Car insurance companies want to know what subjects students are studying.

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I've been getting quotes for car insurance renewal. I have two student sons who borrow the car, DS1 at uni and DS2 in year 13. The Admiral form wanted to know which subject they were both studying. DS1 is doing a combined degree that wasn't listed, so I just put one of the two subjects. DS2 is doing 4 A levels, but I could only put one of them.

It would be interesting to know which subjects cost more to insure!

Music is one of them!

Music?! 😮
A degree taken by people who have often been committed and dedicated putting time and effort into learning an instrument over many years? People who are often very coordinated, with improved memory and often high academic performance?
What is their reasoning?!

Might have an expensive instrument in the car?

Expensive kit in the car, gigging in the evening.

I'd imagine medics and nursing students could also be charged more given they'd be doing placements all over at antisocial hours.

Oh, there's never any reasoning other than number crunching - "people with this characteristic claim more, so will be charged more".

Medics get lower rates. I assume this may apply to other health care professionals. They are getting cars to get to placements, not to parties.

It is really worth reading Martin Lewis. Lots of tips. Add a parent to the insurance (as long as they have a good record) which actually was a godsend when the car needed to be rescued during lockdown. Consider fully comp. Timing - three weeks before required is best. Blackbox. And then keep an eye on your score and minimise late night driving. (Presumably a problem for musicians.)

A lot of people think of university music and assume it’s all people who study the classics. There’s also an association of risky behaviours - late nights gigging, and substance use, and expensive equipment that is more attractive to thieves or likely to get damaged in an accident. For every Vanessa Mae there’s a Pete Doherty or Trey Parker.

My college car insurance (traditional A Levels) was noticeably lower than those of my friends who were doing the music or media BTEC, as far as I can tell this hasn’t changed.

I can bet that music and performing arts are higher premiums. I specifically put ds down as a university student rather than a musician!

He pays an absolute fortune for separate public liability & musical instrument insurance too.

If you put down library studies then they pay you.

I work in insurance (although not an underwriter) and find it fascinating seeing what the data shows as more risky and not. Like people who choose bright coloured unusual colour cars (yellow/ orange etc) are more risky, when you'd think the colour would actually give a safety advantage. That married people have less claims than non married people (possibly accountability to someone else on speed or any dents to the car?). That people with garages have more claims that those without- this especially surprised me- maybe something to do with dinging the car on parking?

I did find it odd when gender was removed as something that could be rated on, as it was just reflecting the data the same as anything they write on. I still don't really see how protected characteristics like age are ok but gender is not. I'm not sure how any of the subjects are rated though unfortunately, but imagine it might follow the rating on equivalent rating for that career type, with professional career paths like accountancy being low risk.

@Barleysugar86 It would be good to know which costs more out of Maths, Physics and Economics - any insights? My year 13 son studies all three for A Level but the question only allowed one choice. I'd love to play with it to get the best quote, but I suspect that will create some sort of red flag in itself.

Unfortunately, Martin Lewis's quote help uses the MoneySupermarket form, which doesn't include the subject question.

I was told the opposite. And certainly as a midwife I pay more. Insurance companies cite being tired after shifts, inc night shifts and also bizarrely that if someone knows I’m a HCP they may think I have drugs in the car and break into it! I wish I had drugs worth stealing in my car. 😁

Sorry about that. As a medical student with a very small car, DDs insurance as a medical student was surprisingly low. I don't know if this is still the case now she is qualified. Luckily now she pays her own bills!

There does seem to be a lot more data collection now than there was 20 years ago. Dd is seeing a doctor about scoliosis and his notes he sent her in a letter following an appointment included her degree and what she plans to do as a job as he'd asked this. I've noticed medical people ask what my job is too now, which didn't used to be asked.

Gigging musicians do a LOT of driving as well, so more chance of something going wrong.

My guess would be that they’d be rated the same, I suspect they probably are included in the same rating group. When I worked as a combined role as a PA and an admin assistant I found putting either option gave the same result.

MSE's Compare+ tool will tell you if a reasonable tweak to your job title can save you money - e.g. putting "General manager" is cheaper than putting "Manager". But it doesn't do the same for students' subjects, at least not yet.