Older drivers paying less for car insurance

Many older drivers are being charged less for car insurance than people in their 30s and 40s, new research suggests.

According to a Which? analysis of GoCompare data, 17 to 24-year-olds are paying £825 on average to insure their car.

But as drivers gain more experience, the price of car insurance gradually falls.

Figures showed that on average:

• 25 to 34-year-olds pay £532
• 35 to 44-year-olds pay £462
• 45 to 54-year-olds pay £400
• 55 to 64-year-olds pay £338
• 65 to 74-year-olds pay £336

This means that 17 to 24-year-olds are typically paying more than double the amount that many over-45s pay to insure their car.

But the cost of car insurance spikes again when you hit the age of 75.

Average premiums for 75 to 84-year-olds are £417, and the cost then goes up sharply to £700 for over-85s.

Commenting on its findings, Which? said older drivers “may not be as hard hit by car insurance costs as commonly thought”. 

“You'd expect to see cover jump again once you reach retirement age and insurers take into account increased age-related risks,” it said.

“But when we looked at GoCompare data from the first three months of 2025, we found premiums don't increase dramatically until a driver is well into their 80s.”

How to cut the cost of car insurance

If you’re thinking of switching to a new provider or thinking of renewing, there are several ways that you can keep prices down.

Don’t pay for things you don’t need

Check your policy details to make sure you’re not paying for extras you don’t need.

Add-ons such as courtesy cars and car key cover can really push up premiums, so look at what you’ll be paying for before making any decisions.

Make yourself low risk

Signing up for courses like Pass Plus or an advanced driving course can demonstrate to insurers that you’re a low-risk driver, so you could be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Log your mileage accurately

Make sure you’re entering an accurate number of miles when you’re renewing or applying for insurance. 

If you overestimate how many miles you drive, you might end up paying more than you need to.

Similarly, underestimating could invalidate your policy.

Log your mileage each time you renew your car insurance so you have a regular check point each year you can refer back to. 

Lots of insurers also have annual mileage calculators on their websites which are useful.

Get your quotes 26 days before renewal

You’ll get the cheapest quotes 26 days before your renewal date, according to GoCompare. 

The later you leave it, the higher your quotes will be. 

You could save as much as 55% by renewing early.

Shop around

Letting your insurance auto-renew might be the easiest option, but it doesn’t always mean you’ll get the best price.

So use price comparison sites to see what other insurers are offering, as well as the websites of companies who aren’t on these platforms.

Negotiate a good price

If you’re not happy with the quote you’ve been given, some insurers might be prepared to haggle.

But first, do your research so you can tell them what other deals are on the table.

Add another driver

Adding a lower-risk driver, such as an older driver or someone with a long no-claims history, to your policy can make it cheaper.

But don’t name them as the main driver if they aren’t - this is called ‘fronting’ and is a type of insurance fraud.

Get a black box

You can cut the cost of car insurance by having a black box installed in your vehicle.

Telematics track information such as when and how well you drive, so it can prove to an insurer that you’re a safe driver.

Check your job title

People in some jobs are more likely to claim than others, which means they can face higher costs.

So tweaking your job title could save you some money and is perfectly legitimate as long as the option you choose still accurately describes your role.