Drivers being 'refused' car insurance due to little-known 'age limit' rule

Drivers have been warned they could be "refused" car insurance - all because of a little-known "age limit" rule. Motorists and road users have been warned by Connor Campbell, motoring expert at Independent Advisor Car Insurance, this week.

Mr Campbell spoke out and warned some insurance companies will refuse customers who are over 80 years of age. He advised: "Legally, car insurance has no maximum age limit as long as you're still fit and healthy enough to drive.

"So in your 70s and beyond, a car insurance policy will allow you to maintain your independence and stay on the road, however you may have slightly less choice. While most car insurance providers don't impose an age limit on their policies, some do.

READ MORE UK braces for rare 'red' weather shift and it 'begins next Monday'

"This will normally be between 70 and 80 years of age." Legally, there is no maximum age limit for car insurance as long as you’re still fit and healthy enough to drive. So in your 70s and beyond, there will be a car insurance policy out there that will allow you to maintain your independence and stay on the road.

You may have slightly less choice, however. While most car insurance providers don’t impose an age limit on their policies, some do. This will normally be between 70 and 80 years of age. Once you are in your 70s, there’s a good chance that your car insurance premiums will start to rise from the lows seen in your 60s.

This is partially because as people age, the cost of the average claim begins to climb, according to data from the Association of British Insurers. The riskier you are in the eyes of providers, the more expensive your policy is likely to be.

MoneySuperMarket data from April 2023 showed that the average annual comprehensive car insurance policy rose from a low of £326 for 70-74-year-olds to £338 for 75-79-year-olds. Drivers aged 80-84 paid £416, while for 85-89-year-olds, the average was £519.

While the price of car insurance has increased significantly since that data was collected, costs related to age still tend to trend in the same direction.