Insurance and discrimination laws: motor and travel insurance

This note outlines how the insurance industry operates within the law on discrimination, particularly with respect to age and sex discrimination. Old people frequently find it difficult or expensive to get travel insurance and a European Court ruling with respect to gender-pricing will end a long standing exemption for the industry from rules covering sex discrimination as of December 2012. This has had an effect on, particuarly, car insurance rates. Evidence so far suggests that rates have moved sharply and that motor insurance for young people remains expensive. This note focuses on these two issues.