How to Save on Auto Insurance as You Age
September 30, 2021
In Ontario, auto insurance companies use many factors to rate your propensity to risk, which helps them determine the proper rate to charge you for your auto insurance policy. As you can suspect, if you have several detrimental risk factors, you will likely pay more for your auto insurance coverage than someone with fewer risk factors.
One factor insurance companies weigh heavily on when determining your risk as a driver is your age. Your age corresponds to how long you have been driving in many cases, pointing to your level of experience on the road. Less experienced or younger drivers may be more likely to make mistakes or take unnecessary risks when driving, which in turn costs the insurance company more money.
Learn about how your auto insurance journey changes over your lifetime in this article. Read on to learn more about how to save on auto insurance as you age, then contact us at Duliban Insurance for all your Ontario insurance needs.
Your Auto Insurance Journey Over Your Lifetime
As you gain experience as a driver, your auto insurance rate changes. This happens over time throughout your lifetime.
Drivers Under Age 25
Both male and female drivers under the age of 25 tend to pay the highest rates for Niagara auto insurance. Since 16 is the minimum age to receive a driver’s license, most drivers complete their full G license requirements at age 18. Drivers may see another reduction at ages 19 and 21.
These few years of experience mean drivers under age 25 are considered to be riskier to insure. They can make errors based on their lack of experience or they may be more likely to speed or drive recklessly. Drivers with less experience with winter conditions can easily find themselves in a dangerous situation with black ice, snowdrifts, and freezing bridges.
Younger drivers may be more at risk for distracted driving, whether because they are more prone to texting on their mobile phones or another source of distraction.
Adult Drivers Over Age 25
Once drivers have more driving history – especially if they maintain a clean driving record – they can expect to see their premiums start to drop. In their late twenties, women may pay slightly less than their male peers. But by age 30, this begins to even out, and men may have an advantage on price in their thirties.
At this stage, focusing on keeping a clean driving record becomes imperative for your rates to continue decreasing. Having an at-fault accident or driving ticket can raise your rates for several years and remove any discount you enjoyed due to being a safe driver.
Young adults who get married can see a boost in their discounts. Many auto insurance companies rate married drivers as less risky than their unmarried counterparts. If you recently got married, be sure to ask your agent if your carrier has any discounts for your new family.
Adult Drivers at Mid-Life
Some insurance companies drop rates again for their adult customers at around age 55. If you have any recent tickets or at-fault accidents, you may not see this rate decrease, but many drivers will enjoy a drop in their auto premiums around age 55. Continue being a safe driver, and you can enjoy this drop through your early retirement years.
Adult Drivers Later in Life
Some insurance companies view older drivers – say those in their 80s – as a heightened risk due to the possibility of medical conditions slowing their reflexes or causing them to lose the ability to drive safely. Vision and hearing can fade, which are two critical senses when driving a car. The CAA offers tips and resources for senior drivers to help them stay safe on the road.
How to Save on Auto Insurance as You Age
Key ways to save on auto insurance as you age include:
Shop around to compare rates. Be sure to shop around annually or at each renewal. Your current auto insurance company may not be offering you the most competitive rates, so comparing rates is one of the best ways you can save on insurance as you age. Ask us for help to compare your current coverage and policy with other Niagara auto insurance carriers to find the best rate as you age.
Consider a pay-per-kilometer policy. If you find yourself driving less as you age, a pay-per-kilometer auto insurance policy may help you save on insurance. If you work from home or take public transportation more often, an auto insurance policy based on the number of kilometers you drive could be less expensive than a traditional policy. Your agent can help you compare pay-as-you-go rates with traditional ones to see if this is a sound option for you.
Be a safe driver. Keeping your rates low means avoiding accidents, tickets, and other infractions. A clean driving record is a significant rating factor when insurance companies price your coverage, so maintaining your safe driving habits can pay off. If you have a long driving history with no major issues, you will enjoy lower rates than someone with many tickets and a lengthy claims history.
Ask for other discounts. Your auto insurance carrier has many discount programs you could be eligible for. If you have not reviewed these programs in a while, you could be missing out on valuable discounts. For example, signing up for electronic statements or paying your bill in full every year can score you a discount. Joining your carrier’s telematics program where you agree to share driving data with your insurance company often results in a policy discount depending on your driving behavior. Your agent can help you identify which discounts are suitable for you.
How Do I Learn More?
To learn more about saving on auto insurance as you age, contact the experts at Duliban Insurance. Our licensed experts will be happy to answer any questions you have.
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