Insurance company LV= have scrapped its upper age limit, allowing elderly motorists to continue to drive as long as they are able.
The company, also known as Liverpool Victoria, previously refused to cover drivers over the age of 86 unless they are already on their books as policy holders. The insurance company are the first to remove the upper limit of their policies. After a positive response to their decision to scrap the age limit of their travel insurance, the company decided to introduce the policy to their motor insurance.
A Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) report showed that there are almost six million over 70s driving compared with less than a million 35 years ago. The figures also showed that 60% of over 70s still held a drivers license in 2010. Charity Age UK believes that drivers should be judged on driving ability rather than birthdates. The charity has 1,673 customers aged 100 or more and said it was clear from the report that the UK is growing into a nation of older drivers.
The Managing Director of LV= John O’Roarke said that people are living and driving longer, so naturally there’s a need for insurance cover for older drivers. LV= isn’t the only insurer who will cover elderly drivers, other major insurers like Saga and RIAS have no age limit, whilst the AA takes on customers up to the age of 99 and Virgin insure up to 120 years.