UK women to maintain cheap car insurance

Posted :04-01-2005

Insurance firms in the UK can continue to offer women cheaper car insurance despite a new EU Gender Directive.

The UK Government has made a deal which allows insurers to take gender into account when issuing premiums, despite the fact that the directive will outlaw sex discrimination in goods and services, such as pensions, insurance and banking.

Deputy minister for women and equality Jacqui Smith welcomed the new directive.

"The rights we've enjoyed in the UK for nearly 30 years will now be enshrined in this directive for the benefit of all Europeans."

"This achievement shows how Europe can develop solutions that are good for us all. It's good news on insurance, but this directive covers much more than that. "

Insurance companies currently offer different rates for cover based on gender, with male drivers responsible for 85 per cent of serious motoring offences.
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