AA 'concerned' by gender discrimination effect on car insurance

Tuesday, 05 October 2010 12:00

With women consistently seen to be safer drivers than men, the AA has expressed its concern at the prospect that EU gender discrimination rules might remove the possibility to offer female car insurance customers preferable rates.

AA Insurance director Simon Douglas says: "If this becomes enshrined in UK law then young women, who suffer substantially fewer serious collisions than men of the same age, would subsidise the premiums of male drivers."

Young male motorists typically make claims as much as twice as large as those made by their female counterparts, he adds.

The comments follow claims made by EU advocate-general Juliane Kokott that basing car insurance premiums in part on gender is a violation of the fundamental rights of the individual.

Will Thomas, head of motor at price comparison site Confused.com, adds that gender is in many cases not the defining consideration when calculating premiums - and that men could be in for a disappointment if they expect lower car insurance costs as a result of the decision.

Use the myfinances.co.uk comparison site to find the best deal on insurance.

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