Why women win with car insurance

Well, moneysupermarket.com knows better than to wade into that particular debate but we can bring you some statistics that show what the car insurance companies believe.

Analysis of more than six million motor insurance quotes made through our website during the 12 months to June 2009 shows that men are paying an average of 71% more than women for their cover.
Why is this the case?

Insurance companies price for risk, and claims data shows that male drivers make more car insurance claims than their female counterparts.

Steve Sweeney, moneysupermarket.com's head of motor insurance, said: "Many insurance companies view women as being safer and more mature in the way they drive. This why their premiums are not only cheaper but also decrease with age at a much faster rate than those of men."
Isn't this just for teenagers?

Admittedly the price gap is at its widest for teenagers. An 18-year-old man will fork out an average of £2,318.83 a year for cover - that's 87% more than the average a female driver of that age will pay.

The good news for young drivers is that prices do start to fall once they reach their twenties; the average man then pays £1,004.25 a year - although the girls are still winning in the cost-stakes at an average of just £598.02.


 Age Male  Female  Difference  % difference
 18  £2,318.83  £1,237.33  £1,081.50  87.41%
 19  £1,873.31  £1,006.78  £866.53  86.07%
 20s  £1,004.25  £598.02  £406.24  67.93%
 30s  £473.13  £348.60  £124.53  35.72%
 40s  £331.08  £260.99  £70.08  26.85%
 50s  £249.16  £204.33  £44.83  21.94%
 60s  £200.41  £170.59  £29.82  17.48%
 70s  £217.90  £199.69  £18.21  9.12%
 80s  £308.82  £236.83  £71.99  30.40%
 Average  £885.86  £517.37  £368.49  71.22%