It has been well documented that women, in general, are safer drivers than men. Car insurance companies have researched data over a number of years, and their findings have shown that, as a whole, female drivers don't have as many accidents as male drivers and of the accidents they are involved in, the damage is often less than those involving men. Women are also far less likely to commit vehicle-related crimes with 92% of those convicted of driving offences and 98% of all those convicted for dangerous driving being men. According to figures compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), women drive fewer miles than men and are less likely to engage in risky driving behaviour such as speeding or not using their seat belt. As a result, women make fewer, less expensive claims on their car insurance than men and will therefore usually pay less for their policy.

All things being equal, a woman between the ages of 18 and 25 will pay less than a man in the same age group. Some view this as gender discrimination, and in 2005, the European Union debated whether it was fair for men and women to be treated differently by insurers. The British Insurance Brokers Association estimated that premiums for female drivers could rise by up to 30% if a new EU law was passed. Ultimately, the insurers were able to prove that cheaper car insurance for women was based on statistics and not discrimination against men. The simple fact is that, for a car insurance company, women are a safer bet. And while there are of course men who are safe drivers, and women who are not, car insurance companies will consider the overall risk involved when insuring someone. Unfortunately for men, being deemed a greater risk will often mean a higher premium. It may seem unfair, but from the insurer's perspective, it's just good business sense.

In recent years there has been a huge increase in companies specialising in car insurance for women. Their flashy adverts promise cheaper car insurance for women and many women are under the impression that they will indeed get a better deal from a specialist provider. This is not necessarily the case. A recent study done by Moneysupermarket.com found that some companies specialising in car insurance for women charged as much as 25% more than standard insurers. Of the four leading companies specialising in insurance for women, none were among the five cheapest UK car insurance providers. As with any other category of driver, women should shop around for the best deal. All car insurance companies, whether specialist or not, will consider several factors, including gender, when determining the cost of your premium. Some women are swayed by the extra benefits offered by specialist insurers, such as handbag cover up to £300, free mobile phone and connection or half price MOT. Consider the kind of cover you really want, and then choose a premium that best suits your needs as well as pocket. If you do want to take out car insurance with a specialist provider, search around for the best quote and then see if they can match it.

Despite there being no similar kind of cheap insurance for men, there are still ways men can benefit from the advantages women enjoy. Being a named driver on a woman's policy is often cheaper than having your own. If you have a family car for example, it may be worthwhile having your name added to your wife or mothers policy. Be honest though, if your insurer discovers that you are in fact the main driver, it could invalidate the entire policy. If you have your own policy, consider having a female relative or partner added as a named driver as this can sometimes bring your premium down.

It's not all good news for female drivers though. While almost all serious driving offences are committed by men, women are slowly catching up. Evidence suggests that women are becoming increasingly aggressive behind the wheel and are more prone to road rage than ever before. Driving offences involving women are on the rise with speeding offences up from 13% in 1998 to 17% in 2002, while driving offences involving drink and drugs are up from 9% in 1998 to 11% in 2002. What's more, women are now driving longer distances. These new developments could, in future, have an impact on their car insurance premiums. However, women will have to go a long way to match the poor record of men when it comes to driving offences. For now, women can be secure in the knowledge that their insurance premiums will continue to be cheaper than those of men. Perhaps, one day, if male drivers start to clean up their act, they will begin to benefit from the same advantages as female drivers.