Job Title Could Increase Car Insurance Cost by up to 45%, New Study Reveals

By Tia Harrison-North

Our new studyfound that car insurance premiums can increase by up to 45% depending on a driver’s occupation, even when all other personal details remain identical. We analysed insurance quotes across 100 different job titles, revealing significant variation in annual premiums.

Taxi drivers faced the highest costs, while firefighters and police officerswere quoted the lowest.

The study also showed that women were quoted higher car insurance premiums than men across all 100 professions.

Job Title Increases Premiums by up to 45%

Across the 100 occupations analysed, the gap between the most and least expensive roles was 42% for men and 45% for women.

Taxi drivers recorded the highest annual premiums overall, with quotes of £531.36 for male drivers and £562.41 for the female profile.

At the other end of the scale, firefighters and police officers were quoted the lowest premiums at £372.04 for men and £387.44 for women.

The difference between these extremes amounts to £159.32 per year for men, showing how significant your occupation can influence your car insurance cost.

While it may not be surprising that taxi drivers recorded the highest premiums, the quotes in the study were based on standard social and commuting cover – notspecialist 'hire-and-reward' insurance.

Professional taxi drivers typically require separate commercial policies for carrying paying passengers. Insurers may associate taxi drivers with higher mileage and more time spent on the road or in towns and cities, which can influence pricing.

Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said: “Most drivers understand that age, postcode and driving history affect insurance prices, but may besurprised at how much their job title can influence a quote.

“Insurers look at patterns and trends across thousands of claims and use that data to assess risk, so even when two drivers are otherwise identical, their occupation can make a noticeable difference to the premium offered.”

Jobs with the Most Expensive Car Insurance

Taxi drivers recorded the highest annual premiums in the study at £531.36 for men and £562.41 for women. But several of the other professions near the top of the table are less predictable.

10 most expensive roles for male drivers:

1. Taxi Driver – £531.36
2. Construction Worker – £443.77
3. Fashion Designer – £442.87
4. Roofer – £438.29
5. Scaffolder – £437.60
6. Social Worker – £437.60
7. Nurse – £437.59
8. Plasterer – £437.13
9. Painter and Decorator – £436.82
10. Dentist – £436.82

There’s a clear trend towards building trade occupations, which may reflect how insurers assess roles typically associated with higher annual mileage, longer commutes, or more time spent driving.

10 most expensive roles for female drivers:

1. Taxi Driver – £562.41
2. Construction Worker – £461.29
3. Nurse – £455.10
4. Photographer – £455.10
5. Cleaning Supervisor – £455.10
6. Journalist – £454.64
7. Fashion Designer – £454.40
8. Kitchen Worker – £454.33
9. Hotelier – £454.33
10. Hairdresser – £454.33

There’s a less obvious pattern in the top 10 list for women, with roles spanning healthcare, hospitality, retail, creative industries and media.

Jobs with the Cheapest Car Insurance

At the other end of the scale, the same professions ranked cheapest for both male and female drivers. Emergency services and technology roles consistently appeared at the lower end.

10 cheapest roles for male drivers:

1. Firefighter – £372.04
2. Police Officer – £372.04
3. Web Developer – £376.89
4. Software Engineer – £376.89
5. Solicitor – £384.35
6. Quantity Surveyor – £384.13
7. Paramedic – £385.62
8. Bus Driver – £387.02
9. Bank Manager – £387.57
10. Computer Technician – £390.05

10 cheapest roles for female drivers:

1. Firefighter – £387.44
2. Police Officer – £387.44
3. Web Developer – £393.11
4. Software Engineer – £393.11
5. Solicitor – £405.23
6. Quantity Surveyor – £405.01
7. Paramedic – £401.12
8. Bus Driver – £402.58
9. Bank Manager – £403.14
10. Computer Technician – £406.32

However, even within these lower-ranked roles, women were still quoted higher premiums than men in the same profession.

Public Sector Roles Show Mixed Results

The research found that working in the public sector doesn’t automatically translate into a cheaper quote.

Emergency service workers – firefighters and police officers – had some of the lowest premiums in the study.

But nurses (£437.59 male / £455.10 female) and social workers (£437.60 male / £448.33 female) both sat above the study averages, which could be down to the late-night and early-morning shifts common among nurses and social workers.

Women Quoted Higher Premiums Across All Professions

While occupation was the main driver of variation, the findings also showed a consistent disparity in premiums between male and female drivers.

Across all 100 professions analysed, women were quoted higher premiums than men, paying £436.46 on average compared to £418.98 for men – a 4% difference.

The largest gender gap was recorded for taxi drivers (5.84%), while assistant teachers saw the smallest difference at just 1%.

Employment Status Also Influences Premiums

Drivers listed as unemployed were quoted £444.82 (male) and £454.64 (female), both above the study averages.

Meanwhile, drivers listed as retired were quoted £419.81 (male) and £441.97 (female), representing a 5% gender difference.

“Drivers should always enter their job details accurately when getting a quote, as misrepresenting your occupation could invalidate your policy.

“Where more than one job description genuinely applies, small wording differences can sometimes return different prices, so it’s worth comparing quotes carefully at renewal,” says Welham.