Auto Insurance for Women

Written by Michael Browne

At some point in her life almost every woman is around when a man rolls his eyes and makes a disparaging remark about women drivers. The irony in those situations is that, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), women are actually better drivers than men. They are less likely to die in car crashes (largely because they are more likely to wear their seatbelts), and less likely to get speeding tickets. On the other hand, the IIHS also reports that there are more women than ever who are driving and who are shopping for their own vehicles, and the women on the road are starting to drive more aggressively.

Traditionally, insurance companies, which base rates on statistical data, have charged women less than men, though the greatest price gap is in the under-twenty-five age group. This custom is not limited to the United States, either. Recently insurance companies in Australia and several European Union countries have announced that women will no longer get preferred rates simply because of their gender.

Whether or not they're getting a discount merely because they're female, there are many ways a savvy woman can get the cheapest auto insurance rates available. These include:

1. Choose a car that isn't flashy, and has a full complement of safety features.
2. Maintain good credit and a clean driving record.
3. Shop for insurance online, and get several car insurance quotes to compare before making a decision.
4. Take a defensive driving class.
5. Store the car in a safe place.
6. Combine auto insurance with homeowners or renters insurance
7. Add another adult to the car insurance policy.
8. Arrange to pay for auto insurance via electronic funds transfer or automatic withdrawal
9. Ask about available discounts based on age, loyalty to the insurance company, time without accidents, or membership in a trade union.
10. Consider a PAYD (pay-as-you-drive) program.

If these tips seem universal rather than gender-specific, the reality is that they are. Savvy insurance shoppers can save money whether they're male or female.