NRMA Faces Backlash Over Cheaper Premiums for Non-Binary Drivers
So, there’s been a pretty heated discussion in Australia over the past couple of days, and it all centres around NRMA Insurance and a surprising discovery made by a 22-year-old driver named Ben. The whole thing kicked off when Ben called into Sydney’s 2GB radio station to explain what he found while getting a quote for comprehensive car insurance. And honestly, the moment he revealed the numbers, people were stunned.
Ben said he was filling out the usual online form, going through the typical details, when he noticed that NRMA offered a “non-binary” option under gender. Out of curiosity, he ticked it—almost as a joke, as he put it—and the quote dropped by an eye-watering $800. He compared it to the quotes he received when selecting “male” and “female,” and there was simply no contest. The non-binary option came in dramatically cheaper.
Naturally, this raised a bunch of questions. When he shared the numbers on air, the host Ben Fordham was just as shocked. He even asked whether non-binary drivers were somehow statistically safer on the road—because that’s the only way a price gap like that would seem logical. But no clear explanation was provided.
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In fact, when Ben contacted NRMA himself, he said he walked away disappointed. He described the company’s response as dismissive, claiming they told him it wasn’t discriminatory and that their pricing simply reflected their policies. That reaction didn’t exactly reassure people, especially when the numbers were so stark. It even led Ben to joke that next week, NRMA might start asking about hair colour just to determine premiums.
SkyNews.com.au later tested the claims using the same car and personal details, and they confirmed the trend: the male quote was the highest, the female quote came in slightly lower, and the non-binary quote was the lowest of all—around $1,789 compared to over $2,500 for males. It wasn’t a small difference; it was a significant gap.
An NRMA spokesperson eventually responded, saying the non-binary option had been added recently to make the application process more inclusive. They emphasised that many factors influence premium pricing—gender among them—and said they’ll continue refining how premiums are calculated as more data comes in about driver behaviour. They also reminded customers to provide accurate information when applying.
It’s worth noting that past road-safety data in Australia does show that young men are statistically more likely to be involved in fatal accidents, which explains why male premiums are often higher. But the “non-binary discount,” as some people are now calling it, has sparked a wave of debate about fairness, accuracy, and whether the system needs a rethink.
And now, with major insurers reportedly reviewing how they handle this gender category, it’s clear this conversation isn’t over yet.
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