The car, truck, or SUV that needs insurance is probably the most important factor when shopping around for economical auto insurance for drivers over age 70. Vehicles with economical engines, a great safety record, or a track record of few liability claims will cost significantly less to insure than adrenaline junky models.
The information below illustrates coverage costs for the cheaper automobiles to insure in Washington.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $1,671 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $1,680 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $1,803 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,831 |
| Ford F-150 STX Regular Cab 2WD | $1,847 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $1,857 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $1,847 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $1,875 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,951 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $1,979 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $1,985 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD | $1,979 |
| GMC Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $1,986 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $1,979 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $1,986 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $1,979 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $2,006 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | |
Data rating is based on single female driver age 70, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in vehicle location which can lower or raise coverage prices considerably.
Looking at the numbers, we can tell that vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Prius will be the cheaper vehicles to insure for older drivers. Car insurance rates will be higher anyway because there is more claim exposure for drivers over age 70, but in general those vehicles will most likely have the cheapest car insurance rates compared to other vehicles.
Finding out which insurers offer the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for drivers over age 70 may require more work than just comparing a company or two. Each insurer has a different formula for determining rates in each state, so we’ll go over the auto insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in Seattle.
We do need to point out that Seattle auto insurance rates are impacted by many factors that control the price you have to pay. Simply getting older, increasing deductibles, or having a fender bender may prompt premium changes that can now make some companies cheaper in comparison to the competition.
Best Auto Insurance Prices for Age 70+
Capital may offer some of the lowest car insurance rates in Seattle at around $777 each year. This is $635 less than the average premium paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, Nationwide, PEMCO, and Travelers also make the cut as some of the lowest-priced Seattle, WA car insurance companies.
In the above example, if you currently buy coverage from Nationwide and switched to Capital, you could see an annual savings of about $184. Customers with PEMCO might save as much as $227 a year, and Travelers insureds might cut rates by $231 a year.
To discover how much you can save, click here or click several companies below for low rates.
Understand that those policy prices are averages across all types of insureds and vehicles and do not factor in an exact vehicle garaging location for drivers over age 70. So the car insurance company that is most affordable for your situation may not even be in the top 25 companies in the list above. That points out the importance of why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
Careless drivers pay higher rates
In a perfect world, the best way to enjoy the most affordable auto insurance premiums in Washington for older drivers is to drive safely and not receive tickets or have accidents. The illustration below highlights how traffic violations and at-fault collisions can influence car insurance rates for different age categories. Data assumes a single female driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
The data in the chart shows the average cost of car insurance per year with no accidents or violations is $1,606. Get two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $2,159, an increase of $553 each year. Now add one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of auto insurance for drivers over age 70 goes up to an average of $2,711. That’s an increase of $1,106, or $92 per month, just for not driving attentively!
Price comparison of only insuring for liability
Saving money on auto insurance is probably important to the majority of vehicle owners, and a good way to find cheap insurance for drivers over age 70 is to not pay for full coverage. The chart below illustrates the comparison of auto insurance rates with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The data assumes a clean driving record, no claims, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Averaged out for all age groups, full coverage on your policy costs $2,266 per year more than just buying liability insurance. At some point, about every driver wonders when is it a good idea to stop buying full coverage. There is no exact formula that is best for determining when to drop full coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not financially feasible. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Why are you paying too much for Seattle car insurance?
Washington auto insurance rates are impacted by many things which can substantially decrease or increase the cost of a policy. Improving your credit score, buying a home instead of renting, or getting a couple of tickets may cause policy rate changes that can cause some rates to be more affordable than before.
Not only may things change on your end, but insurers change the rates they charge in Washington as often as every quarter to reflect underwriting profits or losses. A period of increased losses can result in high rates, while long-term profits can cause cheaper Seattle car insurance rates.
To illustrate this example, the data below shows which company has the cheapest car insurance in Seattle, WA for a 45-year-old female driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and good financial standing. If we compare prices based on her current rating profile, Capital offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Seattle at $1,045 a year. This is $367 less than the average price paid by Washington drivers of $1,412. Grange, PEMCO, Nationwide, and Travelers are the remainder of the cheapest Seattle, WA auto insurance companies.
Now we will pretend the driver in the first chart an at-fault accident, a lower credit score, and a traffic ticket or two. Since each company has a proprietary method to set policy rates, getting updated rate quotes most likely will result in a completely different list of companies as shown below.
USAA now has the best insurance rate in Seattle, WA with The Hartford, California Casualty, Chubb, and Allied completing the list. This example proves why Washington drivers need to spend some time comparing rates to get the most economical insurance quotes for drivers over age 70.
Prices consist of many factors and can decrease or increase without notice, so the best company six months ago may now be costing you a lot of money.
How to find budget-friendly car insurance for drivers over age 70
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are some penny-pinching suggestions that can help Washington drivers get low-cost coverage.
- Drivers with good credit often pay less
- Do not get into accidents
- Try paying for small claims out-of-pocket
- Keep your driving record clean
- Drive a car with a high safety rating
- Comparison shop frequently
The last tip is particularly valuable, as we pointed out in the article above. Rates vary considerably, so don’t be unwilling to change to a new company if a more affordable price is available. Brand loyalty is not necessarily bad, but it isn’t a good idea if that loyalty ends up costing several hundred dollars every year. If you have a few minutes, now is a great time to shop around to find cheaper insurance for drivers over age 70 in Seattle.
If you aren’t sure which coverage you need and prefer to have professional advice when trying to find lower insurance rates for older drivers, the insurance agencies below are willing to help you determine which car insurance company is the best fit. To find an agent nearest to you, click the link after the list or click here to compare price quotes now.
- State Farm: Karrie Dubose
1530 Westlake Ave N Suite 100 – Seattle, WA 98109 – (206) 971-5400 - Heather Proctor – State Farm Insurance Agent
2600 SW Barton St, Ste E22 – Seattle, WA 98126 – (206) 935-3922 - Jeff Kalvelage – State Farm Insurance Agent
315 N 36th St #201 – Seattle, WA 98103 – (206) 588-0559 - Cairns Insurance Agency
13751 Lake City Way NE #214 – Seattle, WA 98125 – (206) 368-8117 - Northwest Insurance Group
6055 California Ave SW – Seattle, WA 98136 – (206) 932-2500