# Female=cheaper car insurance. Why is this legal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-cheaper-car-insurance-why-is-this-legal/357812>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 22, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-cheaper-car-insurance-why-is-this-legal/357812 "2006-05-22T20:44:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-cheaper-car-insurance-why-is-this-legal/357812/21 "2006-05-28T22:38:05Z")

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> [@Lightnin'](#):
>
> I wonder if the situation was reversed, and females had to pay higher rates, would it be as acceptable?
> 
> I kinda doubt it.

Women’s mortality rates are lower, on average, than men’s and they therefore have longer life expectancies. This leads to the situation in life insurance where term insurance rates for women are generally \*\*lower \*\* than those for men, but annuity rates for women are generally \*\*higher \*\* than those for men. This is perfectly logical on an actuarial basis and is also recognised in most jurisdictions as a valid exception to any sex discrimination legislation.

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**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-cheaper-car-insurance-why-is-this-legal/357812/22 "2006-05-28T23:22:28Z")

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> [@Cunctator](#):
>
> Women’s mortality rates are lower, on average, than men’s and they therefore have longer life expectancies. This leads to the situation in life insurance where term insurance rates for women are generally \*\*lower \*\* than those for men, but annuity rates for women are generally \*\*higher \*\* than those for men. This is perfectly logical on an actuarial basis and is also recognised in most jurisdictions as a valid exception to any sex discrimination legislation.

I wish I could recall the details of a big fight about this. The complaint was that women were discrimnated against by the higher annuity rates and they were changed, but tehn the life insurance ratees were not changed similarly. Was it TIAA?

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**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-cheaper-car-insurance-why-is-this-legal/357812/23 "2006-05-29T02:31:41Z")

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Is the ubiquitousness of cell phones going to eventually lessen the discrepancy in accident rates between male and female drivers? I seem to see more women than men talking on their cell phones while driving. With kids in the car! Won’t somebody think of the children?

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