Cheap Car Insurance for 50-Year-Olds

The average 50-year-old paid $1,389 for car insurance in 2019. For a standard six-month policy, this will cost you $695 or $115 per month for auto insurance. Although this is 11% less than what the rest of the US pays for car insurance, it's still important to take a few minutes to view personalized quotes. Let's break down the cheapest insurance for drivers in their 50s as well as other cost-cutting solutions.

In order to determine which car insurance company was the cheapest, we created a based profile and examined rates from some of the top auto insurance companies. 

USAA had the cheapest overall premiums for drivers in their 50s, with an average car insurance rate of just $85 a month. If you don't qualify for USAA coverage, the second-cheapest for 50-year-olds was State Farm, which costs $20 more per month than USAA.

Removing your young drivers from your policy can be a huge money saver. Using the same methodology above, we also calculated what the difference would be if you were to remove a young driver from the policy: on average, removing a son or daughter from your policy will save you over $3,600 per year.

If, however, your child is still on your policy, we have some suggestions as well. Using a 17-year-old as our default profile, we examined which company was the cheapest for a family. USAA and Nationwide proved to be the most affordable options for family auto insurance. Here are our results.

Review expert tips below on the best ways you can save on car insurance — no matter your age group. Explore more auto insurance discounts here.

 

Keeping a good driving record is essential if you're looking to save. Most insurance experts advise policyholders to only file a claim if damages exceed your ability to pay out-of-pocket. Most companies and states will charge you for an at-fault claim for three to five years. Broken down below, you can see how much an at-fault accident will raise your rates over a three year period.

As you can see, the surcharge for filing a claim increased the annual premium by over $2,300. If you've been in an accident and aren't sure of whether or not to file a claim, follow our guide below:

 

Unlike your home, a vehicle does not retain value. If your vehicle is worth less than $4,000, it's typically recommended to drop collision and comprehensive coverage. Both comprehensive and collision are only required if you're leasing or financing and are designed to protect the physical integrity of the vehicle. As such, they tend to be expensive coverages. Opting for liability-only can bring down your insurance costs significantly.

You can determine the value of your vehicle on Kelley Blue Book and NADA Online.

Usage-based insurance programs are relatively new to the world of auto insurance. Simply put, usage-based insurance policies use in-car and mobile apps to monitor the way you drive in order to determine your premium. In theory, the safer of a driver you are, the less you will pay for auto insurance. Below are some estimates you can find from some top insurance providers in the US.

Outside of the above companies, consider additional providers such as Root and Metromile. Root only derives your car insurance premium based on your driving habits while Metromile is a pay-as-you-go form of auto insurance.

 

If you want to keep your son or daughter on your policy while they are away for college, you can see some savings through a Distant Driver discount. This discount — also known as the "student away from home" discount — refers to students who live more than 100 miles away from home and have limited access to the insured vehicle. This discount, while it varies by company, could save you hundreds of dollars a year on your auto insurance premium.

Those who are older than 55 years old are eligible for state-approved, senior driving courses that can earn you a discount depending on the insurance company. These courses include safe driving strategies, rules of the road, use of new technology, and the effects of health issues on driving ability. You can access these courses through AARP, AAA, and the National Safety Council but be sure to check with your insurance company prior to taking any courses, as some insurance companies might not recognize the discount.

If you’re starting your retirement early and are now driving less than you had before, speak with your insurance company about a possible low mileage driving discount. While the threshold for "low-mileage" varies by company, it can range between 7,500-15,000 per year.

 

If you’re a retired military member, some insurance companies will offer you a discount. While it varies by company, GEICO and USAA are examples of providers that offer some cost-cutting discounts for retired military personnel.

Belonging to organizations like AARP can earn you a discount with some insurance companies.

If you’re over 50 years old, you can qualify for auto insurance through The Hartford Insurance Company. The Hartford offers a wide variety of perks to its members, including a discount if you’re already a member of AARP.

Once you enter your nifty fifties, key an eye out for extra savings. Look to take your college-aged children off your auto insurance policy and look into mature driving discounts. Although you're entering a time of insurance savings, you shouldn't be complacent with your company. Comparison shopping car insurance quotes every six months has continually proven to save money. Work with us to find out how much you could be saving on auto insurance.