Older people still facing discrimination in car insurance, research shows

OLDER people applying for car insurance continue to be discriminated against, despite new requirements aimed at helping them get affordable cover, new research shows.

Drivers denied a quote on the grounds of age should be referred – “signposted” – to an insurance broker or another provider who may be able to provide cover, under guidelines set out by insurers and the government.

One in five car insurance applicants aged 80 or over are rejected because of their age, according to Age UK. But it has revealed that 85 per cent of those being turned down are not being signposted to other companies that may be able to insure them, even though the agreement took effect in April this year.

The signposting arrangement is in place despite the exemption of financial services from a ban on age discrimination in goods and services which came into force this week. Age UK has called for more steps to support older drivers following its latest research.

Gordon Morris, managing director of Age UK Enterprises, said: “Having access to more products like this is crucial for many older consumers, but unfortunately our survey has found that many older customers still struggle to find appropriate car insurance – this indicates that the signposting agreement doesn’t work.”