A new ruling by the European Court of Justice, which will prevent insurance companies from taking gender into account when calculating premiums, looks set to have significant implications for young drivers.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the ruling, which comes into effect in December 2012, looks set to increase motor insurance premiums for young women by around 25% while premiums for young male drivers are likely to decrease by around 10%.
The ABI has issued consumer guidance covering the main products likely to be affected by the gender ruling which include motor, life, critical illness and income protection insurance, as well as retirement products such as annuities and income drawdown.
Otto Thoresen, director general at the ABI, said: “Insurers and the UK Government fought for nearly a decade to retain the right to offer premiums and benefits priced as accurately as possible by considering risks linked to gender. But now that the battle is over, the industry is focused on preparing to give customers ‘gender-neutral’ rates that are as fair as possible.
“We know that there will be some differences in pricing and this will become clearer as the rule beds in. It is important to remember that gender is one factor of many used by insurers, and we hope our guidance will encourage customers not to focus on price alone, but think about their needs and shop around for products that are most suitable for them.”
Yet more lunacy from the Great Rule Factory Across the Water! The whole basis of insurance has always been premiums based on relative risk – now that is being removed by the same bureaucrats who are steadily reducing the economies of Europe to rubble.
My answer is simple – if we can’t beat them (which we can’t), we must leave them. Better Off Out.
Incidentally, their new plan for MOTs for classic cars, if passed, will wipe out the £4.7bn pa classic car industry in Britain and many more besides. And if you are thinking of hiring a classic car for a wedding, make it soon because the EU intends to impose costs and health tests that would far exceed the earnings of most classic car owners who do it for pin-money.
Idris Francis Petersfield
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