Which gender pays more for car insurance?

Insurance companies look at many factors to determine your car insurance rates. Your location, driving record, and age all affect how much you pay.

In most states, even your gender can affect your rates. However, understanding which gender pays more for car insurance is less clear-cut than it sounds. Not only are there other factors involved, but rate trends by gender have evolved in recent years.

Here’s a look at the data on gender-based cost differences in car insurance, plus information on other rating factors that can help you lower your auto insurance premiums.

Learn more: How does car insurance work? The basics explained.

Historically, women have paid higher car insurance premiums than men, but new data suggests insurance companies may be adjusting their gender-based pricing. Men now pay more than women for car insurance in 39 states, according to The Zebra’s latest analysis from April 2025.

However, back in 2017, nearly half (48%) of Americans believed men were paying more for car insurance than women, while only 23% thought women paid more, according to the Consumer Federation of America (CFA).

Despite the assumption, several studies from 2017 all the way through 2024 actually found that women paid higher car insurance rates than men:

• October 2017: The CFA’s analysis used rate quotes for 165 pairs of men and women from six major insurance companies. In 38 cases, women with clean driving histories were charged at least $100 more than male drivers. The study also concluded that 40- and 60-year-old women with clean driving records and basic coverage were quoted higher insurance rates twice as often as men.

• 2018: The Zebra found that women paid higher insurance rates than men in half of U.S. states, nearly doubling from 2016.

• March 2022: A 2022 CFA report stated that 35-year-old female drivers with no driving infractions could be quoted auto insurance rates that are 3% to 20% higher than equally qualified men. This analysis was based on insurance rates in Delaware.

• February 2024: LendingTree concluded that women pay more than men for car insurance in 37 U.S. states.

• April 2024: The Zebra said women can pay up to 7.6% more than men for car insurance, depending on age and location.

Editor’s note: All of these conclusions come with the caveat that the studies limit gender options to male and female only.

Learn more: Car insurance rates are climbing. Here are 4 reasons why and 11 ways to save.

Gender-based car insurance rate differences vary dramatically by state. Seven states prohibit car insurance companies from using gender as a pricing factor. So in these states, equally qualified men and women should pay the same rates:

• California

• Hawaii

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Montana

• North Carolina

• Pennsylvania

In states where insurance companies can use gender when setting premiums, some quote lower rates for women and others quote lower rates for men. According to The Zebra’s 2025 report, women pay higher insurance rates on average in these states:

1. Florida

2. New York

3. Oklahoma

4. Oregon

5. Washington, D.C.

The other 39 states have higher average rates for men.

Learn more: Minimum car insurance requirements in all 50 states

Insurance companies often adjust their gender-based pricing strategies based on the age of the driver. For example, studies confirm that male teen drivers routinely pay more for car insurance than female teen drivers in most states:

• The Zebra found that among 16-year-olds, annual premiums for female drivers averaged $5,969 while male drivers’ premiums averaged $6,701. For 19-year-olds, the disparity was less but still significant — $3,486 for female drivers versus $3,963 for male drivers.

• Another study by PolicyGenius showed similar cost differences for younger drivers.

• LendingTree concluded that insurance costs for male teen drivers are $504 higher on average than costs for female teen drivers.

The PolicyGenius analysis showed smaller price differences for 30-year-old drivers — with men paying $23 more per year on average. Older drivers of both genders pay similar annual insurance premiums, with costs for men slightly higher.

In theory, insurance companies set car insurance rates based on risk. A driver who is more likely to file claims is usually quoted higher rates. When one gender is routinely charged more, it implies there is a difference in claims risk between men and women.

So, are men or women riskier drivers? The answer is twofold. Men are more likely to die in car crashes, but women have more vehicle incidents than men.

Learn more: What is high-risk car insurance and who needs it?

According to IIHS, more men than women die in car crashes each year. Between 1975 and 2023, per capita vehicle deaths have been much higher for men than for women.

Women have more tickets and accidents

A LendingTree analysis of millions of insurance quotes in 2023 concluded that women have a higher incident rate than men in most states. This includes accidents, DUIs, speeding tickets, and other citations.

In addition to gender, here are other factors insurers typically consider.

1. Driving record and history

Your driving record will significantly impact your insurance rates. Those with clean records will receive lower average rates than those with a history of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, reckless driving, or driving under the influence/while intoxicated (DUI/DWI) convictions.

2. Age and experience

Age and driving experience are two other major factors. For instance, auto insurers often consider teenage drivers and those under 25 to be a higher risk due to their inexperience on the road, so these individuals pay higher monthly premiums. Even if you obtain a license at an older age, your insurance company will consider your limited driving experience when calculating your rates. So it’s possible your car insurance costs will be higher.

Generally, car insurance is more expensive in densely populated areas with high crime rates. Both present risks to insurance companies. So you might pay more for a car insurance policy if you live in a large city than you would in a smaller rural area.

4. Vehicle make and model

Your vehicle’s make and model will also impact your insurance rates. For instance, if you drive a vehicle with high safety ratings, like a Honda Accord, it will be less expensive to insure than a fancy sports car. In general, older cars are less expensive to insure than newer ones.

Some car insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as a rating factor. The score is a numerical value calculated by analyzing an applicant’s credit history that is used in the underwriting process to set rates. Drivers with poor credit history may be quoted higher rates because their financial history makes them seem riskier to insure. Those with excellent credit may receive lower rates.

Credit-based insurance scoring (CBIS) is used to help determine insurance rates in most U.S. states, excluding California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan. Other states have rules in place prohibiting companies from denying coverage due to their credit-based insurance scores.

Learn more: How credit history impacts car insurance rates

6. Gender and marital status

Your marital status will affect your car insurance rates, whether you’re male or female. Married drivers typically pay less to insure their vehicles than single drivers, as insurance companies often consider married drivers to be more financially secure than single drivers. Some studies have also shown that married drivers are less likely to be seriously injured in car accidents than single drivers.

If you’re interested in obtaining cheaper car insurance coverage, the best way to keep your insurance costs affordable is to focus on factors within your control, like your driving habits. Safe drivers with clean records typically benefit from lower insurance rates, so following posted speed limits and obeying the rules of the road can go a long way toward keeping car insurance affordable.

Many insurers also offer discounts for safe driving, maintaining good grades, bundling your car insurance with another insurance product, and more. As you compare coverage, research which discounts each car insurance company offers, too, so you can factor in any that apply to you.

In 2025, there are seven states that ban insurers from using gender as a factor when determining auto insurance rates. Now, women pay more for auto insurance in just four states — with men paying slightly higher premiums in 39 states.

Jamie Young and Tim Manni edited this article.