My dad just turned 72 and his car insurance premium jumped quite a bit this year. He's got a clean record, drives carefully, you know, typical responsible older guy stuff. Wondering if anyone else's parents or grandparents faced something similar around here?
Could it be more about the specific insurance company rather than age alone? My uncle's 75, lives in Boise, and his premium barely budged this year. He's also got a spotless record, but he switched providers a couple years back after noticing random hikes. Maybe it's worth shopping around a bit... insurance companies can be weirdly inconsistent with their pricing, even for similar drivers. Has your dad checked other quotes yet?
Could be the company, sure, but age definitely plays a role. My dad's premiums started creeping up around 70, even with a clean record. Switching helped a bit, but honestly, seems like insurers just get twitchy about older drivers... worth checking around though.
"seems like insurers just get twitchy about older drivers..."
True, but honestly, location matters too. My uncle moved from Boise out to a smaller town and his rates actually dropped a bit, even after turning 70. Might be worth considering...
The point about location is valid. Insurers do factor in local accident statistics and traffic density when setting premiums, so moving to a quieter area can sometimes help. Still, age-related premium increases are common industry-wide due to perceived higher risks associated with older drivers—even those with spotless records. It's frustrating, but insurers rely heavily on statistical data. Shopping around periodically might help mitigate some of these increases, though it's unlikely they'll disappear entirely.
