Car Insurance For Seniors In Georgia: Cheapest And Best Providers

There were over 48 million licensed drivers 65 and older in 2020, an increase of 68% since 2000. That increase has expanded into Georgia, where those 55 and older represent the largest portion of the driving population in the state at 33% of all licensed drivers. Since 2016, Georgia has seen a 26% increase in senior drivers 55 and older.

According to the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services, Georgia’s 60+ population will likely increase by 66 percent by 2050, with the 85+ population expected to triple by 2050, representing the fastest-growing age group in the state.

Given the rise in senior drivers today across the state of Georgia, it is important for seniors to find ways to stay insured without incurring high costs.

This article will review the main factors that increase insurance costs and how seniors can find discounts.

Cheapest Car Insurance For Seniors In Georgia

Finding affordable car insurance is crucial for seniors on a fixed income. The cheapest overall provider for seniors in Georgia is GEICO, at an average annual premium of $1,298.

Use the table below to see the cheapest rates for seniors:

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 65 In Georgia

For seniors over 65, insurance rates can vary based on driving habits and health. Nationwide offers the best rates for this age group, with an average annual premium of $1,305.

Use the table below to view the cheapest rates for seniors over 65.

Cheapest Car Insurance In Georgia For Seniors Over 70

As drivers age, their insurance rates can increase due to perceived higher risk. However, Auto-Owners offers the lowest rates for seniors over 70, with an average annual premium of $1,421. Auto-Owners policies are tailored to senior drivers, providing affordable and comprehensive coverage.

Check out the below table to view the cheapest over 70 car insurance rates in Georgia.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 75

For seniors over 75, GEICO remains a top contender, offering an average annual premium of $1,630.

You can check out average rates from other providers below.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 85

For seniors over 85, insurance rates tend to be higher due to increased health risks and potential for accidents. However, GEICO offers competitive rates, with an average annual premium of $1,786, thanks to its various senior discounts.

View the cheapest insurance rates for seniors over 85 below.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors with a Ticket In Georgia

A driving ticket can significantly increase insurance rates. Nationwide offers the lowest rates for seniors with a ticket, averaging $1,643 annually.

Based on my analysis, these are the cheapest rates for seniors with a ticket in Georgia.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors In Georgia with a DUI

Having a DUI on record drastically affects insurance premiums. State Farm offers the most affordable rates for seniors with a DUI, with an average annual premium of $1,880.

Based on my findings, these are the cheapest rates for seniors with a DUI.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors In Georgia After an Accident

Post-accident insurance rates can be high. State Farm offers the best rates for seniors after an accident, with an average annual premium of $2,076.

Check out the below table, which shows the cheapest average rates for seniors with an accident on their record.

How Much is Car Insurance for Seniors in Georgia?

Car insurance rates for seniors in Georgia are heavily contingent upon age, health, vehicle type, discounts, and driver history. Seniors, especially those over the age of 70, will face increased premiums due to age-related risks. Thankfully, many insurance providers across the state provide multiple programs and discounts to reduce these costs.

On average, the full coverage cost for seniors in Georgia is between $1,500 and $2,500 annually. This average considers multiple discounts and coverage levels. The table below presents the average yearly costs for five well-known providers for seniors in Georgia.

Factors Influencing Senior Car Insurance Rates in Georgia

There are several factors that can influence the cost both positively and negatively.

1. Age: Drivers between 75 and 84 have the fourth highest rate of involvement in fatal car accidents in the state of Georgia, compared to other drivers. This increased risk accounts for higher premiums for drivers 70 years and older.
2. Driver Record: In Georgia, your driver history, including moving violations and accidents, can increase the cost of your insurance premiums.
3. Mileage: The lower your mileage, the less you will pay if you use usage-based insurance programs.
4. Coverage: Aside from the minimum required coverage, things like collision and comprehensive coverage can increase your cost.
5. Discounts: There are many discounts available to seniors in Georgia, especially if several insurance products are bundled, defensive driving courses are taken, and loyalty programs are used.

Seniors can find several budget-friendly insurance providers by taking time to shop around and considering these primary factors.

Why Do Car Insurance Rates Increase For Seniors in Georgia?

As drivers get older, there are significant increases in accidents and fatalities, which is the key reason insurance rates generally increase with age. However, there are some things that can be done to counter this increase.

Increased Accident Risks

Older drivers in the state of Georgia are getting better and safer on the road, with fatal car accidents involving drivers 65 and older decreasing by 4% since 2019. However, while fatalities have dropped, car accident injuries have not, and those injuries come with a much higher cost for medical care compared to younger populations.

Health Problems

Older drivers are more likely to deal with chronic health conditions or be prescribed medication with side effects that can impair driving, like dizziness or drowsiness, which increases the risk of accidents.

Higher Injury Severity

In 2020, drivers aged 65 and older in the state of Georgia accounted for 13% of all drivers involved in serious injuries from car accidents. Older drivers, thanks to health issues like osteoporosis, can suffer more severe injuries and take longer to rehabilitate after a car accident.

Drivers 65 and older were responsible for $227 million worth of hospitalization and emergency room charges due to car accident-related injuries.

Claims

Georgia statute of limitation for car accident claims is 2 years and most insurance companies take up to 60 days to settle a claim but that does not prevent older individuals from being more likely to file claims with increased frequency and increased severity due to the higher risk of getting into accidents in the first place and sustaining severe injuries because of age-related deterioration.

