Cost of car insurance for young women soars as EU rules come into force

Premiums have risen more than 16 per cent thanks to new EU rules

Car insurance premiums for young women in the UK have risen by 16.4 per cent in the final quarter of 2012 after new EU rules on banning setting prices based on gender came into force.

On average, women aged between 17 and 20 paid £2,081 for their premiums if they insured themselves as the only driver.

Married females of the same age only saw a quarterly rise of 4.8 per cent, with an average premium of £2,089 for two insured drivers on a car.

Yet quoted prices for men aged between 17 and 20 saw an average fall of 10.7 per cent over the same period.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com, said: 'With the EU gender directive taking effect from December 21, 2012, it's clear to see that the insurance industry has both reacted and prepared for the well documented and anticipated change in legislation during the last quarter.

'As expected, our index shows that women have seen the greatest changes in their insurance premium as insurers prepared for the change in legislation with what is effectively a gender tax on their car insurance premiums.

'We encourage everyone to shop around in order to get the best deals and if you are married, consider car sharing with your partner to benefit from cheaper car insurance premiums.'

The new EU Gender Directive came into force on December 21 last year. The ruling by the European Court of Justice was passed following a 10-year legal battle against the proposals by insurance firms.

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