Why do men pay more for car insurance?

It just seems plain unfair. Why are men charged more for car insurance than women? In a day and age where we’re moving ever closer to gender equality, it seems like charging men and women different prices for the same thing would be illegal – but it happens all the time! From the “pink tax” that makes some women’s products more expensive even though they are identical to men’s products, to men paying more for car insurance, gendered pricing is still very much alive and well in America. 

Car insurance companies say that men pay more for auto insurance because they are riskier to insure. But does the data back that up? Let’s take a look. 

Men choose more expensive vehicles 

In general, women are more cost-conscious when buying vehicles than men. While women, generally, are more concerned with fuel efficiency and price when buying a car, men are the opposite. They tend to buy vehicles that are bigger, brawnier, more high-powered and more expensive.  Men are also almost exclusively the ones who buy super expensive luxury vehicles like Ferraris and Lamborghinis. The more expensive the vehicle the more it costs to insure. 

Men drive more miles than women

According to the Federal Highway Administration, men, on average, drive almost 50% more miles than women. In 2022, the average man drove around 16,550 miles, while the average woman drove only 10,142 miles. Each mile driven on the road increases the chance of having an accident and filing a claim on your car insurance, so drivers who drive more (men) are charged more for their auto insurance. 

Men have more fatal accidents  

Men are involved in three times more fatal crashes as women. For example, in 2017, the Insurance Information Institute released a study that showed that male drivers were responsible for 37,477 fatal crashes, compared to just 13,502 for women. In 2019, 71% of all crash deaths were male. 

Men are more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors 

We hate to say it, but data shows that men are more likely to engage in risky behaviors on the road. When it comes to speeding, tailgating, driving aggressively, merging dangerously, and engaging in rude or road-rage behaviors, men top the charts. Any of these behaviors could lead to more accidents, which factors in to men paying higher car insurance premiums. 

Sorry guys, but there are ways to reduce your auto insurance premiums 

If you want to pay less for your car insurance, no matter who you are, there are plenty of things you can do to lower your premiums, like: 

• Trading your expensive car for a lower-priced vehicle 
• Take a defensive driving course 
• Still in school? Go for the Good Student Discount. 
• Increase your deductible 

Call Edwards today to save more on your car insurance 

Edwards Insurance Agency in Taylors, SC, helps drivers in South Carolina and throughout the southeast get the best prices on car insurance so they can drive safely without breaking the bank. Want to find a better rate on car insurance while still having all the coverage you need? Give us a call today!