Confused: ECJ ruling 'a gender tax on women'

Admiral-owned aggregator Confused.com has described the outcome of the European court of Justice ruling on sex discrimination as "effectively a gender tax on women".

Confused.com marketing director Mike Hoban said: "It is extremely unfair and illiberal that women will be penalised for the fact they cause less serious accidents and make less expensive claims than their male counterparts.

“It is a fact that motor insurance claims made by young male drivers cost more as they are more likely to be involved in serious accidents causing death and bodily injury. Historically men have paid higher premiums to reflect this, but from 21 December 2012 this won’t be the case. Gender is an important factor in determining the risk of a driver making a claim and by not taking it into account women are being unjustly taxed."

He added: "It is now more important than ever that women do everything they can to get the lowest possible car insurance premium. Shopping around is essential. Women who only use their cars socially should only pay for social insurance, not social and commuting.

"If they only drive 8,000 miles a year they should insure their vehicles for this, not 10,000 miles. Paying a premium annually rather than monthly is also cheaper, even if customers need to consider using a low rate credit card to help spread the cost.

"Women will have to do everything they can to save money as their premiums are likely to rise to the level of men’s. It is unlikely men’s premiums will see a significant be reduction.”