Car insurance for over 70s

As long as you have a good driving history, you should still be able to get relatively cheap car insurance once you're over 70. But don’t be disheartened if your quote has increased on last year’s, because there are a few things you can do to help lower the price:

• Accurately estimate your mileage
• Select your occupation
• Increase your voluntary excess
• Avoid auto renewal
• Pay annually rather than monthly

Accurately estimate your mileage. Insurers use mileage as a factor when calculating the cost of your insurance. You might find you’re doing fewer miles now that you’re in your 70s. Reducing the total mileage – even slightly – might help save you money.

If you do drive fewer miles than you used to, you might benefit from a pay-as-you-go insurance policy. Similar to a telematics policy, it uses a black box device or mobile phone app that monitors your mileage. Unlike most telematics policies, a pay-as-you-go policy doesn't monitor other driving behaviours.

Select your occupation. If you're retired, make sure you choose that option rather than 'unemployed' when getting a quote. Being retired doesn't necessarily mean you'll see cheaper prices. But if your occupation before retirement was considered higher risk by insurers, you could see your costs come down.

Increase your voluntary excess to lower the cost of your insurance quote. Just make sure you can afford to pay the selected amount if you make a claim.

Avoid auto renewal with your current insurer. You should get a renewal quote from your insurer when your insurance is due to expire. It’s tempting to accept the first offer, but remember there are savings to be made by comparing quotes.

The good news is, all insurers are legally required to show you what you paid last year. This makes it even easier to see whether you’re being charged more for the same level of cover. We encourage comparing quotes and switching when you find a better deal.

Pay annually rather than monthly if you can. Most insurers charge interest if you choose to pay monthly. If you can afford to pay for the whole policy in one go, then you could save up to 16%² on your quote vs monthly payments.

Find out more ways to get cheaper car insurance.

²Based on Confused.com data February - May 2023

As we get older we're more prone to develop health conditions that affect our ability to drive. Insurers see this as a higher risk, which can increase the price you pay for car insurance as an older driver.

If you have a medical condition that could affect your driving, then you need to declare it to the DVLA and your insurer. These conditions include, but aren’t limited to:

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

If you develop a condition or disability, it's your responsibility to let the DVLA know about it. Once the DVLA are notified and have assessed the condition, they'll decide:

• Whether you get a new driving licence
• If you should renew your licence more often - for example, every 1 or 2 years rather than the standard 3 for over 70s
• Whether you need to adapt your car by fitting special controls
• If you must stop driving and give up your licence

Based on their decision, you should notify your insurer to let them know of a change in your circumstances.

For more information, visit GOV.UK's section on driving and medical conditions.

When you get a quote, we'll ask you whether you have any DVLA-reported medical conditions or disabilities. This includes any conditions that the DVLA believes will affect your ability to drive, or restrict your licence.

Find out more about medical conditions and driving.