There is a common misconception that senior drivers have to pay more for car insurance than younger drivers. Many people think that age-related factors such as impaired vision would cause a higher accident rate among senior drivers, resulting in higher rates. In fact, however that isn’t necessarily true.

While accident rates are higher among senior drivers than among middle-aged drivers, that doesn’t automatically translate into higher rates. In fact, there are a lot of ways to save money on car insurance for senior drivers that can actually wind up dramatically lowering rates.

As a senior, one of the first thing you should look at is whether or not there are any senior discounts available from your insurance company. Many companies offer lower rates to mature drivers, largely due to the fact that they have so much experience behind the wheel.

You may also want to check with senior organizations such as AARP to see if they have any insurance programs available that are specifically geared toward seniors. In many cases, these types of programs offer a significantly lower rate than you could get from a traditional insurance company.

Next, look into whether or not your insurance company offers a discount in exchange for taking a defensive driving course. Oftentimes they will be willing to deeply discount your insurance rate if you are willing to attend a short refresher course on defensive driving techniques. Just be sure to use a course that has been pre-approved by your insurance company if you want to qualify for a discount.

Another important thing is to make sure that your current insurance company is aware of any changes in your driving behavior. For instance, if you use to commute two hours to work each day, but now are retired and only drive occasionally, it could significantly lower your rate. Reach out to your insurance agent to make sure that the information they have on file for you is up to date and accurate.

Buying car insurance for senior drivers doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune. In fact, by taking advantage of some of the many discounts that are available to seniors, you may be able to save a large amount of money on your car insurance. Finally, if you have been insured with the same company for a number of years, don’t hesitate to reach out to their competitors for quotes. You may find that a different company offers a far lower rate.