Women drivers set to lose out on insurance

A ruling in the European Court of Justice this afternoon determined that women can no longer be charged less than men for car insurance because of their gender.

The move is likely to see policy prices for women rise, however, rather than any fall for male drivers.

The change will come into effect on December 21 next year, although customers could see premiums alter in the interim.

“Taking the gender of the insured individual into account as a risk factor in insurance contracts constitutes discrimination,” said a spokesman for the ECJ.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association said that the cost of the average car claim by an 18-year old man was currently £4,400, while that for an 18-year old woman was £2,700.