Men will always pay higher rates than women when all other details match. This is because men are statistically more risky drivers, and risk is something that insurance companies like to avoid. Statistics show that men will pay about $15,000 more dollars over their lifetime towards auto insurance premiums. While young men tend to pay dramatically more for insurance, later in age the gender bias tends to work in favor of the male between the ages of 35 and 50 where women will pay about 2% more.
The gender-specific auto insurance rates exist for a reason, and while gender is not a primary rating factor, it can affect how much you pay. Just because men pay more for coverage as a group, does not mean there are not ways to find cheap auto insurance for men. If you want to strike back instead of just accepting the biased rates based on statistics, here are some insurance shopping tips:
Be Safe and Take Classes to Prove You Are Serious About Being a Safe Driver
Based on the statistics, men make risky moves on the road that sometimes result in a collision. The best way to keep your rates low is to maintain a clean driving record free of tickets and accidents. If you do get cited, you should take a driver’s safety training program to have the violation erased. You may even be able to take a defensive driving class with a clean record to receive a voluntary discount.
Consider a Different Vehicle
Males tend to drive vehicles that come with higher premiums. If you drive a sports car that is capable of going 160 mph, you should expect that your premium will be higher than those associated with a minivan. If you are shopping for a new car, be sure to avoid muscle cars and sports cars if you want to keep your rates low.
Take Advantage of All of Those Discounts
Insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who reduce the chances of filing a claim in the future. These discounts make premiums much more competitive, and you should receive every discount possible if you want cheap auto insurance. Not all discounts are well advertised, and if you fail to ask you could be paying 30% more than you need to. Ask about student discount, professional association discounts, mileage discounts, and anti-theft discounts.
Compare Rates on the Regular
The only way you can truly find cheap auto insurance for men is to compare rates from the leading insurers. Rate shopping is the only way to find out if you are over-paying based on industry standards. Every insurance company sets their own rates, and while the rates must be approved by the department of insurance, some companies offer better rates for men in your age group.
Keep these tips in mind as you are shopping for cheap insurance will save you money. Use an online rate comparison tool to price the cost of insurance, sit down to compare the rates, and choose a respected company that is competitive. Next year, set aside time to request quotes again.