Bonzer Deals For Women Drivers?

Do 'female-friendly' car insurers offer the best deal for women?

We've all heard the jokes about women being worse than men behind the wheel. But could the ladies be having the last laugh, thanks to the arrival of "female-friendly" car insurers promising cheaper deals for the girls?

When Sheilas' Wheels launched back in October 2005, the firm played on being able to offer lower premiums to "the safer sex" because statistically, they are less dangerous, cause less accidents, and make fewer claims -- so represent a lower underwriting risk.

Sheilas' Wheels insists its products are "competitively priced" and that the relative safety of women drivers is reflected in "attractive premiums". But is it really the case that specialist insurers which target women always offer the best value for money for female drivers -- or is it a bit of a gimmick?

New research from online car insurer, Swiftcover.com, shows that women could end up paying over the odds on their insurance premium by opting for a specialist provider.

Swiftcover compared the cost of insuring a 35-year-old women, who:

lives in Birmingham
drives a VW Passat S (130) 1984 cc petrol manufactured in 2005
works for the emergency services
has four years no claims
one speeding conviction
uses her car for domestic and commuting purposes.

The difference in quotes was quite staggering.

According to its figures, it would cost just £331.76 a year for a policy with Swiftcover.com. This compares to £426.37 from Sheila's Wheels, which is a difference of £94.61, but rises to a huge £944.45 with Diamond -- a difference of a whopping £612.69.

Let's remember, however, that these figures were produced by Swiftcover, so other women with different circumstances may find that Swiftcover's quotes aren't as attractive for them.

But what these figures do show is that the specialist insurers for women won't always offer the best deal.

As a savvy consumer, it's important not to be sucked in by catchy slogans or advertising hype -- the singing sequin-clad ladies in a cadillac promising "bonzer car insurance deals" may well draw you in -- but you have to remember that there are other standard insurers out there which may be able to provide you with a better quote.

In many cases, these insurers are more of a branding exercise, using clever marketing vehicles, rather than offering anything different from that offered by the mainstream market.

That said, some specialists do offer extra benefits; Sheilas' Wheels, for example, offers handbag cover of £300 for handbags stolen from a car, as well as female-friendly repair staff.

But you need to weigh up the value of these extra perks before being swayed by the female-friendly adverts -- and make sure you don't lose sight of the actual premium you're going to be paying.

And finally, here are some more tips that could help you keep the costs of car insurance down for you:

The key message to all drivers -- whether male or female -- is to shop around; figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show you can save 35 per cent on your premium by comparing as few as five providers.

Crucially, do not settle for your renewal premium until you have made sure it is competitive.
Buy online, as many providers offers discounts for doing so.
Make savings by paying for your car insurance annually, rather than in monthly instalments.
Consider a mileage limit -- or opt only to drive at certain hours of the day.
Opt to pay a higher excess on any claims.
Improve your car security by installing an alarm and an immobiliser.
Drive a car with a smaller engine, as a newer, more reliable car will have a cheaper premium.

More: Cut The Costs Of Motoring Abroad

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