Women Drivers: Myths, Facts, and Costs

When it comes to stereotypes, women often get an unfair portrayal. Why do the phrases “run like a girl” or “throw like a girl” tend to be derogatory? Realistically, girls can run fast and throw well. 

Unfortunately, negative stereotypes extend to women drivers.

Is there some truth to the stereotypes? We’ll explore the myths, give you the facts, and show you how you can save money as a female driver.

The Myths

There are several myths about women drivers. Perhaps they’re based in truth; perhaps they’re not. We’ll check out the facts later, but here are some of the most prevalent stereotypes about women drivers.

Women Are Bad Drivers

A car pulls out in front of you, and you don’t see the driver, but often, your first thought is, “Get out of my way, lady.” The assumption is that when you see poor driving behavior, it’s a woman behind the wheel. 

People expect women to be distracted, leading to delayed reaction times and a higher accident percentage than men. People think women are more likely to cause crashes and be injured as a result. 

Women Can’t Park

Parallel parking is an art form. Often, people believe women are worse at parallel parking than men. 

Women Can’t Fix Cars

If a woman is driving and gets a flat tire, can she change it herself? The stereotype says she can’t. She’ll have to call a man to change it for her.

And changing a tire is just the beginning. Can women do other car repairs like changing the oil, brakes or working on the engine? The general consensus is that they cannot. Fixing cars is viewed as a man’s job. 

Insurance Rates are Higher for Women

If the above assumptions are accurate, it would make sense that insurance rates would be higher for women drivers. Insurance premiums are formulated based on risk factors. The higher a person’s risk to an insurance company, the higher their rates will be.

If women are genuinely worse drivers than men, you would expect to see them pay significantly higher car insurance premiums than men.

The Facts

We’ll take each of the stereotypes listed above and give you the corresponding facts.

Statistically, Women Are Safer Drivers Than Men

Overall, statistically, women are far less than half as likely to die in a car accident than a man. Where DUI-related deaths are concerned, only one woman dies for every four males. The ratio is similar when you compare speed-related deaths between men and women.

It’s not enough to just share accident statistics like those above, though, because you could argue that you don’t know who was driving. Sure, women are less likely to die, but that doesn’t mean they’re better drivers.

A New York City traffic study concluded that 80% of crashes resulting in a fatality involved a male driver. While it’s true that there are more male drivers on the road than females, it’s pretty apparent to anyone paying attention that men make up a far lower percentage of drivers than 80%. 

Study after study indicates that women are better drivers than men. They’re less likely to take risks and more likely to follow traffic laws. 

Not only is the myth that women are bad drivers false, but women are generally better drivers than men.

Men Outperform Women in Parking

While this category is up for debate, it seems that men can negotiate parallel parking better than women, on average. 

Women tend to rate better at safely driving around a parking lot than men, but men can negotiate pulling into spots better.

Women Can Fix Cars; They Just Usually Don’t

The myth that women can’t fix cars has some truth behind it. Most people would agree that a woman can fix a car; the issue is that women don’t often choose to fix cars.

In the field of mechanics, men far outnumber women. In recent years, more women have chosen the profession than ever before. Car repair isn’t strictly a man’s job anymore, but it’s still a male-dominated career. 

Insurance Is Cheaper for Women

The fact remains that safer drivers are rewarded with lower insurance rates. It just turns out it’s not the men who are safer drivers, but the women who are. Because of this, women often get cheaper car insurance. 

The difference in premiums is most pronounced among teen drivers. Male teen drivers tend to be the riskiest demographic group, and as a result, they pay the highest insurance premiums by far. 

A few states have banned insurers from basing rates on whether a driver is a man or a woman. While this seems to be a win for gender equality, it doesn’t allow insurance companies to consider the facts related to risk. 

The numbers say women are better drivers than men. You can’t argue with the stats. 

Saving on Insurance Premiums

In most states, women will pay less for car insurance just because they’re female. There are several other ways women can save, though, and we’ll give you some tips on those.

Shop Around

Shopping around for car insurance will help you find which companies are best suited to provide insurance for your situation. Even though insurance companies use the same demographic information, they each calculate the information differently. That’s why your rates can vary significantly between companies.

Look for Discounts

Car insurance discounts can help you save up to 30% on your premiums. Some of the most popular discounts include the following:

• Bundling
• Good student
• Low annual miles
• Military
• Paperless billing
• Safe driver
• Telemetrics

These are just a few of the many available insurance discounts. Make sure to speak with an agent about what discounts you’re eligible for. You don’t want to pay more for insurance than you have to. 

Adjust Your Deductible

The higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premiums will be. You have to remember, though, that you’re responsible for paying your deductible, and if you set it too high and are unable to pay it, you won’t be able to afford to get your car fixed following an accident.

Set your deductible as high as you’re comfortable paying out-of-pocket, and if it’s higher than your current deductible, you’ll pay lower monthly premiums.

Continue Practicing Good Driving Habits

If you can avoid a blight on your driving history, you’ll avoid paying higher insurance rates. Typically, a speeding ticket will cause your insurance rates to increase. A car accident will cause an even more significant rate hike.

By practicing safe driving skills and avoiding traffic citations and accidents, you keep your rates low. 

As much as society likes to bash women drivers, the statistics show a very different story. Men are worse drivers. Women are safer drivers. Having stats on your side is better than having myths against you.

By Melanie Musson

Melanie writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, 4AutoInsuranceQuote.com. She enjoys helping others understand and reduce their driving risks so they can be safer on the road and find an insurance policy for the best rate.