Car Insurance For Seniors In Ohio: Cheapest And Best Providers

22% of all accidents in Ohio involve elderly drivers, despite the fact that 84% of Ohioans over the age of 65 say they only drive when they absolutely need to go somewhere. Ohio has the 8th highest percentage of drivers over the age of 65 who are killed in car accident fatalities.

With nearly 20% of drivers over 65, projected to reach 27% of all drivers by 2030, it’s important that seniors in Ohio find ways to stay safer on the road, reduce fatalities, and keep their insurance premiums affordable.

Cheapest Car Insurance For Seniors In Ohio

Finding affordable car insurance is crucial for seniors on a fixed income. The cheapest overall provider for seniors in Ohio is GEICO, at an average annual premium of $680.

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

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 65 In Ohio

For seniors over 65, insurance rates can vary based on driving habits and health. GEICO offers the best rates for this age group, with an average annual premium of $694.

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

Cheapest Car Insurance In Ohio For Seniors Over 70

As drivers age, their insurance rates can increase due to perceived higher risk. However, GEICO offers the lowest rates for seniors over 70, with an average annual premium of $720. GEICO’s 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 Ohio.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors Over 75

For seniors over 75, GEICO remains a top contender, offering an average annual premium of $770.

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 $800, 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 Ohio

A driving ticket can significantly increase insurance rates. Nationwide offers the lowest rates for seniors with a ticket, averaging $1,062 annually.

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

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors In Ohio 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 $1,160.

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

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors In Ohio 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 $1,240.

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 Ohio?

Car insurance premiums for seniors in Ohio change based on driver history, coverage amount, and age. As seniors get older, they face higher car insurance premiums due to health concerns and increased claims risks. Still, many insurance providers throughout Ohio offer discounts and programs to make these costs manageable.

Seniors in Ohio can expect an average annual cost of $1,000 to $2,500 for full coverage. This average includes different discounts and coverage options. The table below displays the average yearly costs of five popular providers for seniors in Ohio.

Factors Influencing Auto Insurance Rates for Ohioans

There are several factors that impact car insurance rates for seniors in Ohio, including the following:

1. Age: After age 70, car insurance rates will increase due to the heightened risk of accidents and age-related decline in psychomotor and cognitive abilities.
2. Driver Record: Car insurance companies look at a driving record and a history of accidents, claims, and violations over the last few years to determine current costs.
3. Mileage: Seniors in Ohio claim that they only drive when they absolutely need to, and that means driving fewer miles can reduce costs for coverage with usage-based programs.
4. Parking: In Ohio, where you park matters. If you are able to park in a locked parking lot or an indoor garage, a place that decreases your risk of a car being stolen, some insurance providers will offer lower premiums.
5. Weather: Areas prone to extreme weather or with higher traffic patterns have higher insurance rates across Ohio.
   • Wayne and Holmes counties are at risk for tornadoes and severe winds
   • Summit and Wayne counties have flash flooding
   • The Ohio Valley has extreme rain and flooding risks
6. Coverage Level: The insurance coverage you have beyond the state-required minimums for collision and liability can change the cost.
7. Discounts: Seniors often qualify for discounts on bundling different policies, taking defensive driver courses, and keeping a clean record.

Being cognizant of these factors and taking time to shop around can help senior Ohioans get affordable car insurance coverage that meets their needs.

Why Do Car Insurance Rates Increase For Seniors?

There are several reasons why older drivers in Ohio face increasing costs for their coverage.

Higher Injury Risk

Around 7,500 seniors are killed in car accidents every year, and nearly 200,000 are treated annually for emergency room crash injuries.

Seniors are responsible for the highest increase in public care costs because of prolonged hospital stays after accidents.

Higher Crash Risk

As drivers get older, they are more likely to experience a decline in psychomotor, sensory, and cognitive skills, all of which are necessary to avoid car accidents, which means there is a higher rate of involvement in at-fault and other accidents.

Drivers who are over the age of 70 have a much higher crash death rate compared to younger drivers due to increased vulnerability.

Age-Related Decline

Age-related changes to physical functioning, memory, vision, as well as chronic diseases and medication, can affect driving abilities for older adults.

Claims

Older drivers are more likely to file claims, especially for things like property damage, and the increase in the number of claims filed per year increases the projected cost of car insurance.

Mileage

However, it’s not all bad news. Older drivers are also less likely to drive as often, and that means lower mileage will reduce car insurance costs for seniors in Ohio.

How Can Seniors Save On Car Insurance?

Seniors in Ohio can save on car insurance costs by using different techniques like those listed below.

1. Take Advantage of Discounts

There are several discounts provided for senior drivers, like taking defensive driving courses, using a pay-per-mile system for reduced usage, keeping a clean record, and combining multiple policies.

2. Review or Adjust Coverage

Seniors looking to find discounts on their car insurance can consider reducing the coverage they have, especially if they have savings or other means set aside to cover things like medical bills, collision damage to personal vehicles, or rental cars.

Tip: Check other insurance policies to see where coverage might overlap, such as a health insurance policy for medical bills or a homeowners insurance policy for extra coverage for rentals. 

You might be able to raise your deductible, reduce coverage for an older vehicle, or switch to a usage-based insurance plan that only charges you per mile.

