Car insurance premiums vary for every driver, depending on many factors such as age, driving history, location, vehicle type, and credit score. One common question people ask is: Which gender pays more for car insurance?
In this Insurance guide, we’ll break down the statistics, explain why gender affects insurance costs, explore differences by age, state, and driving behavior, and answer common FAQs. By the end, you’ll clearly understand how insurers use gender in pricing and what you can do to lower your rates—regardless of whether you are male or female.
Why Does Gender Matter in Car Insurance?
Insurance companies set premiums based on risk assessment. They use large sets of data to determine which groups of drivers are statistically more likely to file claims.
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Historically, men—especially young men—are more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors such as speeding, reckless driving, or driving under the influence.
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Women, but, tend to drive more cautiously and file fewer high-cost claims on average.
Because of this, insurers often charge young men higher premiums. However, the gap changes as drivers get older.
Which Gender Pays More for Car Insurance in 2025?
The short answer: Men, especially young men under 25, usually pay more for car insurance.
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Teenage and Young Adult Men: Pay the most. They are considered high-risk drivers and often pay 20–25% more than women of the same age.
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Middle-Aged Men and Women (25–60): Premiums usually become almost equal. In some cases, men may still pay slightly more, but the difference is minimal.
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Senior Drivers (65+): In some states, women may pay slightly more than men because statistics show women live longer, drive more years into retirement, and file certain types of claims more often.
Average Cost Comparison: Men vs. Women
Here’s a general breakdown of how gender affects car insurance costs in 2025:
| Age Group | Male Average Annual Premium | Female Average Annual Premium | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16–19 | $3,000 – $6,000 | $2,500 – $5,000 | Men pay 20–25% more |
| 20–24 | $2,000 – $3,500 | $1,800 – $3,000 | Men pay 10–15% more |
| 25–60 | $1,200 – $1,600 | $1,150 – $1,550 | Almost equal |
| 65+ | $1,400 – $1,800 | $1,450 – $1,900 | Women sometimes pay slightly more |
Key Takeaway: The largest gap is seen in the teenage and early 20s age groups.
Why Do Young Men Pay More for Car Insurance?
Insurance data shows young men:
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Have higher accident rates – More collisions per mile driven.
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Commit more traffic violations – Speeding, reckless driving, DUIs.
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Cause more severe accidents – Resulting in expensive claims.
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Drive riskier vehicles – Sports cars or modified cars that are costly to insure.
This combination leads insurers to charge young male drivers much higher premiums.
Do Women Ever Pay More for Car Insurance?
Yes, in certain cases:
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Senior Drivers: Older women may pay slightly more than men because data shows older women are more likely to be involved in accidents causing injury.
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High-Mileage Drivers: Women who drive significantly more than men (for work or family responsibilities) may face higher premiums.
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States Where Gender is Not a Factor: Some states prohibit insurers from using gender when setting rates, which can affect pricing differently (we’ll cover this shortly).
States Where Gender Cannot Be Used in Car Insurance Pricing
As of 2025, some U.S. states have banned insurers from using gender as a factor in setting rates, meaning men and women pay the same for similar coverage.
These states include:
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California
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Hawaii
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Massachusetts
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Michigan
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North Carolina
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Pennsylvania
If you live in one of these states, gender will not affect your premium. Instead, insurers rely more heavily on factors like age, driving record, vehicle type, and credit score.
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance More Than Gender
While gender plays a role, other factors often have a much bigger impact on your premium:
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Driving Record – Accidents, speeding tickets, or DUI convictions can raise your premium more than any gender-based adjustment.
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Age – Teen drivers pay the highest rates regardless of gender.
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Location – Living in a city with high theft and accident rates increases premiums.
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Type of Car – Luxury, sports, or electric vehicles cost more to insure.
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Credit Score – In most states, poor credit leads to higher insurance rates.
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Coverage Level – Full coverage is more expensive than minimum liability.
