Unfortunately guys, it’s a fact of life. Women are better drivers than men. OK, well maybe not better drivers overall but they certainly have fewer costly car accidents than male drivers and therefore the premiums for women’s car insurance are usually lower than men’s.

Extensive research has been done on the topic and it has been found that men and women do have different driving patterns. We have all heard the old clichés: men drive too fast, women have no sense of direction, men will not ask for directions and women cannot park properly. However, any claims men might make about how males, as a group, are better behind the wheel are blown away by the statistics. Results show that it is the women who come out on top when it comes to insurance claims. Not only do men have more accidents, but they have more expensive accidents and, in the long run, this means they will pay more for their car insurance. In fact, past statistics have shown that one in three male drivers will have an accident by the time they are 21. Accordingly, the difference between what men and women pay for their car insurance is particularly noticeable among drivers under 25. Statistics have also shown that 82% of all speeding convictions and 86% of all careless driving convictions in the last five years were males, so it is not hard to see why men tend to cost insurance companies a lot and women get the better deal when it comes to premiums.

The difference in driving style and the premiums paid by men and women has been widely recognised, so much so in fact, that there are now specialist insurance firms who cater only for the female market. While their prices may not differ too greatly from normal insurance companies, their selling point is that they provide for the needs of female customers. These companies will also usually insure men too, either separately or as a second named driver on a woman’s policy, but a lot of the optional extras they offer would probably be more beneficial to women. These can include “handbag cover” which will cover the contents of your handbag if it is stolen from your vehicle, a free counselling helpline and women-friendly repairers. More and more, these companies are also offering tailored home insurance too.

Back in 2004, the EU wanted gender equalisation to stop insurers using sex as a factor when deciding on the premiums people pay. However, this bid was unsuccessful as many people campaigned against the plans, providing evidence that women were safer drivers and so should be able to pay less for their car insurance premiums. The UK government overturned the directive after much campaigning by both specialist insurance firms and individuals alike, so keeping what most people regarded as “fair” car insurance premiums.

Even though women are generally quoted lower premiums than men, there are still ways to reduce your premiums further. The usual things such as the mileage you clock in a year and the security features in your car can still make a difference and bring the premiums down. If you have a man in the house with whom you share a vehicle, putting yourself down as the named driver will lower the car insurance costs for the whole household, as he will still be covered while the premiums will reflect the fact that the women’s name is the first on the policy.

There are many insurers out there who appeal to women drivers but whatever you are looking for from your car insurance, remember to shop around. While the policies offered by specialist companies might be cheap, they may not be the cheapest out there. Using a price comparison website is the quickest and easiest way to see what is available and find the insurance policy that is right for you.