Women drivers are 77% less likely to die in a car crash than their male counterparts. Speeding and a higher incidence of drunk driving are factors associated with riskier men behind the wheel.
These findings are from a research study that Carnegie Mellon University released on January 18, 2007.
A more recent article concludes that the U.S. average car insurance quote for females was 7.3% lower than the comparable statistic for men. The national average premium for females was US$1,710 per year and $1,824 for male drivers. These statistics are based on over 300,000 quotes that Insurance.com serviced during the first 4 months of 2009.
However, men did enjoy lower premium quotes in some states. States with comparative male discounts were New Jersey, North Carolina, Missouri and Pennsylvania.
Testing Female and Male Quotes for Car Insurance
This article is a random test to determine whether car insurance rates in Toronto, Canada are lower or higher for women drivers than men. A set of 7 ages was used, ranging from ages 26 to 84.
The exact same criteria were entered into the auto insurance rate comparison widget on InsuranceHotline’s website. For example, all quotes were for a 2009 Toyota Corolla 4-door model and all sample applicants had impeccable driving records.
Below are the results of this test study.
Male Driver Auto Insurance Rates
Below are the lowest premium quotes for male drivers of a 2009 Toyota Corolla. Rates are listed by a driver’s attained age. The average driver premium for men age 26 is used to as a percentage benchmark for older driver rates.
- Age 26 … C$2,132 annual premium
- Age 34 … $1,896 (11.1% less than the age 26 premium)
- Age 44 … $1,922 (9.8% less than the age 26 premium)
- Age 54 … $1,738 (18.5% less than the age 26 premium)
- Age 64 … $1,595 (25.2% less than the age 26 premium)
- Age 74 … $1,561 (26.8% less than the age 26 premium)
- Age 84 … $1,823 (14.5% less than the age 26 premium).
The highest insurance rate is for males age 26 and under. More expensive premiums for younger men is consistent with Carnegie Mellon’s finding that male drivers ages 16 to 23 are 4 times more likely to be in a fatal accident than the average driver. This is due to the younger males’ lack of driving experience and personal maturity.
Female Driver Car Insurance Rates
Below are the lowest premium quotes for female drivers of an identical 2009 Toyota Corolla. For each attained age, the percentage difference with the corresponding male driver rate is shown.
- Age 26 … C$2,094 annual premium (1.8% lower than male rate)
- Age 34 … $1,901 (0.3% higher)
- Age 44 … $1,985 (3.3% higher)
- Age 54 … $1,818 (4.6% higher)
- Age 64 … $1,771 (11% higher)
- Age 74 … $1,751 (12.2% higher)
- Age 84 … $1,929 (5.8% higher).
Female auto insurance rates exhibit less dramatic increases between different ages. The highest percentage is 12.2% for women drivers at age 74. In contrast, the rate for 74-year-old males jumps by 36.8% from age 64.
Women Driver Insurance Comparison
Perhaps the most surprising finding from this test is that male drivers only pay higher premiums at age 26. Even then, the rate is only 1.8% more expensive for this riskier group of young males than for 26-year-old females.
Males pay lower car insurance rates at all other ages tested.
One reason for women drivers paying relatively higher rates is that the claims experience for the Toyota Corolla in Canada may show only minor differences between male and female drivers.
Another possible factor is that women drive less and for shorter distances, at least for the vehicle in this test. Lower mileage scores can artificially raise the percentage of traffic accidents, and elevate the risk premium for women.
Carnegie Mellon research suggests that elderly women drivers are 60% more likely to suffer a fatal accident than 16-year-old boys. Statistics like these can skew overall premiums if those claims are distributed against females of all ages.
Why Male Driver Premiums are Lower
In this test, the strongest factor in the lower average premiums for male drivers is the basic premise that all drivers had clean driving records.
In reality, a much higher percentage of male drivers may well have more traffic violations and accidents. This in turn would result in much higher average premiums when compared to women drivers, particularly if the latter had safer driving records.
The most important take-away from this article is simple. Women drivers of all ages should shop around for competitive quotes from a number of different insurance companies.
This is the most effective way to take control of automobile insurance costs by shifting the focus to a woman’s safer driving record.
Sources: This analysis provides independent calculations and insights based on source data from InsuranceHotline.com, a leading third-party website dedicated to consumer education.
Daniel Workman - A senior business and finance writer who also does French translations, notably international trade and insurance materials.
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