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Over 50s car insurance

Over 50s can save up to £331* when you compare car insurance quotes

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  • 96% of our car insurance customers would recommend us

  • Compare quotes from up to 160 trusted insurers in less than 5 minutes, including specialist over 50s insurance companies

  • Select the policy add-ons you need, like breakdown cover or courtesy car cover

*Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (August '23) 51% of car insurance customers 50 and over could save £331.19
**Single annual policy. Shell Go+ account required. Only one £10 fuel reward can be used per transaction and each can only be used on fuel purchases of £10 or over. HelloFresh 18+ subscription service. Geographical exclusions apply. T&Cs apply

Is car insurance cheaper for over 50s?

Generally, yes. Most over-50s benefit from cheaper car insurance than younger drivers. This is because drivers in their 50s typically have more experience on the road. As a result, they're statistically less likely to be involved in accidents. However, the price you pay ultimately depends on your personal circumstances.

Here's how much drivers in different age groups paid annually for their car insurance, on average:

Age Average Cost1
20-29
£1,418
30-39
£946
40-49
£740
50-59
£575
60-69
£472
70+
£480
 

1Based on Q2 2023 Confused.com price index.

Why is over 50s car insurance cheaper?

Insurance companies use many risk factors to calculate your car insurance costs.

Age is one of the most important factors - the older you are, the more experience you're likely to have. Our data shows that the average driver in their 50s has held their driving licence for 22.5 years2. With this many years' experience, you're statistically less likely to be involved in an accident. This makes you less of a risk to insurers, so you're more likely to see lower insurance prices.

But other factors are also important, including:

  • The car you're driving
  • Where you live
  • Your occupation
  • Previous driving convictions
  • Any no-claims bonus (NCB) you've built up

The car you're driving. Insurers split cars into groups from 1-50. The higher the insurance group, the more your insurance is likely to cost. Any modifications could also increase the price you pay.

Where you live. Living in a built-up area with high vehicle theft rates tends to have higher insurance costs compared to living in a rural area with low crime rates.

Your occupation. Certain occupations are considered risky by insurers. You should always be accurate and honest about your job title though because misleading insurers could invalidate your cover.

Previous driving convictions like speeding or drink-driving increase your insurance costs. The most common driving conviction for drivers in their 50s is a speeding conviction (SP30). On average, insurance for drivers over 50 with this type of conviction is £6842.

Any no-claims bonus (NCB) you've built up. If you've been driving for several years, you might have a large no-claims bonus built up. This means you qualify for more generous no-claims discounts when buying or switching your policy. Drivers in their 50s with 10 years no-claims built up pay an average of £365.86 for car insurance, compared to £485.74 for those with 5 years2.

2Based on Confused.com data February 2023 - May 2023.

How can I save money on car insurance?

Although car insurance is usually cheaper for over 50s, there are still a few ways you can save:

  • Avoid automatic renewal and compare quotes
  • Pay annually
  • Increase your voluntary excess
  • Pick the right extras

Avoid automatic renewal and compare quotes. Insurers have to show you how much you paid for car insurance the previous year. This makes it easy to see if you'd be paying more to let your policy auto-renew. Comparing quotes is the best way to see if you could get a better deal elsewhere. By shopping around, you could save up to £285**. The best time to buy a new policy is around 3 weeks before your renewal date4.

We guarantee to beat your renewal price too. And if we don’t, we’ll give you the difference, plus £203.

Pay annually and you could save up to 16%4 as insurers add fees or interest if you choose monthly payments.

Increase your voluntary excess. The more you're willing to pay, the cheaper your policy could be. Just make sure you set it at an amount you can afford to pay if needed. Remember to consider the compulsory excess, as you'll have to pay this too.

Don't pay for add-ons you don't need. Policy add-ons come at a cost. If you don't think you'll need something, leave it off your policy.

3Single annual policy only. T&Cs apply. Must be a like-for-like policy.
4Based on Confused.com data February 2023 - May 2023

What our consumer champion says

“Being a driver in your 50s has its perks. If you’re free of points and claims, your years of driving experience mean you’re seen as a lower risk by insurers. As such, your prices should be significantly lower than those of younger drivers who don’t have much experience behind the wheel.

Even so, with insurance prices hitting record highs, there’s more reason than ever to make sure you’re getting a good deal. For starters, don’t accept your current insurer's renewal offer without comparing your options. You might find yourself a better price just by shopping around.”

