MEN are having to shell out £170 a year more for car insurance - despite EU rules that ban gender profiling.

Women are getting bargain car insurance prices even though laws were introduced in 2012 to stop insurers offering better deals based on gender.

1 Men are paying £170 a year more for car insurance despite gender rules

And Compare The Market figures even reveal the gap is getting worse.

Last month, the average price for a male driver stood at £821 - compared to just £649 for a women.

The 27 per cent price gap is actually higher than the 20 per cent gap that existed before the EU rules came in.

Firms like Sheila's Wheels, which advertised cheap deals for women, had to change its policies.

But five years after the EU rules, men are still being charged more for car insurance.

John Miles, head of motor at Compare The Market, said: "This data shows how little difference the EU Gender Directive has had on insurance premiums, with providers still giving big discounts to women.

Tips for cutting your insurance premium Choose the cheapest way of paying. If you can, avoid paying by installments as some insurers add interest to your repayments. Opt for a bigger excess. Most policies have a compulsory minimum excess, the amount you pay in the event of a claim. You could reduce your premium by increasing the 'excess' - but you will have to pay more if you have an accident. Just make sure you can afford this sum should the worst happen. Avoid small claims. If you make a claim, you'll push up your insurance premium, as you will lose some or all of your No Claims Discount. For minor incidents, this can cost you more than you get back from insurers paying your claim. However, you must report any accidents to your insurer even if you don't plan to claim. Give your insurer full information. Don't forget to tell them about things that will make you more attractive to insure. For example, let your insurer know if you're doing less annual mileage. Invest in security. Most cars now come with alarms and/or immobilisers but if not, fitting one may lower your premium. Consider telematics or fitting a black box in your car. This allows you to pay a personalised price based on how and when you drive, so the safer you are, the less you pay. Try pay-as-you-go insurance. You're usually charged per mile driven, so this might be worth at a look at if you don't rack up too many miles. Add another driver. Adding a more experienced parent or partner or spouse to your policy can reduce the cost - but you must be careful not to mislead insurers about how the car is used. Go easy on the modifications. Adding spoilers or alloy wheels will mean higher premiums. Garage your car. Some insurers will give you a discount if your vehicle is locked away overnight. Insurance for older drivers. Several insurers specialise in offering cover for older drivers, typically from age 50 and over. Stay within the law. Adding penalty points to your driving licence pushes your premiums up. Insurers won't cover you if you drive under the influence of drink or drugs.

"This is likely due to a number of factors, such as statistically higher accident rates for men and more men than woman driving business and commercial vehicles – which are higher risk.

"The directive removed the ability of providers to give default discounts to women; however, the statistics and risk models used by insurers mean that the result is largely the same."

The figures also reveal the average premium for men and women has rocketed by £200 since 2012, too.

The past three years have seen prices rise thanks to a series of tax hikes and changes to personal injury payouts.

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The full report can be viewed here.