Most people understand that car insurance rates vary between demographics, but you may be shocked to learn just how much age, gender and marital status play a role.

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A new study commissioned by insuranceQuotes.com found premiums can vary by more than 50 percent based on someone's sex or date of birth.

Young drivers, unsurprisingly, pay more for car insurance than any other demographic. A 25-year-old single male, for example, pays an average of 49 percent less than a 20-year-old single male, according to the study. Women, on average, see a rate drop of up to 40 percent between the ages 20 and 25.

Younger males, meanwhile, are worse off than their female counterparts. A young man can end up paying 25 percent more than a woman of the same age, for the same policy.

"Insurance companies are always looking at the numbers," said Laura Adams, a senior analyst with insuranceQuotes.com. "What their numbers show is that younger drivers, particularly those young men, tend to get into more accidents."

The study suggested the average cost of car insurance falls each year until age 60 for men and women. After age 60, premiums rise a small amount each year.

Marriage is beneficial to both genders, according to the study.

"On average, a single, 20-year-old male will pay 24 percent more for auto insurance than his married counterpart," the report stated. "And for a single, 20-year-old female the difference is 28 percent."

Adams said drivers can possibly help themselves by hiking their deductible amount to reduce their premiums, or enrolling in a pay-as-you-drive program, based on how well and how far you drive.

"Shopping around every year is a great way to make sure you're not overpaying," Adams said. "Get quotes from multiple companies and see what rates are available."

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