Law pertaining to high insurance premiums for "boy-racers"?

the_wheel_turns

Just thought I'd ask what the general legal opinion was regarding the extortionate insurance premiums young men are made to pay.

The question was asked of me by a younger cousin of mine, and I didn't know what to say. It got me thinking.

Does the stereotyping of young men as "boy-racers" constitute a basis for a discrimination action? Knowing that women of a similar age receive substantially lower premiums, is it legal to expect all young men to pay ridiculous prices for car insurance?

As far as I am aware, the question has never been addressed by the Irish courts.

seamus

There is legislation in place which specifically allows insurance companies to discriminate their prices on the basis of items which are otherwise protected by discrimination legislation such as age and gender.

Don't have links to hand but a legal person should know them.

the_wheel_turns

I must go looking for that now.

That's obscene, I'd nearly challenge that out of annoyance - the things this Government gets away with.

I mean, I understand that yes, boy-racers need to be stopped and made to cop on, but penalising every other young person is absolutely unacceptable. Passing a law that raises insurance premiums (and I know for a fact that the decrease in boy-racing antics is by no means proportional to the increase of premiums) is the easy way out of tackling the issue - the story of this Government's career. Saying that, I'm not sure if any other government would have done any different...

the_wheel_turns

seamus wrote: »

There is legislation in place which specifically allows insurance companies to discriminate their prices on the basis of items which are otherwise protected by discrimination legislation such as age and gender.

Don't have links to hand but a legal person should know them.

Sorry, just re-read that there. Isn't that exactly what the insurance companies are doing: discriminating on the basis of age and gender?! It's only high (assuming all other factors remain unchanged) for MEN who are in or around 18 - 21!!

dermot_sheehan

Equal status act allows discrimination for insurance policies when backed up by acturarial data.

Can post link when at a computer.

the_wheel_turns

gabhain7 wrote: »

Equal status act allows discrimination for insurance policies when backed up by acturarial data.

Can post link when at a computer.

No need, thanks anyway. Just wanted to clarify.

I still think that's scandalous though.

Johnny Utah

gabhain7 wrote: »

Equal status act allows discrimination for insurance policies when backed up by acturarial data.

Can post link when at a computer.

Insurance companies are gangsters. Who compiles this data?

Some of the statistics used by the likes of the RSA are clearly inaccurate and flawed.

Ashlinggnilsia

i would imagine its not due to 'boy racers' i would guess that statistics show that this males of that age are in more crashes/claim more than females or males of a higher age group and to be fair they need to cover their asses its business is all...

legal eagle 1

Also, the type of cars these boys are driving is also a key factor which the insurance company take into account when deciding on the insurance premium to charge. Alot of the firms refuse to even quote a man under the age of 25 on some types of cars which they consider 'modified' or 'sporty'!

fifth

Irish discrimination law explicitly does not cover Insurance companies, or age and sex discrimination contained within these areas.

As I have mentioned in other threads, I'm working on a website and a campaign against these underhanded practices by Insurance companies, if you would like to help, please PM me.

Johnny Utah

Ashlinggnilsia wrote: »

i would imagine its not due to 'boy racers' i would guess that statistics show that this males of that age are in more crashes/claim more than females or males of a higher age group and to be fair they need to cover their asses its business is all...

“Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that.”

Ashlinggnilsia

Trick is to not tell them you modified it!! Ha ha! Jokin!! Anyone a clue why my insurance would have went up 150 euro for no particular reason i.e. i didnt claim, didnt crash, didnt get any points???

Ashlinggnilsia

Johnny Utah wrote: »

“Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that.”

Im not sayin that can't but thats what they say its statistics... Its completely ridiculous anyway because there is like what 1 boy racer to ever 5,000 young male drivers.....See how i like my statistics HA HA HA