Car insurance - Tips & Advice - Women's car insurance

Women drivers will often feel most ill at ease when they are driving alone. There is the fear of being carjacked and many feel the need to lock their car doors when driving through a town or driving at night. The biggest fear is breaking down in an isolated or unfamiliar place, when waiting for help could also put a woman at risk of being attacked.

If you’re a woman, it’s not always possible to dispel these fears by getting someone else to travel with you. So what can you do?

Minimise the risk of breakdown

You can do this by ensuring that your car is well-maintained at all times. Run regular checks, especially if you are going to be heading out alone. This includes checking lights, tyres, breaks, battery and oil, fuel and water levels. See our feature on Protecting your car in cold weather to make sure it will stand up to harsh winter conditions too.

Carry a spare tyre and light bulbs for car lamps at all times. You should also carry a ‘survival park’ of warm clothes, blankets, torch, food and water, emergency contact details, and a mobile phone. In case an accident should occur it’s wise to also carry a notebook and disposable camera if you don’t have one on your phone.

Know your motorway breakdown code

If you break down on a motorway, however, the advice is to get out of your car and wait on the roadside – this is to protect you from injury by other cars – but only if it is safe to do so. The advice still stands for women. However, the Highways Agency advises to try and stop near an emergency phone – this will help emergency services locate you more quickly. You can also help other women by not stopping to offer unsolicited help. This is because many women will get back into their cars if they see a stranger and this could be potentially fatal for them.

Keep in touch

If you can, advise someone where you are going, what route you will take and what time you expect to arrive. If you want to stop and let people know of any delays, find a suitable parking spot or service station. Even hands-free mobiles can distract you and this could put you more at risk of an accident.

Carjacking – especially at traffic lights – has become more common so it can be wise to lock your doors when in town. Some carjackers have even taken to bumping your car to try and force you to stop. If this happens, don’t get out to talk to the driver if you are in doubt. Call emergency services and talk to the other driver though the window.

Exercise caution with strangers

Never pick up hitchhikers. If you have broken down or had an accident, try to avoid contact with strangers and wait for the emergency services. It can be hard but don’t get back in the car if you’re on the motorway as this is more dangerous.

Choose a well-lit parking spot, near CCTV or cameras if you can, with the driver’s door positioned nearest to the pavement so that you can easily get out. When you return to the car get your keys ready so that you can climb straight in. There’s nothing more attractive to a thief then someone fumbling in their handbag.

How Direct Line can help

We have a range of breakdown cover options with an average response time of 40 minutes. There are five levels of cover to choose from, and all five guarantee assistance as long as you are within a quarter of a mile from your home and in the UK.

Related information:

Breaking down on the motorway – this is a particularly dangerous place to breakdown so make sure you know what to do

Women’s car insurance – there are lots of women only car insurance deals. Make sure you know what you’re looking for

Baby on board – driving tips to minimise the risk of accidents, plus how Direct Line can help when it comes to claims for damaged car seats.