Home
Car Insurance
Articles
Australia's worst drivers: males or females?

Australia's worst drivers: males or females?

23 Apr, 2008 - 2 min read

Australia's worst drivers: males or females?

Are young women safer drivers than their male counterparts? It’s hardly an easy question to answer and the debate tends to get quite heated, with both sides of the argument keen to demonstrate who is the safest. Unfortunately for the guys however, many of the big name insurers offer discounts on their premiums for female drivers under 25 and between 25 and 30.

This gender-based bias can be traced back to statistics that allude to young women being the safer of the two cohorts of young drivers on the road, often done by the insurers themselves. If the female drivers are responsible for fewer accidents with lower repair costs than the male drivers on their books then it follows that the insurer may offer cover at a discounted premium to their female customers.

Last year there were almost 1.5 million car insurance claims made. Males under 30 just pipped equivalent-aged females for the honour of topping this list. The good news is that it’s still possible to save a truckload on car insurance premiums, despite being in this age group.

In New South Wales, for instance, the range between cheapest and most expensive premiums for young drivers of both sexes is an astonishing $3,400. A family with young drivers also has the potential to save over $2,500. Admittedly, New South Wales figures are dramatic, simply because of the much larger proportion of drivers in that state. The potential to save on car insurance, however, applies to drivers in other age groups and in other states.

One thing’s for certain, don’t just pay your car insurance renewal when it is due. Consider premium renewal time as the time to shop around on www.ratecity.com.au to make sure you are still getting the best deal. In the world of insurance, as in the world of finance in general, things change and new players come into the game so it pays to keep on top of the latest happenings. At the end of the day, I’m sure you would agree that a few hundred dollars is much better off in your pocket.

Related links

Disclaimer

This article is over two years old, last updated on April 23, 2008. While RateCity makes best efforts to update every important article regularly, the information in this piece may not be as relevant as it once was. Alternatively, please consider checking recent car insurance articles.

Compare car insurance

Agreed or market valueNew for old car replacementRoadside assistance

Either

if written off before 2 years

Standard

More details