There are some things that women can do to get cheaper car insurance. These include using the right discounts and driving safely.
There are also some states that do not allow insurance companies to use gender as a rating factor. These include Hawaii, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California.
Coverage options
Insurance companies typically charge lower rates for female drivers than males, because women tend to get into fewer accidents. However, if you have several tickets or DUIs on your driving record, you may pay more than a woman with no issues.
Rates vary from state to state, depending on a variety of factors. Among these are your age, marital status and car insurance experience. In addition, the cost of your policy depends on the type and amount of coverage you choose.
While women generally pay less for their auto insurance than men, it’s important to shop around and compare quotes. This will ensure that you’re getting the best rate for your budget.
Many reputable insurers offer telematics programs that track your driving habits and can lower your rates if you don’t get into any serious crashes. Some also offer discounts for multi-car policies, where you insure multiple vehicles under one policy with the same company.
For example, USAA offers a safe driving program that could save you up to 30% on your auto insurance costs. Other ways to reduce your rate include avoiding speeding, taking defensive driving courses and maintaining a clean driving record.
Another way to save on your car insurance is by choosing lower deductibles. In fact, the cheapest insurers for women are often those that don’t charge high deductibles at all.
Some of the biggest car insurance companies, including State Farm and Geico, offer competitive pricing for women. Both companies offer multiple ways to save, including multi-policy, safe driver and claim-free discounts.
These discounts can help you save hundreds of dollars on your annual premium. In addition, some telematics programs are available for female drivers that use GPS-enabled mobile devices to monitor braking, acceleration and speeding.
In addition to the aforementioned savings tips, some auto insurance companies offer discounts for women who maintain a good driving record. These include claims-free, accident-free and group affiliation discounts.
Having a clean driving record will also qualify you for other discounts, such as those that are available for members of sororities and universities. If you’re a member of these groups, make sure you ask about them when comparing quotes.
Gender-related exclusions
Gender plays a role in car insurance rates, but not every company weighs each factor the same. This is why it’s important to compare quotes from multiple companies to find the cheapest rate possible.
The gender gap in auto insurance is most pronounced among young and inexperienced drivers, but it lessens as motorists get older. Ultimately, there is no gender gap in premiums for people of both sexes when they are aged 25 and over.
Despite this, a recent study shows that some car insurers still exclude coverage for gender-affirming medical care in their contracts. In addition to facial confirmation surgery, many companies also exclude gender affirmation therapy.
Insurers have a long history of discriminating against transgender people by excluding gender-affirming medical care. Insurers have argued that they are doing so to protect their business, but the legality of this practice is unclear.
But a new ruling from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and the GLAD Foundation, which filed a brief on behalf of Rylie Robillard, the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund and the National Center for Transgender Equality, is clear that denying gender-affirming care is a form of discrimination.
This ruling follows a growing trend of courts reversing exclusions of gender-affirming health care in the United States. However, the patchwork nature of this issue makes it difficult for consumers to know whether they have gender-affirming coverage in their health plan and map the national picture of transgender inclusion in employer-based health insurance plans.
As a result, it’s crucial to make sure your policy includes all the essential elements of gender-affirming medical care, as well as broader sexual and reproductive health coverage. To determine if your employer or other organization has a policy that provides gender-affirming health care, use the HRC Equality Index.
We analyzed health benefits in the contracts of more than 50 corporations (including major retailers, transportation companies, and technology firms) that have scored 100 or higher on the HRC Equality Index. We examined 52 discrete elements in each contract, including clarity, coverage specifications, and types of exclusions. We found that 9% of the contracts offered total exclusions, and that they were much more varied than in prior studies of more highly regulated plans. Some of these exclusions were based on the gender of the insured person, while others excluded gender-affirming services such as medically-necessary gender transition procedures.
Gender-related discounts
The cost of car insurance for women can vary significantly, depending on the state in which you live and the other factors that impact rates. However, there are some things you can do to reduce your premiums and get a better deal.
Getting quotes is the best way to find out which insurance companies offer the lowest rates for you. You can also ask about discounts that could save you money if you qualify.
If you have a clean driving record, good credit and safety features on your vehicle, you could get a discount for being a responsible driver. Other factors that influence your policy rate include your age, marital status and your vehicle’s price point.
Young drivers typically pay more than older ones, but the gap narrows with experience and driving ability. Similarly, drivers who are married are more likely to be responsible drivers and receive lower auto insurance rates.
You might be surprised to learn that your marital status actually has a bigger impact on your rates than you realize. Per a study from Insure, drivers who are married save around 21 percent more than singles.
When compared to singles, married drivers are more likely to be responsible and take care of their health and finances, according to HuffPost. This makes it easier for insurers to see the value of insuring them.
While most states allow insurance providers to consider gender when calculating insurance premiums, six states — California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — do not.
Even though these states do not allow insurers to discriminate on the basis of gender, they still do not have to provide gender-neutral rates. This is why it’s important for transgender and nonbinary people to list themselves on their insurance application by the sex designation on their birth certificate, says Charlie Arrowood, counsel for the Name Change Project at the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund.
The cheapest rates for car insurance for women can be found by shopping around. In addition, many companies offer discounts for safe driving and no claims bonuses for good drivers. These discounts can make a huge difference in your insurance bill.
Buying a policy
Car insurance is a legal contract between you and the insurer that covers you in the event of an accident or theft. In order to get the right policy for your situation, you need to understand how insurance works and what factors affect premiums.
Gender is one of the rating factors that insurance companies use to determine the price of your coverage. However, in most states, it’s not a significant factor.
Insurers also consider a variety of other factors when they calculate your rate, including your driving history, credit score in some states and the type of vehicle you drive. Insurers may also charge you more if you’re insuring an expensive, high-end car or a vehicle that’s older and not as reliable.
The best way to save on your car insurance is to shop around and compare quotes from multiple providers. You can use MoneyGeek’s free car insurance calculator to estimate rates from various providers using your specific profile.
You can also lower your insurance costs by making changes that can reduce your premiums. Improving your driving record, taking an advanced driver’s course and adjusting your deductible are some of the more tangible ways to lower your rates.
Another way to cut your insurance costs is by bundling your policies with one insurer. This is typically done when you have home/auto or renters/auto insurance with the same company, but it can be applied to other types of policies as well.
Some car insurers also offer discounts to customers who are part of groups or professions. This can be based on your membership in an organization, such as the American Psychological Association, or your work in a specific field.
If you have a good driving record, you can lower your car insurance costs by choosing an insurer that offers safe-driving discounts. Progressive’s Snapshot telematics app, for example, can cut your auto insurance rates by 30 percent.
You can also ask about group or professional discounts, such as discounts for women veterans, members of the National Alliance for Mental Health or those who belong to an employer-sponsored or union-negotiated professional organization. These discounts can make a significant difference in your annual car insurance cost.