Cheap Car Insurance For Seniors In Pennsylvania 2024

Today approximately 25% of all licensed drivers in the state of Pennsylvania are 65 or older, representing a 26% increase from just 10 years ago. To support the impact of aging on driving abilities, Pennsylvania has special restrictions and requirements for older drivers as well as opportunities for car insurance discounts like mature driver improvement courses which offer education on the impact aging has on driving ability and provides discounts on insurance.

Drawing from over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, I’ll offer insights to help you make a smart decision.

Cheapest Car Insurance For Seniors In Pennsylvania

For seniors on a fixed income, affordable car insurance is a must. GEICO is the cheapest provider for seniors in Pennsylvania, with competitive rates and a wide range of discounts.

Offering extensive coverage options at an average annual premium of $1,310, GEICO provides seniors with discounts like safe driver, multi-vehicle, and defensive driving, making it the best choice for affordability.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 65 In Pennsylvania

Insurance rates for those over 65 can differ based on driving patterns and health status. State Farm offers the most affordable rates for this age group, with an average annual premium of $1,090.

State Farm’s discounts and usage-based programs are well-suited for older drivers who drive less often, keeping their expenses low.

Cheapest Car Insurance In Pennsylvania For Seniors Over 70

Insurance rates tend to increase with age due to perceived higher risk, but Allstate offers the best rates for seniors over 70, with an average annual premium of $1,208. Allstate tailors its policies to senior drivers, ensuring they receive affordable and comprehensive coverage.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 75 In Pennsylvania

For seniors over 75, State Farm stands out as a top option, providing an average annual premium of $1,236. Its safe driving and defensive driving discounts make State Farm an affordable choice for older drivers.

Most Affordable Car Insurance For Seniors Over 85 In Pennsylvania

Seniors over 85 typically see higher insurance rates because of increased health risks and the potential for accidents. Yet, GEICO provides competitive pricing, with an average annual premium of $1,970, aided by various senior discounts.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors with a Ticket In Pennsylvania

Insurance rates can spike significantly after receiving a driving ticket. Nationwide offers the lowest rates for seniors with a ticket, averaging $1,229 annually. Nationwide’s forgiving policies and discounts for keeping a clean record post-ticket make it an excellent option.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors with a DUI

Insurance premiums skyrocket with a DUI on record. State Farm provides the most affordable rates for seniors with a DUI, averaging $1,368 annually. State Farm’s specialized programs help ease the financial burden of a DUI.

Cheapest Senior Car Insurance For Good Drivers In Pennsylvania

Seniors with excellent driving histories generally receive lower insurance rates. GEICO provides the most affordable premiums, averaging $1,310 annually, thanks to its extensive good driver discounts.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors After an Accident

Insurance rates often rise significantly after an accident. Nationwide provides the best rates for seniors, averaging $1,207 per year. Their accident forgiveness programs help manage the increased costs.

How Much Is Car Insurance For Seniors In Pennsylvania?

Car insurance rates for seniors in Pennsylvania are based on factors like age, vehicle type and safety features, driver history, and coverage type. In general Pennsylvania seniors can expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,000 per year for full coverage which accounts for different discounts and levels of coverage.

The table below indicates the average annual costs from five major providers for car insurance for seniors in Pennsylvania.

Factors Influencing Car Insurance Rates

There are several factors that influence car insurance rates for seniors in Pennsylvania.

1. Age: Insurance rates will rise with age, usually around age 70 and higher because of the increased risk of accidents and injuries.
2. Driving Record: Pennsylvania insurance providers look at your driving record to determine your risk of accidents and moving violations and subsequently your premiums.
3. Mileage: Seniors who drive fewer miles can benefit from usage-based programs that reduce premiums.
4. Coverage Level: The level of coverage you have for liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage will impact the cost of your insurance.
5. Discounts: Seniors can qualify for discounts based on things like bundling multiple insurance products or taking mature driver improvement classes.

Taking a look at these factors can provide seniors in Pennsylvania with personalized insurance plans based on need.

Why Do Car Insurance Rates Increase For Seniors?

There are several age-related factors that cause car insurance rates for seniors in Pennsylvania to increase and this includes the higher injury severity, increased accident risk, and overall health issues.

Age

The state of Pennsylvania does not utilize legal restrictions on senior drivers like others do with an age restriction but instead requires doctors and medical practitioners to report any diagnosis made that could compromise road safety.

Each month, Pennsylvania chooses 2,000 drivers aged 45 or older to undergo vision and physical fitness testing to confirm viability for a license renewal.

If senior drivers perform poorly on these tests, the state of Pennsylvania and the Department of Transportation will focus on driving restrictions rather than license suspensions like requiring corrective contact lenses or glasses for those who have trouble with the vision part of the test.

Other possible restrictions based on performance for senior drivers can include:

1. Having a vehicle with air brakes and mirrors on both sides
2. Only driving within a specific geographic area
3. Only driving during daylight hours
4. Wearing hearing aids

Depending on your performance, if selected, your insurance premium can increase.

