Finding the best possible deal on car insurance is an important part of getting your finances in order. Running a vehicle can be expensive in many ways, so finding a high-quality and competitively priced insurance policy is important for keeping costs down.

Disabled drivers often need to pay for vehicle modifications, disabled parking permit fees, and sometimes even disabled parking space installation near their property. Vehicle running costs for disabled drivers can sometimes be higher than for non-disabled drivers, so finding low-cost insurance is especially important.

As a disabled driver, you may have plenty of questions relating to car insurance. Who qualifies as a disabled driver? Does disabled driver insurance cost more? How much does disabled driver insurance cost? What laws protect disabled drivers from discrimination? What are the factors that affect the cost of disabled driver insurance?

In this article, we will answer all of these important questions.

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Image by xenostral on Pixabay: What is the cost of insuring a disabled driver?

Who Qualifies As A Disabled Driver In The US?

Each US state has its own criteria for who qualifies as a disabled driver. The core group of qualifying conditions that form the basis of each state’s qualification requirements are:

  • An inability to walk 200 feet without needing to stop to rest
  • An inability to walk without the aid of an assistive device such as a wheelchair, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, or another person
  • A heart condition classified as Class III or IV by the American Heart Association
  • Lung disease
  • The use of a portable oxygen tank
  • A neurological, orthopedic, or arthritic condition that curtails mobility

What Is Car Insurance For Disabled Drivers?

Vehicle insurance for disabled drivers is the same as vehicle insurance for non-disabled drivers. The only difference is that disabled drivers may choose additional insurance that covers vehicle modifications.

Vehicle insurance is a legal requirement and extremely important for all drivers. If a driver gets into an accident or otherwise damages their or another driver’s vehicle, insurance will help to cover the associated costs.

Does It Cost More To Insure A Disabled Driver?

It is illegal to discriminate against disabled drivers as a group. Therefore, disabled drivers, as a group, do not have higher insurance premiums than non-disabled drivers.

However, it may cost a disabled driver more to insure their vehicle if they have a disability that requires them to drive a type of vehicle that costs more to insure. Wheelchair vans or disability-adapted cars sometimes cost more to insure because such vehicles and their onboard equipment are worth more.

Certain medical conditions are often considered to increase driver safety risk. Epilepsy is one such condition because of the associated risk of having a seizure while driving. If your disability has symptoms that are considered to increase the risk of an accident, you may need to pay more for insurance.

What Laws Protect Disabled Drivers From Discrimination?

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that protects disabled Americans from discrimination. The ADA stipulates that it is illegal for insurance companies to charge higher premiums to disabled people.

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Image by ArtisticOperations on Pixabay: Disabled driver insurance discrimination is illegal under the ADA.

Types Of Handicap Driving Insurance Coverage

All drivers need to get full-coverage driving insurance. Full-coverage insurance usually includes:

  • Personal liability coverage
  • Collision and comprehensive coverage
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments (MedPay) coverage
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

Some disabled drivers require extra types of insurance coverage. This tends to include:

  • Roadside assistance coverage
  • Adaption or special equipment coverage
  • Mobility car insurance coverage

What Factors Affect The Cost Of Disabled Driver Insurance?

Insurance companies take a lot of factors into consideration when setting insurance premiums. These factors include:

  • The driver’s location
  • The sex of the driver
  • The driver’s age
  • The driver’s safety record
  • The driver’s level of experience
  • The driver’s credit history
  • The type of vehicle concerned
  • The cost of the vehicle
  • The size of the vehicle
  • The annual mileage
  • The theft history for the specific type of vehicle

What Disabled Driver Vehicle Modifications Are Available?

Disabled drivers’ vehicle modifications can affect the cost of a driver’s overall insurance coverage.

The most common types of vehicle modifications for disabled drivers are:

  • Adapted controls
  • Reduced effort braking systems
  • Pedal and steering wheel extensions
  • Wheelchair lifts
  • Left foot accelerators
  • Transfer seats
  • Raised roof and/or dropped floors

Some of these vehicle modifications for disabled drivers can have an effect of the cost of vehicle insurance.

How To Apply For A Disabled Parking Permit

As a disabled driver, you will qualify for a disabled parking permit. A disabled parking permit will make getting around as a disabled driver as easy and hassle-free as possible.

The best way to begin the process of applying for a disabled parking permit is to arrange a telemedicine consultation with a licensed physician through Disabled Parking.

Featured image by Hucklebarry on Pixabay