Car insurance for women drivers

It's official: women are statistically better drivers than men, or at least they do not make as many claims on their car insurance. And when they do make claims, they tend to be cheaper than those lodged by male motorists, perhaps a minor bump rather than a complete write-off. In addition, government figures show that men account for more than 92% of UK driving convictions and 98% of all convictions for dangerous driving. The statistics are good news for female motorists because their cleaner claims records result in insurance companies offering cheap women's car insurance quotes. Women pay on average £150 less for their car insurance than men.

But for how long? The European Court of Justice recently ruled that insurers cannot charge men and women different premiums because of their gender as it constitutes discrimination. The change will come into effect in December 2012 and some experts predict that car insurance premiums for women under the age of 25 could rise by 25% to 30%. In other words, unisex premiums could add about £400 to the annual cost of car insurance for a young woman.

The ruling comes at a time when car insurance premiums are already rising. They have gone up by 34% in the past couple of years and the average premium for a woman between the ages of 17 and 24 is now £1,002.

Reducing women's car insurance prices

The rise in car insurance premiums makes it all the more important to get a good deal on your car cover. Some insurers specifically target female motorists, but it is wise to scour the whole market for a good deal. And remember to shop around when your insurance is due for renewal. Loyalty doesn't always pay so you shouldn't automatically stick with your existing firm. Women drivers can compare quotes from more than 100 insurers through moneysupermarket.com and typically save £280 a year on their car cover.

• The type of car you drive can have a big effect on your premiums. Generally speaking, the smaller the engine, the lower the price of cover. Insurers categorise cars into groups and they could in future place greater emphasis on your car's insurance group because they will no longer be able to add gender to the premiums equation. You can find further information about this on our car insurance group's page or on the website of the Association of British Insurers at www.abi.org.uk.When you have chosen your car, try not to drive it to excess. If you drive fewer miles you are likely to have fewer accidents, so you should be eligible for cheaper car insurance premiums.
• The security of your car is important because it can lower the risk of a theft claim. It often pays to fit your vehicle with an approved alarm and immobiliser. Where possible, you should keep your car in a locked garage, or at least off the street.
• If you can avoid making a claim, you can potentially reduce your premium by up to a third in one year with a no claims discount (NCD). 
• All motor insurance policies include a compulsory excess, which is the amount you pay towards any claim. If you opt for a bigger voluntary excess, you should be rewarded with a lower premium. 
• Insurers usually allow you to pay your insurance premium in monthly installments to spread the cost. It can be convenient but it is also more expensive because you'll be charged interest, so try to pay up front if you can. 
• If you have older children who can drive, remember that if you add them to your own insurance policy it will bump up the premium.

Can male motorists benefit from cheap car insurance for women?

It is possible for a man to piggyback on cheap woman's car insurance premiums by registering as a named driver on her policy. This is often even possible if the policy has been purchased through a women only car insurance company.  The man must not, however, be the main driver and registered owner of the vehicle. Also remember that named drivers do not accumulate a no claims discount, so a saving in the short term could end up costing more in the long term.

The tactic can work the other way round, too. If the man is the main driver and he registers a woman as a named driver on his policy. This can result in cheaper motor insurance for men.

However, there are a number of other ways that motorists from both genders can reduce the cost of their car insurance. For information on this, check out our money saving tips page.