- Free to useNo fees, no hidden costs
- Source-linked informationFacts from GOV.UK, DVLA and MoneyHelper
- Insurer-direct linksGet your price from the insurer
Free car insurance and motoring tools
Check your excess, work out fuel costs, check an MOT and see what paying monthly really costs.
Gender pricing
Banned in 2012
Insurers can't use gender to set prices since 21 December 2012.
Changing your name
Free
DVLA doesn't charge to update the name on your driving licence.
Buy ahead
3 to 4 weeks
Usually the cheapest time to buy before cover starts, says MoneyHelper.
Legal minimum
Third party
The least cover you need to drive on UK roads.
The basics
What sets the price for women drivers
Before 2012, women were often quoted less than men because insurers used gender as a risk factor. A European Court of Justice ruling ended that, and insurers now price on other details instead. Some brands still market policies to women, but they must price on the same rules as everyone else, so compare them against the whole market.
Your driving record
How long you've held a full licence, your no-claims years, and any claims, points or convictions in recent years.
Your car
Its insurance group, value, age and security, plus any modifications, even cosmetic ones such as alloy wheels.
How you use it
Your yearly mileage, whether you commute or drive for work, where it's kept overnight, your job and who else drives it.
Life changes
Six changes to tell your insurer about
Big life events can change your details. Telling your insurer keeps your cover valid, and sometimes the price goes down.
- 1
Changing your name
After marriage, divorce or for any reason, tell DVLA using form D1. It's free, and you can keep driving while you wait. Update your V5C log book and tell your insurer too.
- 2
Moving home
Your address and where the car is kept overnight affect your price. Tell your insurer before or as soon as you move.
- 3
A career break or maternity leave
If you stop driving or take a break from insurance, ask how long your no-claims proof stays valid before you need it again.
- 4
A new job or working pattern
Your job title and whether you commute can change your price. Tell your insurer, and pick the title that genuinely fits.
- 5
Adding or removing drivers
A partner, grown-up child or carer who drives your car may need to be named, and removed when they stop.
- 6
A new or different car
Get a quote before you buy. Two similar cars can sit in very different insurance groups.
Save money
10 ways to lower your quote
None of these depend on gender. Run quotes with and without each change to see which ones make the biggest difference for you.
1. Compare the whole market
Policies marketed to women aren't priced differently by law, so compare them against every other insurer, not just each other.
2. Buy 3 to 4 weeks ahead
MoneyHelper says it's usually cheapest to buy 3 to 4 weeks before your policy starts. Set a reminder.
3. Build and protect your no-claims bonus
Each claim-free year as a policyholder usually increases your discount. Get your own policy rather than staying a named driver.
4. Check the insurance group before you buy
A lower group usually costs less to insure. Run a quote on the exact make, model and year first.
5. Give a realistic yearly mileage
If you drive less, perhaps working from home or on a career break, update your estimate. Too low can put a claim at risk.
6. Park off the road if you can
A driveway or garage overnight can help your price. Always give the address where the car is really kept.
7. Describe your job accurately
Your job title can affect your price. Pick the one that genuinely fits what you do; a misleading one could invalidate your cover.
8. Pick an excess you could pay
A higher voluntary excess can lower the premium, but it's added to the compulsory excess if you claim.
9. Think about who you name
An experienced driver with a clean record can sometimes lower the price. You must be the main driver if you drive the car most.
10. Only pay for add-ons you need
Breakdown cover may already come with a bank account or another policy. Don't pay twice for the same thing.
Discounts
Discounts worth asking about
Not every insurer offers these, so ask, and always compare the final price rather than the size of a discount.
Multi-car
Insuring more than one household car with one insurer can bring the overall cost down. Compare it with separate policies.
Black box pricing
Telematics cover prices you on how you actually drive. Check for curfews, mileage limits and what happens if your score drops.
Pay-per-mile
If you rarely drive, a policy that charges by the mile may suit you better than a fixed yearly price.
Low mileage
Driving fewer miles usually means less risk. Make sure each quote uses your real yearly mileage.
Security devices
An approved alarm, immobiliser or tracker can help. Ask which ones the insurer recognises.
Paying in full
Not a discount as such, but paying once a year avoids the interest that usually comes with monthly instalments.
