Whether you want comprehensive cover, no claim discount protection, or any other benefit associated with motor insurance, your age will not restrict you. There are many drivers on the roads who are over 80 years of age. They drive safely and are trusted by their insurance services.
While some people assume that it's hard to find insurance for older drivers, it isn't the case at all. There are many insurance companies out there that are happy to cater to people over 80 years of age. There are even some insurance companies that exclusively cover older people. The premiums offered by companies such as these can be relatively cheap, depending on what you're looking for.
What medical conditions do older drivers need to report?
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) needs to be told if you have one of the following notifiable conditions:
- Glaucoma
- Epilepsy
- Heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation and the use of a pacemaker)
- Diabetes or you're taking insulin
- Sleep apnoea
- Syncope (fainting)
You must also tell the DVLA if your condition has become worse, or if:
- You no longer meet the driving standards set out in the UK due to your medical condition
- Your doctor has told you to stop driving for at least 3 months
The DVLA can fine you up to £1,000 if you don't tell them about any medical condition that impacts your driving.
Can older drivers get optional extras?
Yes. Your age will not limit your choice of car insurance add-ons, and you can still build up your no claims discount.
When choosing an insurance premium, you could opt for:
- Breakdown cover
- Cover for any items you left in your vehicle
- A courtesy car
- Windscreen cover
- Motor legal protection
- Vandalism cover
Please note, every insurance company is different. What some car insurance providers offer you may not get from others. Therefore, it pays to do your research. Use a comparison site or an insurance broker to find the best policy to meet your needs. If you're switching providers, you might be able to take advantage of deals for new customers, too.
What is the best over 80s car insurance cover?
It depends on what you are looking for. Some people may want comprehensive car insurance, others may want another level of cover like third party fire and theft. The best car insurance policy for you will give you peace of mind.
As we have already seen, many policies offer optional extras. Think about the extras that you want and look for a comprehensive policy that includes them. If you want motor legal protection, breakdown cover, or anything else, the best policy for you will include them. Don't be afraid to do your research and look for similar policies. Comparing policies will help you to get the right cover for you. Click here to learn more from our earlier article.
Is it easy to find driver insurance for older people?
Yes. 80-year-olds can easily get car insurance. In fact, there is a big market for this age group. While some insurance companies have upper age limits, many do not. Your search for the correct type of insurance could be easier than you think. If you're not sure about what you need, there is usually a helpline that you can ring. When you get through to someone, simply tell them what type of car insurance you're looking for. Don't forget to mention any optional extras you're interested in - if they don't try and sell them to you!
If you have a poor driving history or you've made a few recent insurance claims, you could pay more. Insurance companies will want to protect themselves against accidents. Any online quote that you get could, therefore, be a little higher than you think. Do not worry too much. You can still have the cover you want. Just make sure you have the add-ons you want so you have peace of mind.
Can people over 80 get cheaper car insurance?
Yes. Many car insurance providers favour people who have more years of driving experience. Drivers such as this tend to be safer on the road. This is because when they're behind the wheel, experienced drivers usually take fewer risks. As such, they are involved in fewer accidents, resulting in fewer insurance claims.
However, many drivers see their insurance premiums increase when they turn 70. This is because people over 70 tend to have more medical concerns than many younger drivers. Older drivers may also have slightly slower reaction times. When a driver has slower reactions, they are unlikely to respond to potential risks as quickly as they used to.
Many insurance companies will, therefore, raise their premium to cover the cost of the potential risks. Some insurance companies even have upper age limits as they don't want the potential liability associated with increased age-related risk on their books.
Phil Huff, of CALIBRE, told us: "It's a sad fact of life that car insurance gets more expensive once we hit retirement age, but the sheer scale of competition means you shouldn't end up being ripped off. We tend to stick with what we know, but forget loyalty to a multinational corporation and find time to spend a couple of hours each year putting your details through an insurance comparison site - you might find that you can save a significant amount of money with very little effort. Just make sure you declare everything, including any medical conditions, to leave you fully protected."
How can people over 80 get car insurance?
The internet means it's easy for over 80s to find relevant car insurance policies. With the ability to compare car insurance premiums, you're more likely to find the right policy for you.
Here's how you can go about finding the right car insurance for you:
Gather together your:
- Car's registration number
- The name, date of birth address, email address, and telephone number of the individual(s) who'll be the policyholder
- Driving licence and details of any points and insurance claims you've made
- Your policy or reference number if you're an existing customer with another insurer
- Annual mileage
- No-claims discount details
- Occupation - if you're still working!
- Car's age and model - you may only need this if you don't have the registration number
Ensure you have all of the above information with you before you search for over 80s car insurance. When you have all the information with you, your search will be much easier.
If you have never searched for car insurance online before, you may be in for a surprise. When you do your search, you're likely to be offered many different policies. Try not to let this overwhelm you. Instead, filter out the policies that don't include the features you want or need. When you do, you'll be left with fewer car insurance policies to compare, all of which will closely match your requirements.
How to lower the cost of your car insurance
There are a few methods you could use to reduce the cost of your car insurance. They include:
- Shopping around - Compare insurance quotes while searching for cover that's right for you.
- Increasing the excess - Choosing a higher excess could help to lower your premium. However, you should also make sure you can afford the excess in the event of an accident.
- Reducing your mileage - The lower your mileage, the less time you'll spend on the road. The less time you spend on the road, the less at risk of an accident you'll be.
- Carefully choosing your car - Some cars are very powerful and fast. If you own a high-performance vehicle, you'll be deemed a higher risk, especially in later life. Save yourself some money and opt for a less powerful, slower car.
Should older drivers get telematics fitted to their vehicles?
It's worth considering if you wish to lower your insurance premium. Telematics works by connecting a tracker or another type of data logging tool to your vehicle. The tracker collects data as you drive. Once this data has been collected, it will be sent to an information centre. Your data is then interpreted before it's analysed.
Paul Hadley from Motor Verso told us: "I completely agree that telematics can benefit the driver to keep costs low. If you are someone that is an occasional driver maybe using the car twice a week, then I would seriously look into the telematics route."
Using the data shows your car insurance company how you drive. If you're a low risk, defensive driver or don't drive very often, the data could help to lower your insurance premium. For example, if you're only behind the wheel a few times a week, your premium could go down. The reason for this is because you'll be spending less time on the road. You will, therefore, be putting yourself at a lower risk of being involved in an accident.
