Cheap Car Insurance For Seniors In Ohio 2024

22% of all accidents in Ohio involve elderly drivers despite the fact that 84% of Ohioans over the age of 65 say they only drive when they absolutely need to go somewhere. Ohio has the 8th highest percentage of drivers over the age of 65 who are killed in car accident fatalities.

With nearly 20% of drivers over 65, projected to reach 27% of all drivers by 2030, it’s important that seniors in Ohio find ways to stay safer on the road, reduce fatalities, and keep their car insurance premiums affordable.

Cheapest Overall Car Insurance For Seniors In Ohio

Seniors on a fixed income need affordable car insurance. GEICO is the cheapest overall provider for seniors in Ohio , offering competitive rates and numerous discounts. With extensive coverage options at an average annual premium of $680, GEICO provides seniors with safe driver, multi-vehicle, and defensive driving discounts, making it the most affordable choice.

Cheapest Ohio Car Insurance For Seniors Over 65

Insurance rates for seniors over 65 can vary based on their driving habits and health condition. GEICO offers the most competitive rates for this demographic, with an average annual premium of $694. GEICO’s discounts and usage-based programs are beneficial for older drivers who drive less frequently, keeping their insurance costs low.

Cheapest Auto Insurance For Seniors Over 70 In Ohio

With age, insurance premiums can rise due to perceived higher risk. However, GEICO offers the lowest rates for seniors over 70, averaging $720 annually. GEICO’s policies are crafted to suit senior drivers, providing affordable and comprehensive coverage.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates For Seniors Over 75

For those over 75, GEICO is a top contender, offering an average annual premium of $770. The discounts for safe and defensive driving make GEICO a budget-friendly option for older drivers.

Most Affordable Car Insurance For Seniors Over 85 In Ohio

Seniors over 85 usually face higher insurance premiums due to increased health risks and accident potential. Still, GEICO provides competitive rates, averaging $800 per year, with the help of various senior discounts.

Cheapest Car Insurance In Ohio For Seniors With A Ticket

Getting a driving ticket can significantly raise insurance rates. State Farm offers the most affordable rates for seniors with a ticket, with an average annual premium of $1,140. State Farm’s forgiving policies and post-ticket clean record discounts make it a great option.

Cheapest Car Insurance For Seniors With A DUI In Ohio

Having a DUI on your record can cause insurance premiums to soar. State Farm offers the most affordable rates for seniors with a DUI, averaging $1,160 per year. State Farm’s specialized programs help mitigate the cost impacts of a DUI.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Good Senior Drivers

Good drivers often benefit from reduced insurance premiums. GEICO provides the cheapest rates for seniors with clean driving records, averaging $680 annually, supported by extensive good driver discounts.

Cheapest Car Insurance For Seniors In Ohio After An Accident

Post-accident insurance premiums can be expensive. State Farm provides the best rates for seniors, averaging $1,240 annually. Their accident forgiveness programs effectively manage the costs.

How Much Is Car Insurance For Seniors In Ohio?

Car insurance premiums for seniors in Ohio change based on driver history, coverage amount, and age. As seniors get older they face higher car insurance premiums due to health concerns and increased claims risks. Still, many insurance providers throughout Ohio offer discounts and programs to make these costs manageable.

Seniors in Ohio can expect an average annual cost of $1,000 to $2,500 for full coverage. This average includes different discounts and coverage options. The table below displays the average yearly costs of five popular providers for seniors in Ohio.

Factors Influencing Auto Insurance Rates

There are several factors that impact car insurance rates for seniors in Ohio including the following:

1. Age: After age 70, car insurance rates will increase due to the heightened risk of accidents and age-related decline in psychomotor and cognitive abilities.
2. Driver Record: Car insurance companies look at a driving record and a history of accidents, claims, and violations over the last few years to determine current costs.
3. Mileage: Seniors in Ohio claim that they only drive when they absolutely need to and that means driving fewer miles can reduce costs for coverage with usage based programs.
4. Parking: In Ohio, where you park matters. If you are able to park in a locked parking lot or an indoor garage, a place that decreases your risk of a car being stolen, some insurance providers will offer lower premiums.
5. Weather: Areas prone to extreme weather or with higher traffic patterns have higher insurance rates across Ohio.
   1. Wayne and Holmes counties are at risk for tornadoes and severe wind
   2. Summit and Wayne counties have flash flooding
   3. The Ohio Valley has extreme rain and flooding risks
6. Coverage Level: The insurance coverage you have beyond the state required minimums for collision and liability can change the cost.
7. Discounts: Seniors often qualify for discounts on bundling different policies, taking defensive driver courses, and keeping a clean record.