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Mileage – The more you drive, the more you pay.
Gender and Car Insurance in Wisconsin 2025
Since we also looked at Wisconsin car insurance rates for 2025, let’s answer this specifically:
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In Wisconsin, men still pay slightly more than women, especially under age 25.
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A 20-year-old male in Wisconsin pays around $2,200/year, while a 20-year-old female pays about $1,850/year.
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For drivers aged 30–60, the gender gap is almost gone, and premiums average around $1,400/year for both genders.
How to Save Money on Car Insurance (Regardless of Gender)
No matter if you are male or female, you can lower your car insurance rates by following these tips:
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Shop Around – Compare at least 3–5 providers annually.
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Bundle Policies – Combine auto with home or renters insurance.
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Drive Safely – Avoid accidents and tickets to build a good driving record.
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Use Telematics Programs – Many insurers offer discounts if you let them track your driving habits with an app.
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Increase Deductibles – Accepting higher out-of-pocket costs lowers monthly premiums.
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Maintain Good Credit – In states where credit is considered, better scores mean lower rates.
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Look for Discounts – Good student, military, senior, safe driver, and low-mileage discounts can all help.
Car Insurance recent question
1. Which gender pays more for car insurance overall?
On average, men pay more than women, especially young men under 25.
2. Do women ever pay more for car insurance?
Yes, older women (65+) sometimes pay slightly more than older men, depending on the state and insurer.
3. Is gender always a factor in insurance rates?
Not always. Some states (like California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts) ban gender-based pricing.
4. By how much do men pay more than women?
On average, men pay 5–20% more, depending on age and location.
5. Can I avoid gender-based pricing?
Only if you live in a state where gender cannot be used in rate-setting. Otherwise, you can offset it with safe driving, discounts, and comparison shopping.
FAQs: Which Gender Pays More for Car Insurance? (2025 Edition)
Car insurance pricing is a complicated topic, and gender is often a factor that confuses drivers. To make things easier, here’s a detailed FAQ section answering the most common questions people ask about which gender pays more for car insurance in 2025.
1. Which gender pays more for car insurance overall?
In general, men pay more for car insurance than women, especially in their teenage years and early 20s. Statistics show that young men are more likely to speed, be involved in accidents, and file expensive claims. As a result, insurers charge them higher premiums.
However, the gap shrinks with age. By the time men and women reach their late 20s or early 30s, insurance rates often become nearly equal.
2. How much more do men pay compared to women?
The difference depends on age and location. On average:
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Teenage males (16–19) pay about 20–25% more than teenage females.
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Men in their 20s pay around 10–15% more than women in the same age group.
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Drivers 30–60 usually see little to no difference.
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Senior women (65+) may sometimes pay 5–10% more than senior men.
So while men typically pay more, the difference isn’t permanent.
3. Why do young men pay more for car insurance?
Insurers rely on statistics. Data consistently shows young men are:
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More likely to speed.
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More likely to drive late at night.
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Involved in more severe accidents.
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More likely to drive riskier cars (sports or modified vehicles).
This high-risk behavior makes insurers see young men as costlier to insure.
4. Do women ever pay more for car insurance?
Yes, in some situations:
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Senior drivers: Women over 65 may pay slightly more than men of the same age group.
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High-mileage drivers: Women who drive more miles than men may face higher premiums.
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State laws: In states that don’t allow gender as a pricing factor, women sometimes don’t get the “lower rate advantage.”
5. Are there states where gender is not considered in car insurance pricing?
Yes. Some states prohibit gender-based pricing in car insurance. These include:
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California
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Hawaii
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Massachusetts
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Michigan
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North Carolina
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Pennsylvania
If you live in one of these states, gender does not affect your insurance premium. Instead, insurers rely on factors like driving record, vehicle type, and location.
