Car insurance for women
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In some states, insurance companies are allowed to use gender as a rating factor for calculating car insurance premiums. For women, the national average annual cost for full coverage car insurance is $1,764, according to rates pulled from Quadrant Information Services. Understanding if, how and why your gender affects your car insurance and what you can expect to pay on average in your state might help you make a more informed decision about your coverage.
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Compare auto insurance rates
Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like:
Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year
Are you overpaying for auto insurance?
Safe drivers choose Allstate®
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
- The average cost of car insurance for female drivers in the U.S. is $1,764 per year for a full coverage policy, which is slightly below the average rate for men and women, which is $1,771 per year.
- In California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, insurance companies are not allowed to consider a driver’s gender when calculating their car insurance premium.
- Car insurance premiums for women are largely dependent on location. Maine has the cheapest average annual full coverage rates for female drivers ($857) and New York has the highest average premiums for women ($3,024).
- Women can potentially get cheaper car insurance rates by driving safely, comparing quotes and taking advantage of discounts.
Car insurance for women
In most states, male and female vehicle owners are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance mandated by the state. Women who own or operate vehicles regularly are required, like all other drivers, to have a car insurance policy that meets the state minimum requirements if applicable. In most areas of the country, your gender will be used as a rating factor when determining how much you pay for car insurance coverage. Your gender is just one of many rating factors that could be used; other rating factors include your driving history, the type of vehicle you drive, credit score in some states and the coverages you choose.
However, six states — California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — do not allow insurance companies to use gender as a rating factor in auto insurance rates. Male and female drivers in these states might pay close to the same amount for coverage, assuming that all other rating factors are equal.
How much do women pay for car insurance?
The cost of car insurance for women varies based on numerous additional rating factors, such as age (except in Hawaii and Massachusetts), location, vehicle type and coverage options chosen. The average cost of full coverage car insurance in the U.S. for women is $1,764 per year, slightly lower than the overall national average cost for full coverage of $1,771 per year (for males and females).
Car insurance rates for women by carrier
In most states, car insurance companies will consider your gender when calculating your personalized premium. This is because statistically, women are less likely than men to get into accidents and drive recklessly. However, every car insurance company charges women different rates for coverage. For example, USAA has much lower average rates for women than Erie or Travelers.
In the table below, you can see the average cost of full coverage and minimum coverage car insurance for women from some of the top car insurance carriers:
| Insurance company | Average annual premium for full coverage | Average annual premium for minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,198 | $358 |
| Geico | $1,288 | $369 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,312 | $326 |
| Erie | $1,332 | $484 |
| Travelers | $1,428 | $480 |
Car insurance rates for women by age
Age is another significant factor that contributes to car insurance rates for female drivers. In general, young drivers pay much higher premiums than older drivers. However, in every age demographic, average rate data shows that women pay lower car insurance premiums than men. The cost difference becomes less significant with age.
The table below highlights the average cost of car insurance for women by age, and how it compares to the average premium for men and women:
Average annual cost of full coverage car insurance by age
| Age | Average cost for women | Full average cost (men and women) | Cost difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-year-old | $2,059 | $2,128 | -$69 |
| 40-year-old | $1,764 | $1,771 | -$7 |
| 60-year-old | $1,597 | $1,605 | -$8 |
Female car insurance rates by state
The average cost of car insurance for women varies based on location. Factors like accident rates, motor vehicle thefts, uninsured drivers and weather-related risks impact car insurance rates in each state. Some states, like Wisconsin and Oregon, have below average rates, while others, like Florida and Louisiana, have much higher average rates.
