Which Gender Pays More for Car Insurance?

Gender can affect car insurance rates in some states, but it isn't the biggest factor that determines what you'll pay. In general, young male drivers often pay higher premiums than young female drivers because insurers consider them statistically more likely to be involved in costly accidents. However, those differences usually become much smaller as drivers gain experience. In some states, including Michigan, insurers cannot use gender when calculating auto insurance premiums. 

Car insurance premiums are based on many factors, including your driving history, claims record, vehicle, location, and coverage choices. Like other driver-related factors, gender may influence insurance rates in some states, but it usually plays a much smaller role than a driver's overall insurance profile. 

In this article, we'll explain how gender may influence car insurance rates, when it matters, and why the answer can vary depending on where you live. We'll also look at Michigan's rules, explain why some states prohibit gender-based pricing, and discuss the factors that often matter more when insurers calculate your premium.

Which Gender Pays More for Car Insurance in Michigan?

If you live in Michigan, the answer is simple: neither. Michigan is one of the few states that prohibits insurers from using gender when calculating auto insurance premiums. Under Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 500.2111(4), insurers cannot consider a driver's sex when establishing or maintaining insurance rates.

Instead, insurers must calculate premiums to use other approved underwriting factors that better reflect an individual's level of risk. These typically include a driver's claims history, driving record, vehicle, location, and coverage selections. As a result, two Michigan drivers with similar insurance profiles generally shouldn't pay different premiums simply because one is male and the other is female.

Does Gender Affect Car Insurance Rates?

Yes, gender can affect car insurance rates, but only in states where insurers are legally allowed to use it as a rating factor. Insurance companies use underwriting and actuarial analysis to estimate the likelihood and expected cost of future insurance claims. 

Where permitted by law, gender becomes one part of that risk assessment. However, it isn't used to judge an individual driver's habits or ability behind the wheel. Instead, insurers combine gender with historical claims data and other approved rating factors to estimate future insurance costs. 

The table below shows how gender fits into the underwriting process.

How Do Car Insurance Rates Compare Between Men and Women Nationwide?

Nationwide, young men generally pay more for car insurance than young women in states where gender may be used as a rating factor. This difference isn't based on gender alone. Instead, it reflects decades of insurance claims data showing that younger male drivers, as a group, are involved in more severe crashes and higher-cost insurance claims than young female drivers. 

According to The Zebra, male drivers under age 20 pay about 14% more for car insurance than female drivers in the same age group. As drivers gain more experience and establish their own insurance history, that difference becomes much smaller, and many adult men and women pay similar premiums.

A closer look at state-by-state data shows that men generally pay higher premiums in most states where gender is considered as a rating factor. However, the size of the difference varies considerably across the country.

Overall, The Zebra's analysis shows that men pay slightly more than women in the vast majority of states where gender-based pricing is permitted. While a few states report slightly higher premiums for women, the differences are generally modest and often amount to only a few percentage points. These variations reflect differences in state insurance markets and insurers' underwriting models rather than gender alone.

Why the Answer Isn't Always the Same

Insurance companies don't all calculate risks the same way. Each insurer uses its own underwriting model, and state laws also influence which rating factors can be considered. As a result, two drivers with similar backgrounds may receive different quotes depending on where they live and which insurer they choose. That's why there isn't one universal answer to who pays more for car insurance.

Why Do Males Often Pay More for Car Insurance?

Male drivers don't automatically pay more for car insurance. When higher premiums do occur, they're usually limited to younger drivers in states where insurers are permitted to consider gender as a rating factor. The difference comes from long-term insurance claims data rather than assumptions about any individual driver.

How Historical Claims and Risk Data Influence Premiums

Auto insurers rely on decades of claims data when setting rates. This information helps them estimate how likely a driver is to file a claim and how expensive that claim may be. 

Historically, young male drivers have been involved in more fatal crashes and risky driving behaviors than young female drivers. As a result, insurers in many states view younger men as a higher-risk group.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), men drive more miles than women on average and are more likely to engage in behaviors such as speeding, impaired driving, and failing to wear seat belts. These factors contribute to a higher rate of serious crashes. 

Some of the behaviors insurers associate with increased risk include: 

• Speeding violations  
• Aggressive driving  
• Driving under the influence  
• More severe collision claims  
• Fatal crash involvement  

Although these trends appear in national data, they don't describe every driver. Many men maintain excellent driving records and qualify for competitive insurance rates.

Why Insurers Focus on Statistical Risk Rather Than Individual Drivers

Insurance pricing is based on probability. Before an insurer has enough information about a driver's own claims and driving record, it relies on broader statistical patterns to estimate risk. That's why younger drivers often see higher premiums regardless of gender. 

Over time, however, an individual's driving history becomes much more important than demographic characteristics. As insurers gather more information about a driver's claims history, traffic violations, and overall insurance record, those personal factors become stronger predictors of future risk than broad statistical trends. 

This is one reason why premium differences between men and women often become much smaller as insurers gain a clearer picture of each driver's individual risk profile.

Do Females Ever Pay More for Car Insurance?

Yes, women can sometimes pay more for car insurance, although the differences are generally small. That's because insurance companies don't all build their pricing models the same way. Each insurer analyzes its own claims data and determines how much weight to assign to different rating factors. As a result, one company may charge women slightly more, another may charge men more, while others make no distinction at all. 

