Women pay less for car insurance than men do because they are safer on the roads, according to new research.  According to research carried out by a price comparison website, men take greater risks on the road and are therefore more likely to make a motor insurance claim.

The study found that the average motor insurance premium for a man is £868 and for a women it is only £517. But it is teenagers who suffer the most striking difference in insurance premiums. An 18 year old male pays £1,081 more than a female of the same age.  But car insurance for women is cheaper because there are various statistics that insurance companies use which state women cost less to insurance because they do not take risks on the road.

When males do start to gain some years experience behind them will see a reduced car insurance premium from £2,318 to £1,004 when they hit 20.

Steve Sweeney, head of motor insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: “Men have historically had to pay higher motor premiums than women and this is reflected in the different prices insurers charge for male and female drivers.

Car insurance for women also decreases more rapidly with age than it does for men.  This is because insurance companies view women as safer drivers.  Women also pay much less the older they get. It will cost them £260 if they are in their forties in comparison to £598 for a woman in her twenties.

“Likewise, younger drivers, especially males, will find themselves having to fork out for expensive motor insurance as they are perceived as a high risk category. It is a shame that motor insurance premiums are based on age rather than experience.”