your circumstances. Budget, the level of coverage required and the type of car you have will all play a role. There are also specialised types of car insurance to think about. For example, for older cars you might want to consider something like classic car insurance, as it is designed to preserve these historic cars when making a claim instead of writing them off.

Choosing the right car for drivers over 70

When it comes to finding the right for drivers over 70, there are a few main areas you’ll want to consider. Safety will be a big selling point, as will simplicity in terms of design. Older drivers are typically looking for something affordable, easy to drive and reliable. A good option for this is a Volvo thanks to their excellent safety ratings, but they can be pricey.

Other options include affordable hatchbacks from reputable brands like Honda and Ford. Smaller cars tend to be quite simple to drive and insurers rate them quite well, so you can save some money on the insurance by going a little smaller. Other features to be on the lookout for when buying a car for drivers over 70 include:

• Automatics: Automatic cars are more popular than ever in the UK and their ease of use makes them great for older drivers.

• Parking sensors and rear-view cameras: This technology makes it easier to park and get out of tight spots, which can be problematic for older drivers.

• Adaptive headlights: These new headlights are great because they improve visibility in foggy conditions or at night.

• Heated seats and steering wheels: Although not safer, these add-ons can make driving much more comfortable, especially if you’re dealing with issues like arthritis or joint pain.

Does car size affect car insurance costs?

The overall size of your car has a pretty big part to play in the cost of your insurance. You can expect to pay less on your insurance if you opt for a smaller car in most instances. However, other factors, such as the size of the engine or its frequency of being targeted by thieves, can make it a higher risk for insurers. It’s best to get a few different quotes based on the car you’re considering to make sure you can find a reasonable price.

Can safety technology lower car insurance premiums?

One of the many benefits of newer cars is that they often come fully equipped with new safety technology. Innovations like advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) help keep you safer on the road, which lowers the risk of an accident. So, by having safety features like automatic emergency braking or blind-spot monitoring in your car, you can actually save some money on your car insurance premiums.

Tips for reducing insurance costs for over 70s

Unfortunately, car insurance for over 70s is around the time where insurers start to charge you more. Although you can’t change your age, there are certain things you can do to help keep your car insurance premiums as low as possible. Below, we’ve outlined a few tips to help you reduce your insurance costs if you’re a driver over 70:

Hold a clean driving licence

Having a clean driving record is a great way to show insurers that you’re a safe driver. If you don’t have any points on your licence, insurers will offer you lower rates on your insurance premiums.

Telematics insurance

Telematics insurance (also known as black box insurance) is a relatively new way to lower your car insurance costs. By adhering to the rules of your insurance and fitting a telematics device to your car, insurers will offer you lower premiums. Some of the stipulations might include not driving too fast or limiting the amount of miles you do per week.

Available discounts

Some insurers will offer various discounts that can help lower the overall cost of your car insurance. This might include low mileage discounts or having another insurance product with the same insurer. Multi car insurance policies are another great option if your household has more than one vehicle.

Adding a younger driver

You can lower your premiums in some cases by adding a younger, experienced driver onto your policy. This lowers the risk by spreading the risk between multiple drivers. Just make sure the driver you choose has a clean driving licence!

Considerations for excess

You can lower the cost of your car insurance by placing a higher voluntary excess on the policy. Be careful with this option, though, as this will increase the amount you have to pay in the event of a claim.

Specific considerations for over 70s

As we’ve discussed in this article, drivers over 70 typically start paying more on their car insurance due to the perceived risk of older drivers. So, now is the best time to start comparing quotes from different insurers to help you get a price that suits your budget for your car insurance. At Forces Compare, we can help you compare quotes from some of the UK’s biggest insurers with just a few clicks. This makes it easy for you to find affordable car insurance that suits your needs perfectly.

In some cases, a standard car insurance policy might not be the right choice for you. If you’re driving much less frequently, then pay-as-you-go insurance could help you save some money. Or, avoiding car insurance entirely and opting for shared transportation options could be the best way to get around. One of the best places to get advice or guidance on this is organisations such as Age UK.

Comparing insurance quotes for over 70s

Car insurance for over 70s can get quite expensive, so it’s always worthwhile to spend some time comparing different quotes from providers. Some providers are more likely to offer lower rates for senior drivers, while others will do the opposite and charge you more. So, it’s really helpful to shop around to find a policy that fits the bill. At Forces Compare, we make this easy by helping you compare quotes from the UK’s top insurers in a few clicks.

We recommend doing this every year, around a month before your policy is due for a renewal. This will help you find prices that suit your budget well ahead of time and you can make any changes you need to your policy at this time, too. So, if you have any new health conditions or a change in your driving habits, you can add this to your policy.

General terms and considerations

Car insurance loves to use complicated language and jargon terms, which can make it quite confusing for the average person. So, to help you understand what they’re talking about when providing you quotes, we’ve provided definitions for some of the more confusing commonly used terms in car insurance below:

• Coverage: Your coverage is the level of insurance you have taken out with your policy. This includes third-party only, third-party fire and theft as well as comprehensive coverage.

• Excess: Your excess is what you will need to pay in the event of making a claim. This can be a voluntary or mandatory excess depending on your insurer and what you choose.

• Renewal: Most insurance policies will run for one year and then they will lapse. Insurers will offer you a renewal price to essentially roll the policy over for another year. During your renewal, make sure to update the policy with any changes to your driving habits or health.

• Claim: If you have an accident or your car is damaged or stolen, you can make a claim through your insurer to cover the loss. They will provide you with a lump sum payment or replacement vehicle depending on the nature of the claim and level of coverage.

• No claims bonus: Most insurers provide you with a discount for every year you don’t make a claim. This can increase for 5 to 7 years and provide you with a big discount provided you stay claim-free.

• Medical disclosure: If you have any changes to your health that may impact your driving, you must tell your insurer via medical disclosure.

Reporting an accident or claim

Much like all other types of insurance, you hope that you’ll never need to use your car insurance. If you do, though, you must know how to report an accident or claim to your insurer. So make sure you have all of the information you need to contact them, as well as information about the documents you’ll need and expected time frames for processing claims. Ideally, you should choose an insurer with a good track record of handling claims efficiently.

Find car insurance for over 70s with Forces Compare

Our team at Forces Compare are here to help you find car insurance for over 70s that perfectly meets your needs and budget. With our help, you can quickly compare car insurance quotes from some of the UK’s biggest insurers. Are you ready to get started? For more information, visit our car Insurance page or get a quote directly.