Know your cover
Types of car insurance
There are three levels of cover, the same for every driver. Don't assume the most basic is cheapest; comprehensive cover is sometimes priced close to the others.
Third party only
- Injury to other people
- Damage to other people's cars and property
- Not covered: Your own car
The legal minimum, and not always the cheapest.
Third party, fire and theft
- Everything in third party
- Your car if it's stolen
- Your car if it catches fire
- Not covered: Accident damage to your own car
Can suit an older, lower-value car.
Comprehensive
- Everything in TPFT
- Repairs to your own car, even if the crash was your fault
- Often windscreen cover
- Not covered: Your excess, and anything the policy excludes
Often priced close to the others. Compare all three.
Extras worth checking
Some extras are sold with policies aimed at women, but they're available to anyone. Check what's included before paying for more.
Breakdown cover
Check whether it covers you at home or only at the roadside, and whether you already have it through a bank account.
Personal belongings
Some policies cover items such as a handbag or phone stolen from the car, up to a limit. Check the limit and whether home insurance covers it already.
Courtesy car
Useful if you rely on your car for school runs or caring. Check whether it's guaranteed or only while an approved garage repairs your car.
Child car seats
Some policies replace child seats after an accident. Ask whether it's included or an extra.
Never front a policy
If you're the main driver of a car, the policy should say so. Listing someone else, such as a parent or partner, as the main driver to get a lower price is called fronting. MoneyHelper warns it's illegal. It can also leave you with a rejected claim or a cancelled policy.
Paying in instalments
Paying monthly: what to check
Monthly payments are usually a credit agreement with interest, so you'll normally pay more over the year than paying upfront. If you need to spread the cost, these checks help.
- The APR and the total you'll pay over 12 months, not just the monthly amount.
- Whether the first payment is a larger deposit than the rest.
- What happens if a payment fails. Missed payments can lead to your cover being cancelled.
- Whether a credit check is needed before you can pay monthly.
- Fees for changing or cancelling the policy part-way through the year.
If you can afford it, paying annually is usually cheapest. Our monthly vs annual calculator shows the difference. CompareDirect doesn't lend money or arrange finance.
Questions
Car insurance for women FAQs
Is car insurance cheaper for women?
Not because of gender. Since 21 December 2012 insurers can't use gender to set prices, so a woman and a man with the same details should be quoted the same.
Are women-only insurance brands cheaper?
Not by law. They must follow the same pricing rules as every insurer, so compare them against the whole market.
Do I need to tell my insurer if I change my name?
Yes. Tell your insurer, update your driving licence with DVLA (free) and update your V5C log book.
Will maternity leave affect my car insurance?
Only if your details change, such as your mileage, job status or commute. Tell your insurer if they do.
Can my partner be the main driver on my car?
Only if they genuinely drive it most. Naming them as main driver when you are is fronting, which is illegal.
What happens to my no-claims bonus after a career break?
It depends on the insurer. Ask how old your proof can be before it's no longer accepted.
Does my job title affect my price?
It can. Choose the title that genuinely describes what you do; a misleading one could invalidate your cover.
Is handbag cover worth it?
Only if you need it. Check the limit, the excess and whether your home insurance already covers belongings away from home.
Ready to compare?
Have your licence, car details and no-claims proof to hand, then get personal prices from insurers direct.
Browse insurers
Latest from CompareDirect
Related news
Record shopping around, but most drivers stay
Why comparing every year pays off.
Read more
Monthly car insurance: compare the total cost
Why the monthly price isn't the whole story, and what to check first.
Read more
Hit by an uninsured driver? What to do
The steps to take and when the MIB can help.
Read more
Winter driving: five car insurance checks
Quick checks before the cold weather hits.
Read moreKeep reading
Guides and tools
Sources
- GOV.UK: new rules for insurance (gender-neutral pricing, 21 December 2012)
- GOV.UK: change the name on your driving licence
- GOV.UK: vehicle insurance
- MoneyHelper: car insurance explained
- MoneyHelper: young driver insurance and fronting
This page is general information, not advice. Insurers set their own prices, discounts and terms, so always read the policy documents before you buy. CompareDirect does not sell or arrange insurance or credit. Photos are illustrative.