Being cognizant of these factors and taking time to shop around can help senior Ohioans get affordable car insurance coverage that meets their needs.

Why Do Car Insurance Rates Increase For Seniors?

The increase in car insurance rates for seniors is often due to several age-related factors and associated risks. Key reasons include:

Higher Crash Risk

As drivers get older they are more likely to experience a decline in psychomotor, sensory, and cognitive skills all of which are necessary to avoid car accidents which means there is a higher rate of involvement in at fault and other accidents.

Drivers who are over the age of 70 have a much higher crash death rate compared to younger drivers due to increased vulnerability.

Health Issues

Age related changes to physical functioning, memory, vision, as well as chronic diseases and medication can affect driving abilities for older adults.

Higher Injury Severity

Around 7,500 seniors are killed in car accidents every year and nearly 200,000 are treated annually for emergency room crash injuries.

Seniors are responsible for the highest increase in public care costs because of prolonged hospital stays after accidents.

Frequency of Claims

Older drivers are more likely to file claims especially for things like property damage and the increase in the number of claims filed per year increases the projected cost of car insurance.

Mileage

However, it’s not all bad news. Older drivers are also less likely to drive as often and that means lower mileage will reduce car insurance costs for seniors in Ohio.

How Can Seniors Save On Car Insurance?

Seniors in Ohio can save on car insurance costs by using different techniques like those listed below.

Take Advantage of Discounts

Insurance companies often provide discounts for senior drivers, including:

• Defensive Driving Course Discount: Seniors who complete an approved defensive driving course can receive significant discounts, refreshing driving skills and updating traffic law knowledge.
• Low Mileage Discount: Seniors who drive less can qualify for low mileage discounts. Usage-based insurance programs track mileage and offer savings for reduced driving.
• Safe Driver Discount: A clean driving record without accidents or violations can earn seniors a safe driver discount.
• Multi-Policy Discount: Bundling car insurance with other types of insurance, such as home or renters insurance, can result in multi-policy discounts.

Review and Adjust Coverage

Seniors looking to find discounts on their car insurance can consider reducing the coverage they have, especially if they have savings or other means set aside to cover things like medical bills, collision damage to personal vehicles, or rental cars.

You might be able to raise your deductible, reduce coverage for an older vehicle, or switch to a usage-based insurance plan that only charges you per mile.

Shop Around

Using Insuranceopedia, or similar resources can help you compare insurance quotes from several companies based on your personal factors. you might find considerable savings from things like mileage-based programs or discounts for bundling.

Maintain a Good Credit Score

According to the Ohio Department of insurance, your credit history is a predictor of How likely you are to have an insurance loss. Credit based Insurance scores look at things like credit history to predict your ability to manage loss incurred after things like car accidents.

In Ohio, insurance companies cannot use a credit-based insurance score as the only factor to determine which policies they issue or what premiums will be charged. However, your credit based insurance score can serve as one of several factors in determining your insurance premiums in addition to things like the make, model, the age of your car, the number of miles you drive annually, and your age.

With an improved credit score, you can potentially reduce your car insurance premiums from one year to the next.

Install Safety Devices

According to the Ohio Department of insurance, having safety devices installed on your car can reduce your premiums.

• If you are buying a new car, consider investing in something with daytime running lights, side airbags, anti-lock brakes, and automatic seat belts.
• If you have an existing car, consider adding safety devices to reduce your premiums.

Anti-theft devices can also help reduce premiums, especially things like GPS systems and alarm systems that can locate a stolen car.

Consider Group Insurance

If you are a member of groups the AARP, you can find discounts on group insurance rates that might have perks more attractive than what you currently have.

