Two of Australia’s largest insurers have confirmed that they charge male drivers hundreds of dollars more than ‘non-binary’ applicants for identical car insurance coverage.
by Kurt Mahlburg at The Daily Declaration.
Insurance giants NRMA and Allianz are offering dramatically cheaper car insurance premiums to Australian drivers who select “non-binary” on application forms.
The revelation first came from a listener, Ben, who contacted 2GB Sydney’s Ben Fordham Live to explain that when he used the same personal and vehicle details and changed only the gender field, he was quoted dramatically different premiums.
“At NRMA, for example, for a male customer, the policy costs $2,700, but for a non-binary customer, it costs only $1,900 — a difference of $800,” the listener wrote in an email to the program.
“At Allianz, it’s similar. For a male customer, the policy costs $2,800. For a non-binary, it costs $2,300 — a difference of $500. Same suburb, same car, same age, same driving history, same excess, same everything.”
The listener, Ben — who happens to share a first name with the show’s host — went on to detail how each insurer justified its pricing policy:
I asked both insurers to explain why gender identity affects a person’s risk profile. NRMA insisted it’s non-discriminatory, then pointed me to their premium and excess guide. Allianz went a step further and told me they couldn’t answer because it was a sensitive topic.
In other words, insurers are charging male customers hundreds more; non-binary customers get the cheapest rate. No data or explanation is provided. One insurer hides behind a document that doesn’t explain it. The other refuses to answer questions entirely.
Both insurers have since confirmed to The Daily Declaration that the cheaper price for ‘non-binary’ customers is intentional.
‘Absolutely Stunned At What I Found’
Ben Fordham noted the startling implications live on air. “I’m certainly shocked to hear about it,” he said, before speaking with the listener during Monday morning’s program.
Ben, 22, explained the process that led to his discovery. “I was just going through doing some quotes the other night in the process of purchasing a new car.”
“I found the box on there and I thought, ‘I’m just gonna give it a tick and see what it comes out with.’ Might be a bit of a joke. And yeah, well, a joke is right. I was absolutely stunned at what I found.”
Fordham clarified: “All of the other details were listed exactly the same?”
“Yes,” the caller confirmed.
Fordham summarised the situation for listeners: “Two of the country’s biggest insurers charging dramatically different car insurance premiums based purely on the gender identity you select. If you tick male, you pay more. If you tick non-binary, you pay less.”
When Fordham asked about female drivers, Ben reported that NRMA’s quote for a female customer came in at around $2,300 — still higher than the non-binary rate.
‘Non-Binary’ Loophole Confirmed by Producers
2GB Sydney confirmed the discrepancy via social media, showing the results when their own producers tested the so-called “non-binary loophole.”
Side-by-side quotes for the same comprehensive car insurance policy revealed a striking difference: $2,725 per year for a male applicant, compared with $1,943 for someone identifying as non-binary — a saving of $782.
The post, headlined “2GB PRODUCERS TEST NON-BINARY LOOPHOLE,” made clear that the only variable affecting the premium was the gender selection.
Monday’s segment closed with Fordham summarising the findings: “Insurers are charging male customers hundreds more. Non-binary customers get the cheapest rate. No data or explanation is provided. One insurer hides behind a document that doesn’t explain it. The other refuses to answer questions because it’s so sensitive. What in the world is going on?”
NRMA and Allianz Confirm ‘Non-Binary’ Discount
The Daily Declaration reached out to both NRMA and Allianz to confirm whether the cheaper premiums for ‘non-binary’ customers were intentional.
“NRMA Insurance recently introduced a non-binary option into the comprehensive car insurance quoting process to enable non-binary customers to be represented and recognised when applying for insurance,” an NRMA Insurance spokesperson confirmed, adding, “It’s important customers provide accurate information when purchasing insurance.”
“We will continue to refine our approach as we gain insight on driver behaviour to ensure policies and premiums are reflected appropriately,” she said.
The reply from Allianz was similar.
“At Allianz, we strive to be inclusive in our insurance offerings,” a spokesperson explained. “Due to the small percentage of non-binary individuals, limited data is available to assess risk accurately. Therefore, we currently default to the lower-priced gender option, which is typically, but not always, female.”
“Allianz will continue to refine our approach to policies and premiums to reflect updated information. We trust our customers to provide accurate information when applying for insurance.”
Both NRMA and Allianz place heavy emphasis on LGBTQI+ “inclusion” as part of their corporate identity.
According to NRMA’s website, the company’s SHINE network promotes “gender affirmation leave,” “all-gender bathrooms,” and policies designed to let staff “be their authentic selves,” framing these measures as essential to a “safe, welcoming environment.”
Allianz adopts similar language, describing its Pride network as committed to “furthering the awareness of LGBTQ+ issues” and positioning the company as an “employer of choice for LGBTQ+ applicants.”
Both NRMA and Allianz have achieved Gold Employer status on the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), a benchmarking program administered by the LGBT activist group ACON, which receives funding from both federal and state governments.
by Kurt Mahlburg.
Kurt Mahlburg is a husband to Angie, a father, a freelance writer, and a familiar Australian voice on culture and the Christian faith. He is the Senior Editor and a regular columnist at The Daily Declaration. More of his writings can be found at Mercator, Intellectual Takeout, The Spectator Australia, The American Spectator and Caldron Pool.
The Daily Declaration is Australia’s largest Christian news site. We are dedicated to providing a voice for Christian values in the public square. Our vision is to see the revitalisation of our Judeo-Christian values for the common good. We are non-profit, independent, crowdfunded, and we provide Christian news for a growing audience across Australia, Asia, and the South Pacific.