Mileage and Experience

Older drivers reduce driving mileage with age, often starting with retirement. This reduction can provide certain discounts, but reducing driving does not necessarily mean that the age-related risks are counterbalanced.

How Can Seniors Save On Car Insurance in Georgia?

Seniors can reduce the cost of car insurance in Georgia using several strategies.

1. Use Discounts

Insurance providers throughout Georgia offer several types of discounts, such as the following:

• Driver Improvement Courses: The state of Georgia offers courses under what is called the Driver Improvement Program.
• Low Mileage Discounts: Insurance companies provide usage-based Insurance options that track mileage and charge based on the miles driven.
• Safe Driver Discounts: Those drivers who maintain a safe record, free from severe moving violations or traffic accidents for several years, can earn safe driver discounts.
• Bundling: If you bundle other insurance products like homeowners insurance or renters insurance with your car insurance, you can get discounts.

Note: Most insurance providers allow you to combine discounts so don’t be afraid to do things like participate in a driver improvement course and install safe driver monitoring systems or vehicle safety systems for additional discounts. 

2. Adjust Coverage Based on Needs

Georgia state code offers several types of add-ons for car insurance including things like rental car reimbursement which averages $15 per month depending on the amount of coverage you have. These make it possible to cover the cost of public transportation or rental cars in the event that your vehicle is damaged in an accident.

However, if that annual cost averages $180, you might be better off setting those savings aside for a few years so that you are in a position to cover your own rental car fees, and dropping the additional coverage off your policy.

3. Compare Prices

Compare prices at regular intervals. Some companies offer substantial discounts for things like age or bundling which might be a better option for you if your life circumstances have changed or if you are in the market for a new type of policy.

4. Keep a Good Credit Score

Georgia state law allows insurance providers to use your FICO credit score as one of the assessments for your policy amount. Drivers with a score under 580 pay an average of 114% more for the same car insurance coverage as someone with an exceptional credit score between 800 and 850.

If you maintain a good credit score and increase your credit score at the time that you are taking out a new policy or renewing your coverage, it could drop your premiums.

5. Install Safety Devices

Several companies in Georgia provide discounts for installing safety devices like anti-lock brakes and anti-theft systems. These discounts can often be combined with other discounts.

6. Use Groups

Membership in different groups can provide discounts. The Hartford, for example, offers a group discount for people who are AARP members in Georgia while Geico offers discounts for people who are affiliated with different educational institutions, the military, federal employees both current and retired, and other business affiliations.

7. Ask About Senior Discounts

Always ask about senior discounts. These will vary based on age. Geico, for example, offers discounts for seniors over the age of 50, while other providers offer discounts for those over the age of 65, especially seniors who are retired and own their homes.

8. Review Insurance Regularly

While there are discounts for loyalty, loyalty could be costing you more than you think, especially if your insurance needs have changed. It’s important to regularly review those needs and adjust your coverage to avoid unnecessary expenses like comprehensive coverage on a very old car that you have the money to replace if necessary.

Car Insurance Discounts for Seniors in Georgia

Car insurance providers in Georgia provide several discounts for seniors based on factors like age and Driver history. Below are some of the most common discounts available.

Safe Driving Courses

Any Georgia resident can participate in the 6-hour defensive driving course as approved by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Participation in these programs can be done entirely online, and completion of a program can offer substantial discounts on car insurance policy, sometimes upwards of 30% depending on the provider.

Tip: Georgia Farm Bureau members can save 50% off courses from certain websites like SafeDriver.com.

Low Mileage

There are two different low-mileage car insurance discounts for seniors in Georgia:

1. The first are low-mileage, traditional policies that give you a flat discount in the form of a percentage off your premium in exchange for keeping your mileage below a certain figure, like $7,500 miles per year for State Farm.
2. The second are pay-per-mile Insurance programs, where you pay a lower monthly fee and then pay a flat rate, like six cents for every mile that you drive, keeping it below a set average.

Georgia has several companies that provide a pay-per-mile insurance program like Mile Auto. Those who drive less than 12,000 miles annually will start to see a discount for a low-mileage program compared to a traditional program. Those who drive less than 10,000 miles per year can save up to 40% off their current policy.

Safe Driver Discounts

Several companies like Allstate, Geico, Peach State Auto Insurance, and State Farm provide discounts for safe drivers. The requirements to qualify vary from one provider to the next, but usually require several years or several months without any traffic violations or at-fault accidents.

Driver Behavior Discounts

Tangentially, there are DriveWise programs from Allstate as well as Drive Safe & Save programs from State Farm, which will track your driving habits and give discounts based on your day-to-day driving habits, like how often you speed, how quickly you accelerate or brake, and more.

Loyalty Discounts

Companies reward loyalty, so the longer you keep your car insurance with the same company, the better your discounts will be.

Affinity Groups

As mentioned, membership in affinity organizations like the AARP, military, or federal government can provide reduced rates for members.

Multi-Policy Discounts

If you combine policies from the same provider, you can find discounts on Georgia car insurance for seniors.

Good Student

Being a good student can save you money on car insurance policies, so as a senior, if you have a grandchild on your policy, this discount could apply.

Car Insurance Rates for Senior Drivers By U.S. State

Finding the most affordable car insurance is essential for senior drivers, who often face different challenges and risks on the road. This section provides a comprehensive overview of the cheapest car insurance rates for seniors in each state, along with the insurance carrier offering these competitive rates.

By comparing these options, senior drivers can make informed decisions that ensure both affordability and adequate coverage.