3. Shop Around

Using Insuranceopedia or similar resources can help you compare insurance quotes from several companies based on your personal factors. You might find considerable savings from things like mileage-based programs or discounts for bundling.

4. Maintain a Good Credit Score

According to the Ohio Department of Insurance, your credit history is a predictor of how likely you are to have an insurance loss. Credit-based Insurance scores look at things like credit history to predict your ability to manage losses incurred after things like car accidents.

In Ohio, insurance companies cannot use a credit-based insurance score as the only factor to determine which policies they issue or what premiums will be charged. However, your credit-based insurance score can serve as one of several factors in determining your insurance premiums in addition to things like the make, model, the age of your car, the number of miles you drive annually, and your age.

With an improved credit score, you can potentially reduce your car insurance premiums from one year to the next.

5. Install Safety Devices

According to the Ohio Department of Insurance, having safety devices installed on your car can reduce your premiums.

• If you are buying a new car, consider investing in something with daytime running lights, side airbags, anti-lock brakes, and automatic seat belts.
• If you have an existing car, consider adding safety devices to reduce your premiums.

Anti-theft devices can also help reduce premiums, especially things like GPS systems and alarm systems that can locate a stolen car.

6. Consider Group Insurance

If you are a member of the AARP, you can find discounts on group insurance rates that might have perks more attractive than what you currently have.

7. Ask About Senior Discounts

As you age, be sure to ask about age-related discounts, as these tend to vary from one age to the next and from one provider to the next.

8. Regularly Review Insurance Needs

As your driving habits change, so might your insurance coverage. For example, if you retire at age 67, you may no longer drive to and from work every day and, as such, qualify for things like low-mileage discounts.

9. File Fewer Claims

You should also consider at what point it is worth the potential increase to your insurance premiums to file claims on minor damage. The Ohio Department of Automobile Insurance recommends that Ohioans set aside money for more affordable repairs, like a problem with the windshield or a heat shield repair, instead of filing a claim.

Car Insurance Discounts For Seniors in Ohio

Seniors have access to a wide array of different discounts from various car insurance providers in Ohio.

The table below presents a quick average of the types of car insurance discounts for seniors in Ohio:

If you are looking to save, keep your eyes peeled for these popular car insurance discounts:

1. Defensive Driving Course Discount

Each insurance provider offers different discounts for completion of defensive driver courses in Ohio.

For example:

• The Drive Safe & Save option from State Farm provides eligible drivers at least 60 years old up to 30% off if they complete an approved Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course.
• Nationwide provides up to 5% discounts for drivers who complete a State Certified course and an additional 10% for those who have no major violations or at-fault accidents for at least 5 years.

Most of these courses will reduce your costs for 3 years, at which point you’ll have to take the course again.

2. Low-Mileage Discount

Seniors can qualify for several low-mileage discounts in Ohio. Drivers get a discount in Ohio from companies like State Farm if they drive fewer than 7500 miles per year. Allstate provides a Milewise program in Ohio that has a cap on the number of miles driven per day of 150 in Ohio, and those who stay under that cap get a discount.

3. Safe Driver Discount

Remaining accident-free and keeping a clean record goes a long way toward reducing the cost of insurance premiums for seniors in Ohio. As mentioned, Nationwide gives up to 10% for those who have no major moving violations or at-fault accidents for at least 5 years. Companies like State Farm and Geico offer similar discounts. Geico, for example, gives up to 22% on most coverages for those who have been accident-free for at least 5 years.

4. Multi-Policy Discount

Many car insurance companies will provide discounts if you bundle several policies or bundle multiple vehicles under the same policy. Some companies offer discounts of up to 25% on car insurance coverage if you have more than one car insured under the same policy.

5. Good Student Discount

You don’t have to be in school to capitalize on the good student discounts from car insurance providers. Companies like Geico offer up to 15% discounts on certain coverages for full-time students, and if you have a grandchild on your policy who is in school and meets that criteria, you could enjoy reduced premiums.

6. Vehicle Safety Discount

Installing safety features like anti-theft systems and anti-lock brakes or buying a new vehicle with those upgrades reduces the risk of accidents, especially for drivers who might be struggling with motor skills and response times. This decreases the average cost of insurance in Ohio for seniors.

7. Usage-Based Insurance Discount

Other companies like Nationwide provide a SmartMiles program, which is a pay-per-mile program that has a low, $35 per month fee with a 7 cents per mile fee each month. The more infrequently you drive, the more you save.

8. Affinity Group Discount

There are several Affinity groups that can potentially qualify you for discounts on your car insurance in Ohio.

• Military members and retired veterans qualify for discounts from several insurance providers, including State Farm and Geico. Companies like Geico provide active duty, retirees, and members of the reserves or National Guard with discounts of up to 15% on their policies.
• Being a federal employee can also qualify you for discounts. Active or retired federal employees can get up to 12% off their total insurance premium in Ohio with companies like Geico.
• Other companies provide memberships based on organizations, partner educational institutions, and companies. There are over 500 qualifying organizations, including the AARP, educational institutions, businesses, and more.

9. Homeowner Discount

Homeowners who bundle qualifying homeowners insurance with car insurance from the same company can receive multi-policy discounts.

10. Loyalty Discount

The longer you stay with a car insurance provider, the more discounts you can enjoy for your loyalty. Customer loyalty discounts tend to increase the longer you remain with a company.

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.