Life can sometimes throw surprises for us. One of those surprises is
the increase on your auto insurance premium when you come to certain age
(usually 70). Interestingly, the reasons for these hikes in premiums
are similar to the reasons why teenagers get extortionate rates. The
statistical significance of too many older drivers involving in
accidents is not ignored by insurers and you should not ignore them too.
Older drivers can have problems with handling several driving related
functions. Denying these issues doesn’t really help anybody. Struggling
with braking, steering and having problems with vision and manoeuvring
in time are some of the problems. However, there are a few positive
things going older drivers’ way that they can still enjoy driving and
get low auto insurance premiums. Here are ten points to consider.
- Self-Policing
One
of the main differences between a junior and senior driver is that a
senior driver have plenty life experience. They can handle their affairs
a lot better in light of their circumstances. Many older drivers manage
their driving activities very efficiently. They avoid driving late at
night and during rush hours. These are the times you are most likely to
involve in a crash that is painful, costly and dents your confidence.
Self-policing is an effective way of staying out of troubles.
- Monitoring Medical Conditions
One of the main problems is the weakened vision. Everybody should
have an eye test at least once a year but this should be increased to
every six months after certain age. In addition, it is no use if you are
not going to use your glasses. You should at least get two pairs so
that you could keep one in the vehicle and always make sure to wear.
You may actually get into serious troubles with authorities and your
automobile insurer if you are found to cause an accident in which you
weren’t wearing the necessary aids like hearing aids and glasses. Also,
you should know side effects of your medicines and refrain from driving
when they are making you drowsy.
- Staying Active
Above mentioned driving issues faced by older motorists may be
related to age. However, it is worth mentioning that even young people
who are not practicing enough can suffer similar symptoms of tiredness
and drowsiness. It is essential to keep active and exercise. This
doesn’t necessarily mean that you have couple of hours of grilling
sessions in the gym every day. It could be taking leisurely walks or
doing sports like golf. Even doing a few simple hands, feet and joint
movement practices when you are watching television can help you a lot.
- Importance of Driving
It is not just about getting from one place to another in your
private motor vehicle. Driving is about keeping your mobility and
independence. When you don’t watch out you can quickly get involved in
too many incidents that result in driving and auto insurance
problems. You may lose your confidence behind the wheel or it may not
be fun anymore. Furthermore, several claims would result in high
premiums that increase financial burden of driving.
It is important to mind and improve your driving before it becomes a
problem. A few simple changes can make it fun again and keep you safe.
For example, making adjustments in your automobile like getting better
seats to keep you comfortable can help you a lot.
- Brushing Up on Driving
You have passed your driving license test a few years ago. It may be
time to brush up on the rules and a few skills. There are a few
recognized courses especially for drivers over the age of 55. They
generally teach how to drive defensively. What that means is that you
learn certain dangers on the roads and be on the lookout for them in
order to reduce accidents.
Turning at junctions, joining to a fast moving motorways and seeing
the dangers ahead are some of the issues that can be managed
successfully if you are aware of them. The good news is that you will be
able to claim about 10% car insurance discounts when you complete these courses.
- Low Mileage Discounts
You can claim low mileage auto insurance discounts
when you are not driving as much. Many older drivers don’t commute to
work or they are not actively involved with their businesses anymore. In
addition they don’t take long road trips as well and keep driving to
minimum. Most vehicle insurance companies offer discounts for motorists
who don’t travel a lot with their cars.
- Senior Driver Discounts
Experience is always a valuable asset to have and you should make a good use of it and get the maximum automobile insurance discounts.
These discounts will depend on your claim and driving history and can
be as high as 50% when you have a long, clean driving record. In
addition, you should remember that some companies offer larger discounts
for drivers over the age of 50. You should try to find them by getting
several quotes and comparing.
Furthermore, you should make sure that you have accident forgiveness
cover to protect your no claim bonuses. Policyholders with about 5 years
of no claims should be able to have this cover without much increase in
premium. When you are switching insurers make sure that your new
insurer offers this protection, too.
- Buying an Appropriate Car
After certain age comfort becomes extra important. In addition safety
should be one of the main concerns when buying automobiles. It takes a
lot longer to recover from injuries at older years. And buying a safer and comfortable automobile
would reduce your auto insurance costs considerably. Safer cars qualify
owners for premium discounts and comfortable ones reduce accidents and
claims that indirectly affect your insurance costs.
- Controlling Number of Claims
Generally, motorists suffer large premium increases when they have several claims in short period
of time. Your agent would tell you that you must report every incident.
But you are probably wise enough to know which incidents to report and
which are not important. For example, do you really need to report a
small scratch on your car after you scraped the garage door? By paying
for small damages out of the pocket you can reduce the number of claims
and keep your vehicle insurance premium in control.
10. Shop Around for Cheapest Car Insurance Rates
As mentioned above every company values different age, experience and
driving characteristics in their own way. Some may advertise special
discounts for older drivers in order to attract them and others may
actually charge more for them. You need to shop around to find the best
deals if you want to save money.
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