28 March 2007
Research published by Age Concern and Help the Aged has shown that the motorists over the age of 65 face huge problems buying car insurance.
According to the charities' surveys, one in five 65-year-olds is unable to get a quote, with that figure rising to one in four by the time they reach 75-years-old.
The study, entitled Insurance and Age: Exploring behaviour, attitudes and discrimination, also revealed that elderly consumers who search for travel insurance can also be left in the dark, with many companies refusing to offer a quote and those that do often asking for sky high premiums.
In response to Age Concern and Help the Aged's findings, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has launched a new scheme which aims to work towards making protection more widely available and providing better value for money.
Malcolm Tarling, spokesman for the ABI, told The Telegraph: "We acknowledge that some elderly customers may experience difficulties buying insurance because most companies operate upper-age limits for new customers. But cover is available if you know where to go."
However, concerns of an ageist black list being used across insurance companies could be well founded after the ABI admitted that drivers in their 70s are 72% more likely to be killed or seriously injured than those in their 60s.
There is some hope for more mature drivers on the market as a growing number of insurers tailored specifically for the older driver are appearing, including Saga, Age Concern, Help the Aged, AA Insurance Services and Rias - all of which don't have an upper age limit.
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