Women’s car insurance
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Do women pay less for car insurance?
No, it has been illegal for insurers to consider gender when calculating premiums since 2012.
The Gender Directive was passed by the European Court of Justice ten years ago, meaning gender will have no effect on the cost of a customer’s insurance.
Prior to this, women were routinely charged less for their car insurance because they were involved in less incidents statistically.
There are a number of different factors that insurers look at when figuring out how much to charge for insurance. Although this no longer includes gender, things like car choice, career and driving offences are considered.
This could result in men paying more than women because they’re more likely to have modified vehicles, points on their driving licence and jobs that are perceived as riskier by insurers.
However, they won’t automatically be charged more because they’re male.
Why are there specific insurance companies for women?
It used to be quite routine to see insurers exclusively targeting women and although there may still be companies that cater to women through their marketing, they are legally obliged to insure all genders.
So, don’t be fooled by advertising. If the policy is right for you, it doesn’t matter how you identify, you’re entitled to purchase it.
£4 million refunded to customers with free excess cover^^
If you need to claim, we’ll pay £250 towards your excess^. Just another reason to make your life choices on Go.Compare.
^Up to £250 refunded after claim settled. Car insurance purchases only. Excludes breakdown, windscreen and glass repair/replacement. Full T&Cs apply.
^^Based on Go.Compare analysis of successful claims, August 2019 - June 2022.
How to get cheaper car insurance, whatever your gender
Here are a few tips to help you pay less for your policy:
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Increase your voluntary excess
This is how much you agree to pay out of your own pocket towards a claim. By choosing a higher amount, it will likely reduce your premium, but make sure that you’d be able to afford to pay it, if needed
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Pay annually
If you can, pay for your policy annually rather than monthly
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Build up a no-claims bonus
You’ll get a discount on your premium when you build up your no-claims bonus. This demonstrates to the insurer that you’re a reliable driver and less of a risk
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Choose your level of cover wisely
Consider whether add-ons to your policy are necessary or if more comprehensive cover would provide what you need at a lower price. Alternatively, it may be cheaper to purchase them separately, so it’s always worth comparing
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Try telematics
If you’re a younger driver, you may want to think about black box insurance which analyses your driving and gives you feedback. Safer drivers could see their premiums lower when it comes time to renew
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Keep your car off the road overnight
Parking on a driveway or in a garage through the night can help keep your premiums down, as it’s less likely to be targeted by thieves
What type of car insurance do women need?
Gender has no relevance to the type of car insurance a person needs. You can choose from:
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Third party only (TPO)
This is legally the lowest level of insurance you must have to drive on UK roads. It only provides cover for injuries to other people and damaging somebody else’s property.
You won’t be insured for any damage to your car or injuries you sustain
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Third party, fire and theft (TPFT)
This provides the same cover as TPO, but you’ll also be insured for fire damage and theft of your vehicle
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Comprehensive
It’s the highest level of car insurance cover you can purchase and includes everything that both TPO and TPFT do, as well as damage to your car and compensation for your injuries
There’s absolutely nothing to stop a man taking out a policy that’s been targeted at women. It’s all about finding the best deal for you - you can’t be discriminated against because of your gender.Ryan Fulthorpe - Motoring expert
Specialist women’s insurance cover
Although women-only car insurance policies don’t exist anymore, there are still cover options that cater more to female drivers:
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Priority breakdown cover
You’ll be given priority if you’re in a dangerous location, a woman on her own, or a family with young children. Certain policies will pass on a message to your work or family if you’ve broken down and can’t contact them yourself
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Handbag cover
Cover for the contents of your handbag, backpack, rucksack or briefcase if they’re stolen from your vehicle or damaged while in the car. The vehicle must have been locked and your valuables kept out of sight
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Child seat cover
If your child seat is stolen or damaged, your insurer will pay out to replace it
Women’s car insurance add-ons and extras
If they’re not already included in your policy, you may want to look at:
Legal expenses – This covers any legal fees (up to a specified limit) that you incur if you’re required to go to court for a car accident that you were involved in
Breakdown cover – You may want to pay for this to be included as an extra on your car insurance or purchase it as a standalone policy. Compare both options to get the best price
Courtesy car cover – If a car is vital to your everyday life, this type of cover will provide you with a replacement vehicle while yours is in the garage being fixed
Personal accident cover – This provides cover for injuries and fatalities while you’re driving. You’ll only need to claim if the accident is your fault, otherwise the driver at fault’s third party insurance should pay out
Tools and calculators
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Fuel cost calculatorPage last reviewed: 11 January 2023