Over-60s car insurance

Over-60s car insurance isn’t usually a separate type of policy. Providers generally offer the same cover as you can get at any other age.

However, some standard car insurance policies may have upper age limits, so it’s worth checking if you're eligible for them.

Some specialist insurers offer policies specifically designed for older drivers. These may have tailored features or higher age limits.

Your health could affect the cost of your premiums. For example, having diabetes, a heart condition or glaucoma can all affect your driving capability.

In these instances, the DVLA can issue a restricted period licence lasting for one, two, three or five years. Here's how a restricted period licence could affect your premium:

If you have a medical condition that affects your ability to drive, you must tell the DVLA and your insurance provider, as this may affect your car insurance price.

You probably won’t need a medical if you’re fit enough to drive safely.

But you will need to tell your insurance provider about any medical conditions that might affect your driving. If you don’t, your policy will likely be invalid.

You must also meet the DVLA’s minimum eyesight requirements.

This includes wearing your glasses or contact lenses every time you drive if you need them to meet the ‘standards of vision for driving’.

A regular eye check can help make sure you meet the required standards.

No, car insurance is generally cheaper for older drivers. In fact, over 60s pay less than any other age group, as the below table shows.

Government figures also show that older drivers are less likely to be in serious or fatal collisions compared to younger drivers, where speeding is a contributory factor.

Cheaper premiums aren't a given, though. Some older drivers – for example, those aged over 80 – may be considered higher risk by insurance providers and therefore see higher premiums.

When calculating your car insurance premium, providers consider several factors, including:

• Your claims history – Insurers predict how likely you are to claim based on whether you’ve claimed before (usually in the last 3-5 years). If you’re claim-free, your quote will almost certainly be lower than if you’ve had an accident.

• Where you live – Living in an area with a high crime or accident rate could push up your premium.

• How you drive – Driving more often puts you at a higher risk of having an accident. If you’ve cut back on your mileage lately, you’ll likely see a difference in your next premium.

• Your car – Driving a more expensive car can have a significant impact on your premium.

• Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) – IPT currently makes up 12% of your car insurance premium. If you buy a new car and get insured directly through the dealership, some charge a higher IPT rate of 20%.

Across all age groups, drivers with 10+ years' no-claims discount (NCD) typically pay £1,240 less for their car insurance than those with no NCD⁸.

This figure will be heavily influenced by age, as young and new drivers tend to have the highest premiums and won’t have had the opportunity to build up an NCD.

If you’re not sure how much NCD you have, it’s worth double-checking and entering an accurate number next time you compare car insurance, as it could make a difference to your quote.

Your NCD should be on your renewal letter from your current provider, which normally comes through around a month before your renewal date.

Yes, you should always tell your insurance provider about any change in your personal circumstances, as this could affect your cover.

Plus, your occupation can make a big difference to how much you pay for your over-60s car insurance.

Updating your policy will not only protect you if you need to make a claim. It could also get you a discount if, for example, you’re driving less than you used to.

No, you’re not obliged to go with specialist car insurance providers that cater for older drivers, and there’s no guarantee they’ll have the best deals.

However, you may find that specialist providers offer perks for older drivers, so it could be worth looking into them as part of your research.

Specialist car insurance providers for older drivers include:

• Saga

• Ageas

• RIAS

• Sterling Insurance.