Are Car Insurance Quotes for Young People Discriminatory?

The cost of car insurance is determined by risk, and young drivers - young male drivers, in particular - are perceived at being at the highest risk of making claims by car insurance companies. This is why younger motorists typically receive the highest quotes from insurers, especially when compared to drivers who are older and more experienced - but does this count as unfair discrimination?



Insurers certainly discriminate based on factors such as age and gender, but these decisions are made based on risk evaluation, and are therefore not unfair in premise. Women drivers have been proven time and again to be safer and more cautious drivers than men, leading to lower insurance rates for women in all age groups, whereas young drivers are perceived as the most likely to be involved in road accidents. Young males also tend to drive vehicles that are more expensive to insure, and to exhibit more reckless driving behaviour that also affects insurance rates for the age group.



Even if you're a young male driver who considers himself to be safe and responsible behind the wheel, your relative lack of experience in terms of years is likely to count against you when obtaining car insurance quotes. However, you won't have to feel discriminated against quite so much when you take steps to reduce your quote by altering certain aspects of your lifestyle or driving behaviour.

If you drive a high-powered vehicle, or an older car with a significant repair history, you will likely face higher car insurance quotes than drivers of newer, safer, more modest cars. You could also reduce your quote by demonstrating your commitment to safer driving, by installing anti-theft devices or avoiding driving behaviour that puts your vehicle at risk - such as buying a house with a garage where your car can be safely stored overnight, rather than parking out in the street where your vehicle is at greater risk of theft or vandalism.



Even the place you're living can have an impact on your insurance premiums, meaning that moving to areas with lower rates of car crime could reduce your quotes even further. It may take some time to amass a no claims history that will satisfy insurers and reduce your premiums significantly, but by comparing insurance quotes online you will usually be able to find options better suited to your budget - even if you're a young driver.



The author of this article is a part of a digital blogging team who work with brands like Confused.com. The content contained in this article is for information purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions.