No matter how old you are, car insurance is always important. But if you’re a senior, then there are a few considerations that you might want to keep in mind if you’re insurance shopping. For many seniors these days, money is tight, and that means that it’s important that you get the insurance that you need for a great price. So, if you’re looking at staying legally behind the wheel for fewer Rands, then here is everything you need to know about car insurance for seniors.
You NEED Car Insurance
Firstly, let’s say this. No matter how tight your budget may be, you cannot be without car insurance. If you get in an accident, then you’ll almost certainly end up paying more than you save if you don’t have any vehicle insurance. However, valid vehicle insurance is a legal requirement in South Africa, so you don’t have any choice in the matter anyway.
Getting Savings on Your Car Insurance
But that doesn’t mean that you need to pay a hefty lump of cash for your insurance. A little careful shopping can mean that you get savings on your insurance policy. Now, there are insurance companies that offer special senior insurance plans, and these can be good deals. But it’s important that you consider all your options, since in many cases you will save even more by going with a non senior insurance plan. Why is that?
Insurance Discounts
There are a couple of reasons why you might be able to save money on your car insurance. The first is that those over around 60 are seen as less of an insurance risk. If you’ve been driving for a fair number of years without any accidents or traffic tickets, you may qualify for a safe driver discount from your insurer.
You can also think about the make and model of the car that you’re driving. Seniors do tend to drive safer cars (and fewer sports cars!), which can effect your insurance premiums. Not only that, but many insurance companies offer special, lower prices to people who drive fewer kilometers. Once you’ve retired and no longer have a daily commute, you’ll want to look into these distance discounts, as you’re quite likely to qualify for them.
If you’re interested in how insurance companies determine your premiums, then check out our article on What Effects Car Insurance Quotes to find out more.
Careful Shopping
If you’re looking to save money, then you’ll need to shop around for prices with different companies and to see what kinds of discounts are available to you. The easiest way to do this is online (read about Online Car Insurance Quotes here). Remember to consider not only the discounts that you’re getting, however, but also the kind of coverage that you’re getting and the excesses that you may have to pay if you have an accident.
Keep Those Premiums Low
Once you’ve found the policy that’s right for you, you’ll need to concentrate on keeping the low premiums that you qualify for, and that means driving safely. As we get older we tend to suffer from certain conditions that can make driving more dangerous, and it’s up to you to stay on top of vision tests, for example, or to make sure that any medications you take don’t effect your driving abilities. If you get into an accident, your car insurance premiums will go up!
If you’re concerned about the quality of your driving, since things like reaction times can slow down as you age, you might want to think about taking a driver refresher course to make sure that you’re still safe behind the wheel. The good news is that extra driving courses can also help to lower your car insurance premiums with many companies!
Older drivers have plenty of experience, and this can make them better drivers. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t need insurance. With a little research and some comparison shopping you should be able to find the insurance policy that’s right for you, and you shouldn’t need to pay a fortune for it!
Main subject: car insurance