6. Does gender matter more than driving record?
Not at all. Driving record is far more important than gender. A male driver with a clean record can pay less than a female driver with many accidents or speeding tickets.
Insurance companies primarily reward safe driving habits, so avoiding violations is the best way to keep rates low regardless of gender.
7. Which age group pays the highest car insurance premiums?
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Teenagers (16–19) pay the most, regardless of gender.
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Men in this group usually face the highest premiums overall.
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For example, a 17-year-old male might pay $5,000 annually, while a female of the same age pays $4,000.
Once drivers reach age 25, premiums usually drop significantly.
8. Why do insurance rates balance out after age 25?
By the mid-20s, drivers typically gain more experience and show safer driving habits. Both men and women have established driving histories by this point, so insurers rely more on actual driving records than gender-based assumptions.
9. Does the type of car affect gender-based insurance differences?
Yes. Men are statistically more likely to drive high-performance cars, which cost more to insure. Women, on average, tend to drive vehicles like sedans or crossovers, which are less costly to insure.
So sometimes it’s not just gender—it’s the combination of gender and vehicle choice that makes the difference.
10. How does mileage affect men vs. women in car insurance?
Generally, people who drive more miles per year face higher premiums. Men historically drove more miles, but in many households today, women also log equal or greater mileage for work and family errands.
If a woman drives significantly more than a man, she could end up paying more regardless of gender.
11. Do married men and women pay the same car insurance?
Married drivers usually enjoy lower rates than single drivers. The difference between married men and women is small. Insurers view marriage as a sign of stability and lower risk, so both genders benefit equally.
12. Do men pay more for car insurance in Wisconsin?
Yes. In Wisconsin, as of 2025:
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A 20-year-old male pays about $2,200 annually.
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A 20-year-old female pays about $1,850 annually.
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At age 30–60, both genders pay around $1,400 annually, with almost no difference.
13. Why do some people think women pay more for car insurance?
This misconception comes from situations where older women (65+) sometimes pay slightly higher premiums. Also, women may pay more in households where they drive more frequently or have riskier driving records.
14. Can men reduce the gender gap in car insurance?
Yes. Men, especially younger drivers, can reduce costs by:
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Completing defensive driving courses.
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Joining telematics programs to prove safe driving.
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Choosing safer cars instead of sports cars.
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Avoiding traffic violations and DUIs.
15. Can women expect cheaper rates forever?
No. While women often pay less in younger years, they may face higher rates later in life. Insurers always look at the bigger picture—age, driving history, and location matter more in the long run.
16. Do credit scores affect men and women differently?
Credit scores impact both genders equally. A driver with poor credit (male or female) will pay much higher premiums. In fact, a woman with poor credit may pay more than a man with excellent credit, showing how significant this factor is.
17. How much of a difference does gender really make in 2025?
Gender may influence premiums by 5–25%, but other factors like driving record and age can influence premiums by 50–100%. So while gender matters, it’s not the most important factor.
18. Are gender-based differences fair?
This is debated. Insurers argue it’s fair because premiums reflect risk statistics. However, critics argue that not every man or woman fits into those averages. That’s why some states banned gender-based pricing.
19. What’s more important to insurers than gender?
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Driving history
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Type of vehicle
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Annual mileage
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Location (city vs. rural)
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Credit score These factors often outweigh gender in premium calculations.
20. Final Answer: Which gender really pays more?
Overall, men pay more for car insurance, especially when young. Women generally pay less until their senior years, when the gap may flip slightly.
Final Thoughts
So, which gender pays more for car insurance?
In most cases, men—especially young men under 25—pay the highest rates. Women tend to pay less overall, although the gap shrinks in middle age and sometimes reverses for seniors.
That said, gender is just one of many factors insurers use. Your driving record, location, credit score, and vehicle type often play a much bigger role in determining your premium.
If you want to save money, focus on building a clean driving record, comparing providers, and taking advantage of discounts—because no matter your gender, smart drivers always pay less.