For example, ValuePenguin found that GEICO charged women about 2% more than men with similar driver profiles, while Allstate and State Farm charged the same rates regardless of gender. Overall, premium differences for experienced adult drivers were typically less than 1%, showing that gender has only a limited effect on insurance costs.

Why Premiums Can Differ Between Insurers

Even when evaluating identical driver profiles, insurers may produce different quotes because every company develops its own underwriting model. Differences in claims experience, repair costs, risk tolerance, and pricing strategies all influence how premiums are calculated. As a result, choosing a different insurer can sometimes have a greater impact on your premium than gender itself.

Which States Don't Allow Gender to Affect Car Insurance Rates?

Although many states allow insurers to consider gender when calculating premiums, several states prohibit the practice. In these states, insurers cannot include gender in their rating models when determining private passenger auto insurance premiums.

States That Prohibit Gender-Based Pricing

Not every state allows insurers to use gender when calculating auto insurance premiums. According to AgentSync, several states prohibit insurers from using gender as a rating factor for auto insurance.

These states include: 

• California  
• Hawaii  
• Massachusetts  
• Michigan  
• Montana  
• North Carolina  
• Pennsylvania  

Even in these states, drivers may still receive different insurance quotes because insurers continue to evaluate other approved rating factors, such as driving record, claims history, vehicle type, location, and coverage selections.

How State Regulations Change Insurance Quotes

Insurance laws vary across the country. In states where gender is allowed, insurers may consider it alongside many other rating factors. In states where gender is prohibited, insurers must determine premiums without using it. 

That means two drivers with identical backgrounds could receive different quotes depending on where they live, not because their risk has changed, but because state insurance regulations are different. 

This is another reason why it's helpful to compare quotes within your own state rather than relying on national averages.

How Much Does Gender Really Affect Car Insurance Rates?

The impact of gender on car insurance rates is generally modest, even in states where insurers are allowed to consider it. The difference between male and female premiums is typically between 1% and 5%, with the largest gap reaching 4.77% in Texas, where men pay more than women. On the other hand, a few states, such as Oklahoma (2.29%), Florida (2.21%), and New York (1.45%), report slightly higher premiums for women. For experienced adult drivers, however, the overall difference between men and women is generally less than 1%.  

These figures show that gender usually has a much smaller effect on premiums than many drivers expect. As insurers collect more information about an individual's driving history and claims experience, personal risk factors become far more important than demographic characteristics. In most cases, maintaining a clean driving record, avoiding claims, and choosing appropriate coverage will have a greater impact on your insurance costs than whether you're male or female.

Other Rating Factors Insurers Often Weigh More Heavily

For most drivers, these factors have a greater effect on premiums than gender:

The Bottom Line: Gender Is Only One Factor Used to Calculate Car Insurance Rates

Car insurance rates are influenced by a combination of factors, and the role gender plays depends largely on where you live and how your state regulates insurance pricing. While premium differences between men and women can exist, they're often relatively small and don't always reflect what an individual driver will actually pay. 

Understanding how insurers calculate premiums can help you make more informed decisions when comparing coverage. While gender may influence rates in some states, the differences are usually modest, and they're only one part of a much larger pricing model. Reviewing your coverage needs, comparing quotes, and maintaining a strong driving record will generally have a greater impact on your long-term insurance costs. 

If you're shopping for auto insurance in Michigan, USA Auto can connect you with a trusted local insurance agent who can help you compare coverage options from multiple insurance carriers and find a policy that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does changing your gender affect your car insurance premium?

It depends on where you live. In states where insurers are allowed to consider gender, a change in your legal gender designation may affect your premium. However, in states like Michigan, gender cannot be used as a rating factor, so it generally won't affect your car insurance rate.

Is gender more important than your driving record when calculating car insurance rates?

No. Your driving record is generally much more important than your gender. A history of accidents, traffic violations, or insurance claims usually has a greater impact on your premium than whether you're male or female.

Can I get a car insurance quote without providing my gender?

That depends on the insurer and the state where you live. Some insurers request gender during the quote process if state law allows them to consider it. In states where gender cannot be used as a rating factor, insurers may not require that information for pricing purposes.

Do nonbinary drivers pay different car insurance rates?

Insurance practices vary by company and state. Some insurers allow drivers to identify as nonbinary or use the gender listed on their driver's license or other legal documents. Where gender is prohibited as a rating factor, such as in Michigan, it generally does not affect premium calculations.

References: 

1. ValuePenguin. (n.d.). How gender impacts car insurance rates. 

https://www.valuepenguin.com/how-gender-impacts-car-insurance-rates 

2. The Zebra. (n.d.). Men vs. women: Auto insurance differences by state. 

https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/men-women-auto-insurance-differences-by-state/ 

3. The Zebra. (n.d.). Male vs. female car insurance rates. 

https://www.thezebra.com/auto-insurance/driver/other-factors/male-vs-female-car-insurance-rates/ 

4. Car and Driver. (2025, February 26). Which gender pays more for car insurance? 

https://www.caranddriver.com/car-insurance/a31268333/which-gender-pays-more-for-car-insurance/