Ask About Senior Discounts

As you age, be sure to ask about age-related discounts, as these tend to vary from one age to the next, and one provider to the next.

Regularly Review Insurance Needs

As your driving habits change, so might your insurance coverage. For example, if you retire at age 67, you may no longer drive to and from work every day and as such qualify for things like low mileage discounts.

File Fewer Claims

You should also consider at what point it is worth the potential increase to your insurance premiums to file claims on minor damage. The Ohio Department of Automobile Insurance recommends that Ohioans set aside money for more affordable repairs like a problem with the windshield or a heat shield repair instead of filing a claim.

Car Insurance Discounts For Seniors

Seniors have access to a wide array of different discounts from various car insurance providers in Ohio.

The table below presents a quick average of the types of car insurance discounts for seniors in Ohio:

If you are looking to save, keep your eyes peeled for these popular car insurance discounts:

Defensive Driving Course Discount

Each insurance provider offers different discounts for completion of defensive driver courses in Ohio.

For example:

• The Drive Safe & Save option from State Farm provides eligible drivers at least 60 years old up to 30% off if they complete an approved Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course.
• Nationwide provides up to 5% discounts for drivers who complete a State Certified course and an additional 10% for those who have no major violations or at fault accidents for at least 5 years.

Most of these courses will reduce your costs for 3 years at which point you’ll have to take the course again.

Low Mileage Discount

Seniors can qualify for several low mileage discounts in Ohio. Drivers get a discount in Ohio from companies like State Farm if they drive fewer than 7500 miles per year. Allstate provides a Milewise program in Ohio that has a cap on the number of miles driven per day of 150 in Ohio and those who stay under that cap get a discount.

Safe Driver Discount

Remaining accident free and keeping a clean record goes a long way toward reducing the cost of insurance premiums for seniors in Ohio. As mentioned, Nationwide gives up to 10% for those who have no major moving violations or at fault accidents for at least 5 years. Companies like State Farm and Geico offer similar discounts. GEICO, for example, gives up to 22% on most coverages for those who have been accident free for at least 5 years.

Multi-Policy Discount

Many car insurance companies will provide discounts if you bundle several policies or bundle multiple vehicles under the same policy. Some companies offer discounts of up to 25% on car insurance coverage if you have more than one car insured under the same policy.

Good Student Discount

You don’t have to be in school to capitalize on the good student discounts from car insurance providers. Companies like Geico offer up to 15% discounts on certain coverages for full-time students and if you have a grandchild on your policy who is in school, and meets that criteria, you could enjoy reduced premiums.

Vehicle Safety Discount

Installing safety features like anti-theft systems and anti-lock brakes or buying a new vehicle with those upgrades reduces the risk of accidents especially for drivers who might be struggling with motor skills and response times. This decreases the average cost of insurance in Ohio for seniors.

Usage-Based Insurance Discount

Other companies like Nationwide provide a SmartMiles program which is a pay per mile program that has a low, $35 per month fee with a 7 cents per mile fee each month. The more infrequently you drive, the more you save.

Affinity Group Discount

There are several Affinity groups that can potentially qualify you for discounts on your car insurance in Ohio.

• Military members and retired veterans qualify for discounts from several insurance providers including State Farm and GEICO. Companies like Geico provide active duty, retirees, and members of the reserves or National Guard’s discounts of up to 15% on their policies.
• Being a federal employee can also qualify you for discounts. Active or retired federal employees can get up to 12% off their total insurance premium in Ohio with companies like Geico.
• Other companies provide memberships based on organizations, partner educational institutions, and companies. There are over 500 qualifying organizations including the AARP, educational institutions, businesses, and more.

Homeowner Discount

Homeowners who bundle qualifying homeowners insurance with car insurance from the same company can receive multi policy discounts.

Loyalty Discount

The longer you stay with a car insurance provider, the more discounts you can enjoy for your loyalty. Customer loyalty discounts tend to increase the longer you remain with a company.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Senior Drivers – by US State

Securing affordable car insurance is critical for senior drivers due to their particular challenges on the road. This section gives a comprehensive overview of the lowest rates available for seniors in each state and the insurance companies offering them. By comparing these options, senior drivers can make informed choices that balance affordability with sufficient coverage.