Gender is just one of many factors insurance companies take into account when determining your car insurance rates. According to insurance companies, statistics show significant differences between men and women when it comes to driving safety and filing claims, which is why car insurance for women is typically cheaper than car insurance for men.
However, setting rates by gender has been shown to be inconsistent in some cases, and several states prohibit car insurance companies from considering gender when setting car insurance rates.
Which gender pays more for car insurance?
This is a tricky question — our analysis shows that, on average, men pay more than women for car insurance.
Gender | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
Female | $2,385 |
Male | $2,574 |
However, this isn’t always the case. How your gender impacts your rates can vary significantly from state to state. Age also plays a part in how your gender factors into costs. Typically, young men pay significantly more than young women for the same insurance, while men and women in their 40s often find the difference in average cost is only a few dollars.
Age | Gender | Average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
16 | Female | $6,351 |
Male | $7,207 | |
18 | Female | $4,594 |
Male | $5,268 | |
21 | Female | $2,548 |
Male | $2,867 | |
25 | Female | $1,875 |
Male | $1,983 | |
30 | Female | $1,694 |
Male | $1,717 | |
35 | Female | $1,651 |
Male | $1,657 |
In order to prevent car insurance companies from applying rate changes unfairly, some states have banned insurance companies from using your gender to help set your rate.
Isn’t rating car insurance by gender discrimination?
Insurance companies cite strong statistical differences between the driving records of men and women, as the reason to set rates by gender.
For example, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, [1] in 2019, 71 percent of passenger vehicle driver deaths were male, as well as 48 percent of passenger vehicle deaths, 96 percent of large truck driver deaths, and 70 percent of pedestrian deaths.
Statistics like these are a big part of the reason insurance companies want to consider gender when setting your rate — they’re trying to predict how likely each driver is to have an accident and file a claim, using as much information as they can.
States where car insurance companies don’t consider gender
In order to make sure that prices are set fairly, many states have passed laws making it illegal for insurance companies to consider your gender when setting your rates, including:
If you live in one of these states, your gender won’t impact how much you pay for insurance.
Do men or women pay more for car insurance?
The overall averages show that men pay more than women for car insurance, but your rates may or may not fall in line with insurance industry trends, depending on where you live and how old you are.
This lack of consistency regarding gender-based rates is a big part of why the states listed above have eliminated gender as a factor when setting rates.
Why do men pay more for car insurance?
Men are more likely than women to be in fatal car crashes, more likely to drive drunk, more likely to speed, and less likely to wear a seatbelt. Statistics like these are a big part of the reason men often pay more for car insurance than women.
However, these statistics don’t explain instances where women pay more than men for car insurance. In 2019, former California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said that an internal analysis by his department showed that gender was used inconsistently when setting rates in California, with women sometimes paying more than men and sometimes paying less, even though their driving records were the same.
These inconsistencies were a driving force behind California eliminating gender as a rating factor that insurance companies can use when setting prices for car insurance policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which group pays more for car insurance: single or married people?
Single people usually pay higher rates than married people for car insurance. However, there are some insurance companies that don’t consider your marital status when setting rates, such as Rural Mutual, Arabella Insurance, and State Farm.
Which age group pays more for car insurance?
Drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 pay the highest rates for car insurance. This is because their inexperience on the road means they are much more likely to be in an accident or file a claim than an older driver.
What other factors influence the rate someone pays for their car insurance?
Your insurance rates are determined by dozens of factors, including your age, gender, ZIP code, driving history, and the type of car you drive. With all of these factors impacting your insurance costs, comparing quotes from multiple companies is the easiest way to guarantee you are getting the lowest rate.
Methodology
Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:
Bodily injury liability: 50/100
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.
Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.
Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
