Older drivers may be ‘refused’ car insurance policies due to little-known rule

Older drivers can legally be refused car insurance coverage purely based on their age due to little-known equality rules, according to consumer expert group Which? Car insurance firms can turn down elderly road users purely based on their age with no discrimination rules in place to stop them.

According to the specialist, insurers are allowed to have maximum age limits in a blow to older road users. It could limit the amount of policies available for elderly motorists later in life, restricting access to many competitive packages. Which? opened up on the little-known policy, stressing there were no rules in place to force insurers to offer anyone coverage.

Which? explained: “Yes, car insurers can refuse to cover you if you're above their maximum age.

“Equalities legislation doesn't stop insurers having age limits or pricing by age.

“But this maximum age can vary hugely, and some insurers don't have a maximum age.

“Shop around, using different comparison sites, and consider insurers that aren't on them, such as NFU Mutual.”

A previous ‘mystery shopping’ study conducted by Age UK found that 21% of motorists aged 80 or above were not given phone or online quotes for a car insurance policy because of their age.

The study also found that a staggering 85% of road users over 80 plus who were refused insurance were not referred on to other companies.

A recent Parliament petition has demanded the policy be looked into to prevent older drivers from paying more to use the road.

But motorists have just weeks left to sign the petition which comes to a close later this month on May 20.

The petition, set up by Sarah Kelly, read: “Parliament must review the exclusion of financial services from the age discrimination provisions of the Equality Act.

“We think over 70s should not routinely, based upon their age, be charged more for car insurance than any other sector of society.

“We think the "signposting" agreement between the government and the insurance industry is a failure.”

So far, over 1,700 have signed the poll with 10,000 needed to receive an official response from the Government.

A total of 100,000 signatures are required for the petition to be considered for debate by MPs in Parliament.