Do men pay more for car insurance? The answer may sound like gender discrimination, but men pay around 38% more than women for their policies.
The reason for this statistic is actually a lot more complicated than it sounds. First of all, there is more than one reason. There are multiple job positions in the area of risk analysis alone.
There are professional risk analysts, underwriters, and actuaries working together to carefully understand risk.
To learn more about why men may pay more for car insurance, check out the information below.
Why Do Men Pay More for Car Insurance?
The reasons why men may pay more for car insurance are not the same across the board. Things like age, location, and marital status affect car insurance rates more than many people realize.
Let’s break it down.
For Young Drivers
Of course, young drivers pay more for car insurance than older drivers. They have less experience on the road, which makes them a greater risk. They also have less evidence of a good driving record.
As these drivers get older, their insurance rates go down — granted that they don’t get into accidents, file too many claims, or commit traffic violations. The insurance rate gap between the genders goes down as well.
For Older Drivers
Older drivers with a good driving record enjoy lower car insurance rates, and there is virtually no insurance rate difference between the genders.
The statistics behind this car insurance rate gender gap are complicated. When men are young, they are deemed more likely to take risks than female drivers. Men also have higher numbers when the total number of accidents is taken into account. However, this may also be because men drive more.
Thankfully, this is no longer the case as men age. At the end of the day, age is the most important demographic of them all.
Marital Status
Marital status makes a huge difference in car insurance rates, a fact that surprises many drivers. In fact, a 20-year-old married driver may pay a rate 21% lower than an unmarried driver of the same age.
This is not based on opinion, but on careful analysis of statistics. Married drivers are less likely to take risks. This may be because they want children someday, or because they feel their actions affect their partner.
Differences By State
Not all states consider gender when conducting a car insurance risk assessment. These states include:
- California
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
One state in particular, Nevada, often charges female drivers more than male drivers.
Finding the Best Car Insurance Rate
Do men pay more for car insurance? They often do. However, gender is just one of many factors that contribute to an individual’s risk assessment. It’s also possible to get that rate lower by doing things like taking a driver safety class. Age and gender may not be in your control, but other methods of saving on car insurance are.
Car insurance rates are highly variable depending on the applicant’s profile. To find the best car insurance rates for your particular situation, make sure to contact one of our professional agents.
