Claims data does show that women drivers have more small motoring mishaps, but they’re less likely to have serious accidents.

Women drivers have been the subject of jokes and stereotypes for decades.

You know the ones. The shopping trolley that somehow appears out of nowhere. The gate that definitely looked wider yesterday. The parking bay which, inexplicably, is suddenly shorter than normal.

Oops.

King Price Insurance’s claims data shows there’s actually some truth to the frequency of these little everyday mishaps. Women report around 5% more minor accidents than men, but there’s a twist: When it comes to the ‘oh no’ crashes that lead to substantially more expensive claims, the jokes stop being funny.

To start with, women are 30% less likely to be involved in major single-car accidents. So yes, there may be a few more dings and scrapes but there are far fewer serious incidents.

Frequency is only one part of the story

Sakina Ntuli, spokesperson at King Price Insurance, says this is an important distinction because insurers don’t simply count the number of claims a client lodges; they also look at what these claims cost.

“A scratched bumper and a dented fender might bruise your pride, but they generally don’t bruise your insurer’s balance sheet nearly as much as a major collision,” she says. “Frequency is only one part of the story. Severity often matters much more.”

And this is exactly what the claims data reveals.

Women may have a few extra ‘oops’ moments, but they’re around 25% less likely to collide with an animal on the road. Across claims for accidents, theft, storms, and hail, their average values are consistently lower too, with some categories costing up to 35% less than comparable claims from men.

Ntuli explains that these aren’t just interesting statistics. They translate into real differences in risk because one serious crash can easily cost more than several small claims combined.

“When we assess risk, we look at the complete picture rather than a single incident. The size of a claim is every bit as important as how often claims happen.”

The same thinking is reflected in how insurance premiums are determined. On average, women pay around 18% less for car insurance than men. Even when they’re driving exactly the same model, their premiums are still around 12% lower.

It’s all about measurable risk

But this doesn’t mean insurers simply reward women for being women.

“Insurance premiums are based on measurable risk. We consider everything from individual claims history and driving patterns, to where a car is kept and what it’s used for, to repair costs, and many other factors. Gender is only one small part of a much bigger picture.”

Your choice of car also plays a role, with the data showing that women are more likely to insure practical, affordable cars, and men more commonly insure higher-value models that, naturally, cost more to repair or replace.

“The car you choose influences your premium because every model carries a different repair and replacement risk,” says Ntuli.

“When you combine this factor with overall claims trends, you start to see why insurance pricing differs from one person to another.”

“The statistics don’t support the stereotypes,” Ntuli concludes. “They show that risk is much more nuanced than people think. This is why we rely on data instead of assumptions when we calculate premiums. And anyway, it’s time all the old stereotypes got a good shake-up.”

 This post was based on a press release issued on behalf of King Price Insurance.