Older female drivers pay more for car insurance

Older female drivers are paying more on average for car insurance according to a recent report by a consumer watchdog. The research found that some insurance companies are charging as much as £80 more for cover for an older female driver compared to her male counterpart. The consumer magazine Which? carried out the study by requesting two sets of quotes on a car insurance price comparison website. The first quote was for a single 60-year-old female, the second for a single 60-year-old male, both with identical addresses, cars, driving experience, and no claims bonuses. Which? took quotes from five insurers and found that the price for the female driver was more expensive in all cases, ranging from as little as £4.20 to £80 for the cost of an annual policy. However, the trend in car insurance prices for younger driver is the opposite, with male driver aged between 17-25 years being hit hardest by high car insurance charges, while female drivers of the same age enjoy considerably lower car insurance rates. As time goes on, this pattern is reversed, the Which? survey has just revealed. A spokesperson for one of the insurance companies involved in the study explained that their premiums are based on risk factor, and that gender is one element which does have an impact of insurance rates.