Reader’s Question:

Is there such a thing as cheap female insurance? Does gender really matter in car insurance policies?

Hazel

Chicago, IL

Yes, a cheap female insurance does exist, but I think it would be best if we refer to it as “cheaper” insurance for female drivers. Gender is one of the factors considered by car insurance companies when they process an insurance policy application. You may think that an 18 year-old male driver will get the same insurance rate as a female driver with the same age, but actually he won’t. Chances are, the male driver will get a more expensive insurance premium, not because he applied for more coverage or that his car is more expensive (but it could count, too), but simply because of his gender.

Statistics show that male drivers who are in their younger years (24 years old and below) are more prone to accidents and traffic rule violations. As researchers put it, young male drivers tend to like the feeling of being in the “danger zone” because of the excitement that comes with it. This feeling or behavior often leads to accidents that caused hundreds of deaths and injuries – leaving those who survived either disabled or traumatized.

On the other hand, young female drivers are less prone to accidents because they are known to be “safer” drivers. Most of them dislike being in the dangerous aside; that’s why they get also get into less road accidents. Aside from this, they don’t drive as frequently as young male drivers do. In effect, they have less chances of getting into accidents or committing violations.

Reader’s Question:

Is old female car insurance affordable?

Beth

Phoenix, AZ

Cheap old female car insurance may not be that easy to find since mature drivers who belong to the fifty five to sixty years old age bracket get to pay high car insurance premiums next to young inexperienced drivers. This is due to the increased risk of accidents which could be due to weakened senses. At this age, reaction time is greatly compromised and older drivers are also more vulnerable to serious injuries.
Being female could have been an advantage as women drivers get lower rates but that could be cancelled out by the age factor.

Old female car insurance can still be affordable, though, and there are several things one can do to make this happen. The first step is to always look for competitive rates. This means not grabbing the first quote they offer you. You’ll soon notice a big variation in rates as you look for more quotes from various car insurance companies. Although your circumstances limit how low your rates can go, if you search long enough, you just might find the most affordable one. There’s also a driving course for mature drivers. Taking and completing such a course usually qualifies a mature driver for a discount in her rates.

Reader’s Question:

How can I get cheap female insurance for a car I just bought?

Nathalie

Hempstead, NY

Cheap female insurance is not too difficult to find. You already have the advantage of being a woman which will definitely get you a lower base rate on your car insurance. Car insurance companies have found that women are actually safer drivers as they do not tend to exhibit risky behavior behind the wheel. How much lower you can bring down your rates will now depend on the kind and model of the car you just bought. If it has a lot of safety features aside from the usual seatbelt and air bag you can probably get a cheaper rate. Other safety features to look out for are an anti-lock brake system, traction control and anti-theft system. These will definitely get you closer to getting that cheap female insurance for your car.

An important rule-of-thumb to follow when seeking cheap female insurance is to get as many quotes from various car insurance providers as possible. You’ll find a great variation in rates as you go along. There’s always someone else willing to give you a more competitive rate. It’s just a matter of going the extra mile to contact them. It would probably be a good idea to first get quotes from providers that specialize in selling car insurance to female drivers.

Reader’s Question:

I’m planning to get a car next month because I really need it for my job. However, I was told to check insurance prices first before deciding what car to buy. My male coworker told me I should not worry about insurance payments because generally, female auto insurance is cheaper than that of a male’s. Is this true?

Audrey

New York, NY

Your coworker is right, Audrey. Female auto insurance is relatively cheaper than male auto insurance. Why, you may ask. Okay, let’s put it this way. Male drivers are often regarded as high-risk drivers as compared to females. Though many males might protest against this, statistics have shown that most vehicular accidents occur due to vehicles with males behind the wheels. For this reason, it won’t really take a lot of brains why many auto insurance companies reward women with quality insurance packages at much affordable rates. As a matter of fact, several insurers have started offering the women definitely-not-pricey insurance quotations so that the descendants of Eve can have better female auto insurance coverage for a lesser amount, as long as they have good driving records.

Males believe that females are of the weaker gender. Though many instances have proven them wrong, there’s no denying that when it comes to auto insurance, the females have the upper hand. I know a lot of female drivers who jump out of their skin when driving alongside big vehicles such as delivery trucks, vans or buses, prompting them to drive more cautiously. The males may find this ridiculous but for an auto insurance company, it’s an advantage.

Hope you find the best car and the most sensible female auto insurance for you, Audrey.

Reader’s Question:

Would car cheap female insurance be the result if I buy direct instead of going through a broker?

Sherry

Cambridge, MA

It is not always the case, Sherry. Car cheap female insurance could be had even if you get your insurance with a broker. A broker could get you assessments from different companies all at the same time. Convenient, especially if you do not have the time to shop around for the right car insurance company. Consider this: when you buy direct from a company, you cut down the steps and get rid of the middleman (the broker). You will not be paying the broker’s fee and other service charges that could be considerable if you are not careful with it. If that were the case then yes, your car cheap female insurance would be the result of buying direct. However, if you haven’t decided yet on which company to get and what to include in your car insurance coverage, I would suggest that you get recommendations from a broker. But then again, you might be asked to pay their services. Another way to skirt this is to get online and visit websites that offer online car insurance quotes. The information would not be as detailed or as accurate as when you go directly to a company or when you get the services of a broker. Online quotes could be the answer to your car cheap female insurance needs.

Reader’s Question:

Why is it cheaper to have our car insured under my wife’s name? She’ll be the primary driver because we’ve been told female auto insurance is cheaper.

Matthew

Waterbury, CT

Although it is certain that many men out there would protest this next bit of information, the truth is women have been found statistically to be safer drivers. Fast and furious, men can be aggressive on the road. Women as drivers then are not necessarily better but more cautious, broadly speaking. It has been found that they get into fewer accidents. Not only that, women are less likely to drive extravagant cars. Women in general see cars for its utility. Men in general see cars as toys. Men –not women– fancy driving around in sports cars, which is costly to repair and costly to insure.

Of course, this alone does not dictate how much you would be charged for monthly premium. Many factors in fact come into play. For instance, if the car were garaged in an area with many recorded cases of auto theft and vandalism, the premium would be higher. If the auto insurance policy holder had poor driving records and had made several claims in the past, it would go up too. So it does not mean that all female drivers are charged less for auto insurance. Still, all things being equal, female auto insurance is cheaper. What it all comes down to, Matthew, is risk.