There are a lot of things about getting older that no one enjoys. It gets harder to get up from your chair. You start to sleep a lot less and people start to talk to you like you can’t do things for yourself. There are good things about getting older, though. You get to retire and do the things you always said you would do, like travel or play more golf. You get to pay less at many restaurants for your meals and you can qualify for cheaper car insurance rates.
Senior Discounts
Most insurance companies offer a senior discount. They will often start applying the discount to your premiums automatically when you reach the age they deem to be senior. Usually around 55 to 60 years of age. This discount can be 5% to 10% or sometimes more.
Defensive Driving Courses
Some companies offer additional discounts for seniors who take defensive driving classes designed for seniors. These courses can help seniors with evolving traffic laws that may have changed over the years. They can also help you learn to compensate for less mobility with mirrors and specific car layouts. These types of courses can help a senior to extend their driving years by teaching new ways to be an alert and safe driver.
Low Use Discount
If you are retired and no longer have a daily commute, you may be driving a lot less now than you did a few years ago. In many cases, if you are only driving to the store and the occasional trip for pleasure, you can probably qualify for a low mileage policy. Statistically speaking, if you drive less miles you have less of a chance of having an accident. For this reason, many insurance companies offer low use or low mileage plans.
The Family Chauffeur
There comes a time in everyone’s lives when they have to decide if it is time to hang up the car keys for good. We don’t like to admit that we are getting older and we certainly don’t like to admit that we can’t do some of the things we could when we were younger, but you have to think about safety. It’s not just your own safety that is at stake. If your eye sight and reflexes aren’t what they used to be, you are putting everyone around you at risk. It might be time for a family chauffeur. You drove your kids around for 20 years. Don’t feel bad about making them return the favor.