Accidents

Drivers 65 or older in Pennsylvania have fewer crashes per driver compared to the national average however, they have higher crashes per mile of driving compared to any other age group.

In 2022, over 20,000 car accidents in the state of Pennsylvania involved at least one driver 65 years or older. That same year almost 300 fatalities from car accidents involved senior drivers.

This increased risk of involvement in accidents for every mile driven lends itself to higher premiums from insurance providers across the state.

Claims

Finally, older individuals are more likely to file several claims and those claims are more likely to be costly for insurance providers in large part because of a higher severity of injury for those involved in car accidents and a higher risk of being in car accidents in the first place.

How Can Seniors Save On Car Insurance In Pennsylvania?

There are several ways that seniors can save on car insurance in Pennsylvania. Below are just a few.

Apply Discounts

Many car insurance providers in the state offer several types of discounts for all drivers including seniors and these include things like the following:

• Completing an approved mature driver improvement course
• Insuring a vehicle that is not used for excessive driving with usage-based insurance programs
• Discounts for having a clean driving record over the span of several years
• Multi-policy discounts for bundling car insurance with other types of insurance

Review and Adjust Coverage

You can review and adjust your coverage according to your needs, especially if you have a change to your fixed income or living situation. This might include things like dropping collision and comprehension coverage for an older vehicle, increasing your deductible to lower your premium, or using a usage based insurance program like State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save or Allstate’s Drivewise.

Compare

Seniors can compare different providers and calculate the premiums based on changes in circumstances like increased deductibles or mileage-based programs using Insuranceopedia.

Maintain a Good Credit Score

Pennsylvania auto insurance providers look at your driving record as well as your credit score as key factors in determining your level of risk. The higher your credit score when you take out a new policy or renewal policy, the better your premiums can be.

Install Safety Devices

If you have a newer vehicle or you were planning to purchase a newer vehicle, picking one that has things like anti-theft systems and other safety devices specifically to reduce your risk of accident like lane departure warnings or lane assist can help. Even if you have an older car you can consider having things like anti-lock brakes or anti-theft systems installed to reduce the risk of accident or theft and lower your premium by extension.

Consider Group Insurance

Several affiliation groups can provide access to Group insurance plans that have additional discounts for members.

Ask About Senior Discounts

Age can be more than just a number especially if you get age related discounts from your insurance provider.

Regularly Review Insurance Needs

As your driving patterns change, so will your insurance requirements. You can avoid overpaying for unnecessary coverage by reviewing your insurance needs regularly especially if, for example, you retire and you stop commuting every day or you find that you aren’t using both vehicles in your household as often.

Car Insurance Discounts For Seniors In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania provides access to several discounts through different car insurance companies. Below are some of the top options you can consider.

Mature Driver Improvement Courses

There are 10 organizations that provide Pennsylvania Department of Transportation approved mature driver improvement courses. These courses are designed to help seniors understand the impact of aging on driving ability.

The mature driver improvement courses do not have any practical driving aspect or written test and under Pennsylvania law, any individual 55 or older can receive a 5% discount on their car insurance for 3 years after completing this course.

Affiliations

Joining Affiliated groups like The AARP, or AAA, can provide discounts on insurance and it also gives you discounts on things like the Pennsylvania approved mature driver improvement courses.

Low Mileage/Usage Based Mileage

Many programs throughout the state provide low mileage discounts so if you have stopped your daily commute and are retired, and most of your driving is to the local grocery store or church, you can get substantial discounts on your policy.

Driver Record

Your driving record in Pennsylvania represents a history of things like accident involvement and traffic violations. Each type of traffic violation or accident will remain on your record for the span of several years although it can be removed with things like traffic school.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation monitors driving records using a point system. Each violation accumulates points between two and five and insurance companies use that driving record to determine your risk of violations and claims. The higher the number of points on your record at any given time, the higher your insurance costs will be.

The table below offers some examples of vehicle violations and their respective points:

Keeping a clean driving history without violations and accidents for several years can provide safe driver discounts.

Student Discounts

If you have a grandchild who is on your current policy, they can help reduce the premiums by keeping good grades and also maintaining a clean driving record in accordance with the point system above.

Vehicle Safety Devices

Pennsylvania provides access to several discounts if you have vehicle safety features that can reduce your risk of accident or theft. These can be things that you have on an existing vehicle or install on an older vehicle.

Loyalty Discounts

The longer you remain with the same insurance provider, the better your loyalty discounts will be. Be sure to check whether loyalty discounts can be combined with other discounts like vehicle safety features or a clean driving record.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates For Senior Drivers – By US State

It’s essential for senior drivers to find the most affordable car insurance due to their unique challenges on the road. This section reviews the lowest car insurance rates available for seniors in every state and highlights the insurers providing these competitive rates. By comparing these options, seniors can make informed choices that ensure both cost savings and proper coverage.