What do I need to get a car insurance quote?

If it’s your first time getting a quote with us, you just need a few details:

Personal details:

Car details:

  • Registration number or make and model of the car
  • Any modifications you’ve made to your car
  • Estimated annual mileage

If you’ve compared quotes with us before, you can log in to make things quicker. Your details should all be saved and ready. Just check they're all up to date.

Save up to £331* when you buy over 50s car insurance

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Should I go with a specialist over-50s car insurance provider?

It depends on what you want from a policy. There are insurance providers that specialise in car insurance for over 50s, like Saga and Rias. These companies also typically offer specialist policies for over 60s and over 70s too.

Specialist companies generally offer additional policy features as standard, such as:

  • A 3-year fixed price, so you don't have to worry about your insurance cost increasing. That's as long as your personal circumstances don't change within the duration of your policy
  • No upper age limit, so while some mainstream insurers may impose their own limits, a specialist policy covers you no matter your age
  • Emergency any-driver cover, so anyone who holds a full UK driving licence can take over if you suffer a medical emergency during a journey
  • European cover, insuring you to drive in certain European countries for up to 90 days

But they may not be cheaper than a mainstream car insurance provider. Drivers in their 50s often have plenty of driving experience, a good no-claims discount and are, statistically, less likely to get into accidents than younger drivers. As long as you've got a good driving history, most insurance companies are likely to offer you cheaper car insurance. So, it's always worth comparing prices and policies.

We compare up to 160 trusted insurance companies, including specialist over 50s insurers

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What policy extras should I get if I'm over 50?

The add-ons for over 50s are the same as for under 50s and depend on the provider you go with. Which extras you choose depend on what you need.

Options you could consider include:

  • Breakdown cover to help you get the assistance you need if your car breaks down
  • Courtesy car cover so you can still get around if your car needs repairs
  • No-claims bonus protection, which lets you make a certain number of claims without affecting your discount

Who is Confused.com?

  • We were founded in 2002 as the first car insurance price comparison website. Since then, we've helped millions of customers save money on their car insurance.
  • We compare up to 160 reputable car insurance companies. We're 100% independent and not owned by an insurance company, so the prices we show you are the best available based on the information you give us.
  • When you buy car insurance from us, you can choose a freebie with Confused.com Rewards**.
  • 96% of our customers would recommend us on Reviews.io, and we're rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot.

Types of car insurance

Temporary driver car insurance icon

Temporary car insurance

offers short-term comprehensive cover from one hour to 28 days.

Multi car insurance icon

Multi car insurance

lets you insure one or more cars on the same policy.

Black box car insurance icon

Black box car insurance

lets you prove you’re a safe driver, and save money on your policy, even if you’re inexperienced or seen as high risk.

Classic car insurance icon

Classic car insurance

offers cover for owners of classic cars. For insurance purposes, a classic car can be any car that’s older than 15 years.

Business car insurance icon

Business car insurance

covers you if you use your car for work, including travelling between offices or across the country.

New driver car insurance icon

New driver insurance

for those who are new to driving or hold a provisional license.

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Need more help?

Do I need a health check to get over 50s car insurance?

You won't need a health check, but if you have any medical conditions that may affect your ability to drive you should declare them to your insurance company and the DVLA.

Health conditions that should be declared include, but aren't limited to:

  • Epilepsy
  • Diabetes
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Heart conditions
  • Visual impairments
  • Strokes
  • Sleep apnoea

If you're involved in an accident as a result of a health condition that you haven't declared, your insurance may not pay out. You could also be at risk of a £1,000 fine.

Is there an upper age limit on car insurance?

No, there's no upper age limit. While some insurance companies do impose their own limits, they're usually for drivers in their 70s or older. So, these limits are unlikely to affect drivers in their 50s.

I'm over 50. Why hasn't my car insurance gone down?

Generally, the more driving experience you have, the cheaper your car insurance could be. But other factors might affect your price. If you’ve bought a new car, moved to a new area, or increased your annual mileage your insurance costs may go up. Shopping around can help you find the best price for your insurance.

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After buying car insurance, 96% of Confused.com customers would recommend us (based on 153081 Reviews.co.uk respondents - as of 24/08/23). Read our reviews

Page last reviewed: 19 July 2023

Reviewed by: Louise Thomas

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