A common piece of financial advice is to always buy used cars or, at least, drive your car until it is more expensive to maintain it than to buy a new car. The reason this advice is so popular is because there are some significant financial advantages depending on the type of car you own.
In most cases, drivers can save money by buying an older vehicle that doesn’t need a loan or lease. Also, it is usually cheaper to insure an older car than a newer one, especially since old cars may not need a full-coverage policy. Drivers can save even more money on their car insurance by comparing quotes between multiple companies.
Best insurance for older cars
According to our research, GEICO and Auto-Owners have the best cheap car insurance for liability-only policies for older cars. A liability-only policy means you are covered for bodily injury and property damage you cause to other people (but you don’t have any coverage for damage to your own car), so it’s best for drivers who can afford to repair their car or buy a new car if theirs is damaged.
Cheapest for most drivers
Monthly cost
$34
GEICO has the best rates for liability-only insurance from any nationally-available company. GEICO offers coverage in every state and Washington, D.C., drivers everywhere will be able to get a quote from GEICO.
Read our full GEICO car insurance review
Cheapest for liability-only insurance
Monthly cost
$27
Auto-Owners has the cheapest liability-only insurance overall, though it’s not available in every state. But if you live in one of the 26 states where Auto-Owners offers coverage, you might be able to get liability coverage for less than $30 a month.
Read our full Auto-Owners car insurance review
Best full-coverage car insurance for older cars
For drivers who still need full coverage for an older vehicle, we found USAA and State Farm offer the best cheap car insurance for full-coverage policies for older cars. That means the policy offers liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, protecting you from damage you cause to other people and their property as well as paying for damage to your own vehicle.
Cheapest for military members
Monthly cost
$87
USAA is an excellent auto insurance company, with a wide variety of coverages and some of the lowest rates in the industry.
Cheapest for most drivers
Monthly cost
$95
The largest auto insurance company in the country, State Farm offers all the basic car insurance coverage most drivers need at an affordable rate.
Cheapest insurance for older cars
When it comes to car insurance for older cars, liability-only coverage is almost always the cheapest option, and it’s a good way to save for drivers who can afford to replace their car out of pocket or who won’t bother replacing their older car if it’s damaged.
If you choose liability-only car insurance coverage you’ll have to get at least the minimum required coverage in your state, but this often isn’t enough to cover all of the costs after an accident.
We recommend drivers get at least 100/300 levels of liability coverage to make sure they are fully protected in an accident — that means at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage.
Here are the minimum levels of car insurance coverage required by state:
You can see that liability coverage isn’t the only type of car insurance required by law in some states. Personal injury protection (PIP), also called no-fault insurance, is required in some states, and so is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM).
Are older cars cheaper to insure?
Yes, an older car is typically cheaper to insure than a newer vehicle, for two reasons:
Depreciation: Generally speaking, an older car is worth less than a newer car. Because of this, it is usually cheaper to purchase full coverage insurance for an older car than a newer one.
Less coverage: An older car usually needs less car insurance coverage than a newer car. For example, if you financed your new car, you may need to purchase gap coverage to protect yourself in case your car is totaled in an accident while you are still making payments on your car loan. Additionally, you may not need full coverage on an older car if you can afford to replace it out-of-pocket.
Do I need full coverage on an older car?
Maybe, depending on the value of your vehicle. Drivers who can afford to replace their car out-of-pocket in the event of an accident can choose to purchase liability only coverage, while drivers who can’t afford to replace their vehicle should purchase full coverage car insurance.
Keep in mind that full coverage on an older car is usually less expensive than full coverage on a newer vehicle because the value of the car is lower, which means the insurance company is only going to pay out the actual cash value (ACV) of your car after an accident.
For example, someone who owns a 2010 Toyota Corolla may find that their car is only worth about $3,500, depending on the condition of the car and the trim package, and many people don’t feel it is worth it to pay for full coverage insurance if the payout they will receive after an accident is so low.
What's the difference between insurance for an older car and classic car insurance?
Classic car insurance is designed to protect a car that is essentially a collector’s item, not a tool for everyday use. One of the defining characteristics of a classic car is that it doesn’t get used every day.
Classic cars typically only get driven a few hundred miles per year, usually with a limit of no more than 6,000 miles annually. This is why classic car insurance is usually cheaper than a regular auto insurance policy, and why most insurance companies don’t allow you to use a classic car as a daily driver.
Frequently asked questions
How old does a car need to be before it is considered a classic car?
Generally speaking, a classic car is any vehicle that’s about 25 years old and not used as a daily driver. But every insurance company is different, so check with your insurer to see if your vehicle qualifies as a classic car.
How do I insure my classic car as a daily driver?
A classic car being used as a daily driver requires standard car insurance coverage, not a collector policy. But each car insurance company will have its own rules and regulations regarding classic car coverage, so check with your insurer to make sure your car is properly insured.
Is comprehensive car insurance the same as full coverage?
Along with liability and collision insurance, comprehensive coverage is just one part of full-coverage car insurance. Comprehensive car insurance is a specific type of car insurance that covers non-collision damage (like fire, vandalism, or animal-related damage) to your vehicle.
Why are older cars cheaper to insure?
Older cars are generally much cheaper to repair or replace than newer vehicles, which makes them cheaper to insure. In fact, if you can afford to repair or replace your car out-of-pocket, you can save money by purchasing just liability coverage, or even just the required state minimum levels of coverage.
