Occupational Hazards: The professionals most likely to have a driving conviction or car insurance claim
When comparing car insurance quotes, do you call yourself a Vehicle Technician or a Mechanic? A Sales Representative or a Salesperson? Choose wisely, because the wrong job could push up the price of your insurance.
A common tip for reducing the cost of your car insurance is to choose your job title carefully. But why does what you do for a living make a difference to how much your car insurance premium costs?
Where you live, your age, your car’s make and model, your driving history, where you park, how you use your car, and yes, your job, all help insurers predict how likely you are to make a claim and how costly that claim might be.
So which job titles are the most likely to increase the price of your car insurance quote?
We analysed over 83 million car insurance quotes to discover which professions are most likely to have a driving conviction or made an at-fault claim in the last five years and are therefore likely to be more expensive to insure.
The professionals most likely to make a claim on their car insurance
Our research shows that GPs top the list for at-fault claims, with more than 1 in 10 (10.73%) filing one in the last five years.
In fact, medical professionals accounted for a considerable proportion of the top 10 job titles for at-fault claims, with Optometrists (10.15%), Hospital Consultants (10.11%), and Medical Practitioners (9.67%) all making the list.
Not too far behind were Surgeons with an at-fault claim rate of 9.34%, ranking 12th overall.
Long hours and high-stress conditions likely play a role, as fatigue and distraction can lead to lapses in driver concentration.
The professionals most likely to have a driving conviction
Chartered Surveyors top the list for driving convictions with a 12.89% conviction rate.
Even Surveyors not registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) had a high conviction rate, coming in 8th place at 12.39%.
Looking at the top 10, job titles associated with construction were the most common with Site Agents, aka Site Managers (2nd), Fence Erectors (6th), and Pipe Fitters (7th) making the list.
While they ranked just outside the top 10 occupations for claims, Surgeons ranked 4th for driving convictions, with a notable 12.72% conviction rate.
The professionals most likely to have a speeding conviction
Chartered Surveyors top the list for speeding convictions, with 11.6% caught breaking the limit in the last five years.
Business leaders also featured prominently with Sales Directors (11.54%), Operations Directors (11.54%), Chief Executives (11.28%), and Managing Directors (10.07%) all ranking among the top 10 job titles most likely to have a speeding conviction.
With yet another appearance, Surgeons ranked among the worst drivers for speeding, finishing in 4th place with a conviction rate of 11.35%.
The professionals most likely to have convictions for using a device while driving, failing to stop at a red light, or driving without due care and attention
Project Leaders topped the list of the worst offenders for using a mobile device while driving with a conviction rate of 0.85%.
Close behind were Road Workers at 0.58%, and Stonemasons took third with 0.55% being caught using their phones behind the wheel.
When it comes to running a red light, Product Designers were the biggest offenders with 0.51% caught failing to stop. Close behind were Market Traders at 0.48% while Vehicle Technicians round out the top three at 0.38%.
Panel Beaters, who repair vehicle bodywork, were the most likely to drive carelessly with 1.55% having this type of conviction. Refuse Collectors followed with 1.09% and HGV Mechanics were third with 0.91%.
The most unique job titles
Out of more than 83 million quotes, Sheriff Principal – a judge who oversees Scotland’s Sheriffdoms in a role with roots stretching back all the way back to the 11th century – is one of the rarest job titles in our study.
Other interesting job titles include Palaeobotanist (someone who studies fossils of plants), Ostler (someone who takes care of horses), Circus Proprietor, Ballistics Expert, and Vulcanologist – a person who studies volcanoes.
Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “Your job plays a role in calculating your insurance premium. Insurers see some jobs as riskier than others based on things like claims and conviction rates.
“So, if you’re a GP or a Chartered Surveyor, you might end up paying more than someone in a job with lower claims and driving conviction rates, like a Dental Assistant or School Catering Assistant.
“Sometimes, there might be more than one job title that fits what you do. If one of those titles is considered less risky by insurers, using it could save you money on your car insurance.
However, it’s important to be honest and make sure the title you select really describes what you do.
“Using a job title that isn’t accurate could lead to a rejected claim or even your insurance being cancelled. That would cost you more in the long run than any savings from being inaccurate.”
Save money on your car insurance by comparing cheap car insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket today.
Methodology
MoneySuperMarket car insurance quotes between Jan 2023 and June 2024. Minimum 15,000 quotes per job title for professions listed as most likely to be caught speeding or convicted of a driving offence. Excludes retired, student and unemployed statuses.
For accuracy, job titles such as Accountant - Chartered and Chartered Accountant were combined. Gendered titles such as postman/postwoman or barman/barmaid were simplified e.g. Postal Worker and Bar Staff.
