Car Insurance And Female Drivers

It is not uncommon to hear men complain about “women drivers” and how they do not have the skill necessary to share the road with men. I have heard it from my friends, and seen them curse under their breath after being cut off. Sure the egregious case of a woman driving while applying makeup hurts the status of women drivers everywhere, but one has to understand that this is a tiny minority at best. Most women drivers are as competent, if not more so than their male counterparts, so the stereotype grows out some misplaced sense of machismo rather than any verifiable driving data.

In fact, if you analyze the data that car insurance companies use to determine policy rates for their clients, it turns out that women are actually safer drivers than men. This is true not strictly on number of accidents, for both genders seem to get into fender-benders (and worse) at equal rates, but strangely enough accidents caused by men seem to do more damage, both to people as well as the cars themselves (and surrounding buildings and sidewalks!). Since women are a lower risk for insurance claims, many car insurance companies have started giving discounts to women on their rates – discounts that add up, and are especially welcome considering how expensive auto insurance rates can be. It is interesting to examine the reasons why women are lower insurance risks than men. While it is likely that women are more considerate drivers while on the road, since they both get into the same number of accidents that is not a factor. However, evidence suggests the reason is that women on average drive more slowly than men, and this reduces the damage involved when women cause an accident. Thus, know that when you shop for female car insurance, you’ll get a better deal than your male friends.

The most important tip for buying a policy, both for women and for men, is to get multiple car insurance quotes from various providers to see which is the best. Once you get quotes for the same amount and types of coverage, beyond customer service considerations, all car insurance is the same – it all comes down to price. So there’s no harm in shopping around – in fact it’s the only way to ensure that you get the best combination of price and coverage. Since one provider’s insurance is not better than what another will provide, you can afford to be choosy. Of course, it helps if you start your search well in advance of your existing policy expiring so you do not have to scramble to stay covered.