Why is over 50s car insurance cheaper?
Insurance companies use many risk factors to
calculate your car insurance costs.
Age is one of the most important factors - the older you are, the more experience you're likely to have. The average driver in their 50s has held their driving licence for around 22 years
2. With this many years' experience, you're statistically less likely to be involved in an accident. This makes you less of a risk to insurers, so you're more likely to see lower insurance prices.
But other factors are also important, including:
The car you're driving. Insurers split cars into groups from 1-50. The higher the insurance group, the more your insurance is likely to cost. Any modifications could also increase the price you pay. This includes any adaptations disabled drivers may have made to their cars, like wheelchair ramps and lifts.
Where you live. Living in a built-up area with high vehicle theft rates tends to have higher insurance costs compared to living in a rural area with low crime rates.
Your occupation. Certain occupations are considered risky by insurers. You should always be accurate and honest about your job title though because misleading insurers could invalidate your cover.
Previous driving convictions like speeding or drink-driving increase your insurance costs. The most common driving conviction for drivers in their 50s is a speeding conviction (SP30). On average, insurance for drivers in their 50s with this type of conviction pay £6102 for their insurance.
Any no-claims bonus (NCB) you've built up. If you've been driving for several years, you might have a large no-claims bonus built up. This means you qualify for more generous no-claims discounts when buying or switching your policy. Drivers in their 50s with 10 years no-claims built up pay an average of £466 for their car insurance, compared to £643 for those with 5 years2.
2Confused.com data Q4 2024.