Moneysupermarket.com found that an 18 year old male driver will pay an average of £861 more than his female peer for his annual car insurance premium and even once they are in their twenties, male drivers are still subjected to 16 percent costlier premiums.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for male drivers. Those who can go a full twelve months after passing their test without making a claim will see their premiums plummet by almost £1000 and drivers who can get through thirty years of careful motoring will be rewarded in their fifties by premiums that are closer in cost to those of their wives.

“Young and newly qualified drivers have long been perceived as high risk by the insurance industry and often find it hard to get competitive motor insurance,” said Peter Gerrard of moneysupermrket.com. “It’s also clear that insurers view women as far more mature motorists at an earlier age.”