The table below includes the average cost of car insurance for female drivers in all 50 states and Washington D.C.:
Average annual cost of car insurance for women by state
| State | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,739 | $442 |
| Alaska | $1,777 | $425 |
| Arizona | $1,732 | $578 |
| Arkansas | $1,778 | $438 |
| California* | $2,190 | $619 |
| Colorado | $2,000 | $499 |
| Connecticut | $1,518 | $648 |
| Delaware | $1,972 | $759 |
| Florida | $2,774 | $1,037 |
| Georgia | $2,004 | $642 |
| Hawaii* | $1,206 | $338 |
| Idaho | $1,050 | $272 |
| Illinois | $1,516 | $476 |
| Indiana | $1,231 | $331 |
| Iowa | $1,242 | $229 |
| Kansas | $1,782 | $426 |
| Kentucky | $1,939 | $667 |
| Louisiana | $2,847 | $804 |
| Maine | $857 | $226 |
| Maryland | $1,905 | $838 |
| Massachusetts* | $1,296 | $446 |
| Michigan* | $2,345 | $946 |
| Minnesota | $1,700 | $631 |
| Mississippi | $1,683 | $448 |
| Missouri | $1,863 | $515 |
| Montana | $1,795 | $310 |
| Nebraska | $1,521 | $371 |
| Nevada | $2,424 | $845 |
| New Hampshire | $1,163 | $324 |
| New Jersey | $1,900 | $884 |
| New Mexico | $1,476 | $351 |
| New York | $3,024 | $1,373 |
| North Carolina* | $1,392 | $431 |
| North Dakota | $1,215 | $272 |
| Ohio | $1,193 | $337 |
| Oklahoma | $1,894 | $410 |
| Oregon | $1,379 | $644 |
| Pennsylvania* | $2,002 | $441 |
| Rhode Island | $1,818 | $566 |
| South Carolina | $1,448 | $522 |
| South Dakota | $1,539 | $278 |
| Tennessee | $1,373 | $373 |
| Texas | $1,859 | $551 |
| Utah | $1,439 | $551 |
| Vermont | $984 | $243 |
| Virginia | $1,330 | $481 |
| Washington, D.C. | $1,935 | $615 |
| Washington | $1,299 | $485 |
| West Virginia | $1,510 | $429 |
| Wisconsin | $1,233 | $365 |
| Wyoming | $1,468 | $262 |
*These states do not allow gender to be used as a rating factor.
Cheapest states for women
The national average cost of full coverage car insurance for women is $1,764 per year. Based on the driver profile of a 40-year-old woman, the state with the cheapest car insurance rates for females is Maine, with an average premium of $857 for full coverage. That’s more than $900 cheaper than the national average rate for women. Vermont and Idaho also have very inexpensive average premiums for female drivers.
In the table below, you can see which states have the cheapest car insurance for women and how the state average premium differs from the U.S. national average for women:
Cheapest states for full coverage car insurance for 40-year-old women
| State | Average annual cost | Difference from the national average for women |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $857 | -$907 |
| Vermont | $984 | -$780 |
| Idaho | $1,050 | -$714 |
| New Hampshire | $1,163 | -$601 |
| Ohio | $1,193 | -$571 |
Most expensive states for women
Car insurance rates for women are very expensive in some states. Sample rate data for a 40-year-old female driver shows that New York has the highest average full coverage car insurance premiums for women. The average full coverage insurance rate in New York for women is $3,024 per year, which is a staggering $1,260 higher than the national average rate for women. Louisiana and Florida also have expensive average premiums for female drivers that are more than $1,000 higher than the national average.
Although Michigan does not allow gender to be used as a rating factor in car insurance premiums, the state is already the fifth-most expensive state for full coverage car insurance, according to Bankrate’s study of average annual quoted premiums.
You can see which states have the most expensive rates for female drivers in the table below:
Most expensive states for full coverage car insurance for 40-year-old women
| State | Average annual cost | Difference from the national average for women |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $3,024 | +$1,260 |
| Louisiana | $2,847 | +$1,083 |
| Florida | $2,774 | +$1,010 |
| Nevada | $2,424 | +$660 |
| Michigan | $2,345 | +$581 |
Do women pay more for car insurance than men?
Some data shows that women pay more for car insurance than men, but it depends on how old you are (in most states), where you live and even your marital status in some cases. At some ages and in some states, women pay more than men, but the reverse is also true. For example, in Connecticut, Maryland and Washington, women pay less than men, on average. Men are typically considered to be riskier drivers than women. Statistics show that men tend to get into more accidents and more severe accidents than women.
However, although your gender likely impacts your premium (depending on where you live), other rating factors will have a much more significant effect. For example, a woman with a clean driving record is likely to pay less than a man with several accidents, tickets or DUI convictions. Similarly, a woman insuring a high-end luxury car for full coverage will probably pay more than a man insuring a more modest vehicle.
How to find cheap car insurance for women
Finding cheap car insurance may be a priority for many women. Luckily, there are things you can do that might help control your insurance premium.
- Safe driving habits: You will likely pay less for auto insurance if you practice safe driving habits. Accidents, tickets and DUI convictions can raise your insurance rates significantly, so keeping a clean driving record will help you get a lower rate.
- Compare rates: Each insurance company has its own rating algorithm, which weighs your rating factors differently and results in a different premium. Getting quotes from several insurance companies can help you find the coverage you need at the most competitive price.
- Ask about discounts: Taking advantage of car insurance discounts could lower your premium. Although each company has different discounts, some common ones include bundling your home and auto insurance, taking part in a telematics program and paying your premium in full.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2022 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2020 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Hawaii and Massachusetts do not allow age to be used as a rating factor when calculating insurance premiums.
Gender: the following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.
