Car Insurance 'gender Discrimination'

[Mobius1]

Having recently obtained a quote for car insurance it's a nice surprise to see that as a male of 26 years my premium has come down quite significantly. That may be because of other factors, but I've a feeling it is partly down to the insurance shake up from the end of last year.

What I don't understand though are the legal and moral underpinnings of the ruling of the European Court of Justice. How does gender price differentiation constitute 'discrimination' whilst another major factor - age - does not?

A male who's 18 years old will pay significantly more than a male who's 45 years old, all other things being equal. So, all other things being equal, why is this acceptable to the court yet gender bias is not? I am the age that I am. I cannot be younger or older than I wish to be, it is a factor of my person that I have no control over. Arguably I could become female if I had the desire and the means but it's physically impossible for me to alter my age in real terms. So why is it okay for my age to influence my insurance premium?

[CoffeeLounge]

I am glad to hear that your car insurance has taken a significant drop in the premiums you pay.
Just before Christmas I helped my 22 year old son to get insurance. We tried every scenario with who was the policy older and named drivers and using different people. In the beginning with him as the policy holder and the only driver £2,500 was roughly the price to insure a 1.0L Corsa worth about £650
I spoke to a friend and he told me to try this which I did.
My son as the main driver and policy holder and his wife as a provisional driver. We also declared that they had a child. The result being that then obtained insurance for £989.
It is also unbelievable that most young people in this country who insure their cars are paying far more in premiums than the actual cars are worth.
But I will be awaiting with baited breath for when his premiums come down!!!!

[bert_h]

CoffeeLounge, the car's value is almost irrelevant to the insurance premium. The company are covering themselves for compensation payments for injury or death, which will completely swamp the value of the car unless it's a real luxury model.