Title: Finding affordable car insurance after 65 in kansas—anyone else struggling?
I totally get what you mean about the tracker dinging you for stuff that’s just part of driving out here. Last winter, I got flagged for “aggressive acceleration” because I had to punch it a bit to get across an icy intersection before a combine rolled through. It’s like the software doesn’t have a clue about rural traffic or weather, just some algorithm in a city somewhere.
I’ve been using one of those safe driver apps for a few months. The discount looked good on paper, but after all the “events” it logged—most of which were me avoiding animals or potholes—I ended up getting maybe $7 off my last bill. Not exactly life-changing. I actually called the company to ask if a real person ever reviews the data, and the rep just kept repeating that it’s “all automated for fairness.” Doesn’t really feel fair when a possum makes you swerve and suddenly you’re a risky driver.
It’s frustrating, especially since insurance keeps creeping up every year. I’m still learning the ropes, but my neighbor swears by just calling around every renewal and not trusting the online quotes. She said sometimes the smaller local companies understand country driving better than the big names with all their fancy tech.
Has anyone tried switching to a company that doesn’t use these trackers? Or is this just the new normal now? I wonder if there’s any way to actually explain to them what driving’s like out here, or if we’re just stuck with the algorithms making all the calls.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’m not convinced the smaller local companies are always better. I tried switching to one last year after getting fed up with my old insurer’s tracker nonsense. Thought they’d “get” rural driving, but turns out their rates weren’t much different—and they still wanted to slap on a device if I wanted any kind of discount. Maybe it’s just Kansas now.
“It’s like the software doesn’t have a clue about rural traffic or weather, just some algorithm in a city somewhere.”
That’s exactly it. These algorithms don’t care if you’re dodging deer or dealing with gravel roads. But here’s the thing: even without the trackers, most companies are jacking up rates for anyone over 65, no matter your record. It feels like we’re being penalized just for getting older.
I’ve started looking at usage-based insurance where you pay by the mile instead of how you drive. Not perfect, but at least it doesn’t ding you for every swerve or quick stop. Still, none of these options feel great. Maybe we’re all just stuck picking the least-bad option at this point...
Not perfect, but at least it doesn’t ding you for every swerve or quick stop.
I’ve been digging into this myself since I’m about to get my first policy, and honestly, it’s kind of wild how much age factors in—even if you’ve never had a claim. I keep seeing the same thing you mentioned: “most companies are jacking up rates for anyone over 65, no matter your record.” It’s frustrating, especially when the data doesn’t always back up the idea that older drivers are automatically riskier.
I get what you mean about the trackers, too. The tech is supposed to make things “fair,” but it feels like it’s just another way to squeeze people. I looked at a couple of usage-based options, and while paying by the mile sounds good in theory, it gets tricky if you have unpredictable driving needs. Some of those plans have hidden fees or minimums that aren’t obvious upfront. It’s almost like they’re betting you’ll drive more than you expect.
One thing I found that might help: some insurers offer discounts if you take a defensive driving course, even after 65. It’s not a huge cut, but every bit helps. Also, bundling with home insurance sometimes knocks off a chunk—though I guess that depends on who you’re with and what you need.
I tried getting quotes from a few regional mutual companies (not just the big names or the tiny locals), and there was a little more flexibility there. Not a miracle fix, but at least they seemed willing to explain their rates instead of just blaming “the algorithm.” Still, like you said, none of these options feel great.
It’s weird—shopping for insurance feels less like picking what works for you and more like figuring out which hoops you’re willing to jump through. Maybe that’s just how it is now...
It’s weird—shopping for insurance feels less like picking what works for you and more like figuring out which hoops you’re willing to jump through.
That’s exactly how it felt when my dad hit 70. Suddenly the same company he’d been loyal to for decades wanted to jack his premium up, no explanation. He ended up going with a regional mutual too—smaller office, but they actually sat down and went over the details with him. Only thing that really helped was bundling with his home policy (like you mentioned), and he got a tiny break for having low annual mileage. Not a huge win, but better than nothing. The whole process just feels unnecessarily complicated now, especially when you’ve got a clean record.
That’s been my experience too, just from the other side of things. My mom’s 68 and still drives herself to work most days, but when her renewal came up last year, her rate shot up for no real reason. She’s never had an accident, barely even a speeding ticket in her life. We called around and got the same runaround—either the price was crazy or there were all these weird conditions about mileage, usage, etc.
She ended up staying with her old company because switching seemed like a hassle, but honestly, I’m not convinced loyalty means much to these big insurers anymore. The only thing that made a dent was signing up for one of those driving trackers—they monitor your habits and supposedly give you a discount if you’re “safe.” Not sure how I feel about the privacy part, but it did save her a bit.
It’s wild how complicated something as basic as car insurance has become. Makes me wonder if it’s even worth being a cautious driver when it feels like they’ll raise your rates anyway...
