Study: Women Now Pay More Than Men for Car Insurance in 25 States (Even Though Men Are Riskier Drivers)

AUSTIN, Texas, March 25, 2019 (Newswire.com) - The Zebra, the nation's leading insurance comparison site, today published a new report exploring the use of gender in pricing car insurance, a practice now prohibited in six states. In 2018, women paid more than men for car insurance in 25 states. This finding, based on a national analysis of 61 million car insurance rates, indicates a significant shift from just two years prior when men paid more for car insurance in 33 states.

Key findings include:

• The biggest difference in men and women’s rates were in Nevada where female drivers paid $121 more per year than male drivers.
• Men still paid more than women for car insurance in 21 states. The biggest difference for men occurred in Wyoming, where male drivers paid $47 more per year than female drivers.
• The disparity between what women and men pay is greater in states where women pay more for car insurance.

“This shift in costs is surprising because, historically, men have paid more than women for car insurance, and most studies point to men as the more dangerous drivers,” says Alyssa Connolly, Director of Market Insights at The Zebra. “So why are women paying more now? Do they exhibit especially risky driving behavior or file more claims? We’re keeping an eye on this issue as consumers, regulators, and insurance companies re-examine whether gender can or should be used in pricing insurance.”

The use of gender in car insurance pricing has come under new scrutiny after California joined Hawaii, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Montana in banning the practice as of January 2019. California’s insurance regulator made the change after finding that gender’s impact on rates varied widely from insurer to insurer and location to location.

For the full list of car insurance rates by gender and state, and for additional statistics and information about gender disparity in car insurance, please view the full report at https://www.thezebra.com/research/men-women-auto-insurance-differences-by-state.

About The Zebra

The Zebra is the nation's leading insurance comparison site. With its dynamic, real-time quote comparison tool, drivers can identify insurance companies with the coverage, service level, and pricing to suit their unique needs. The Zebra compares more than 200 car insurance companies and provides agent support and educational resources to ensure drivers are equipped to make the most informed decisions about their car insurance. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, The Zebra has sought to bring transparency and simplicity to insurance shopping since 2012 — it's "insurance in black and white."

Media Contact:

Nicole Beck
The Zebra
[email protected]
 

Source: The Zebra