The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects drivers with disabilities from discrimination by car insurance companies. Still, auto insurance for drivers with disabilities and vehicle modifications to accommodate these disabilities can be expensive. Many nonprofits and car manufacturers offer support to alleviate expenses for drivers with disabilities, including rebates, special financing and subsidized auto insurance.
Does having a disability affect car insurance?
Having a disability does not directly increase your car insurance rates. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits insurance companies from charging higher rates solely because of your disability status.
However, if your disability affects your ability to drive safely (e.g., vision, reaction time, cognitive function), it could lead to higher premiums. Additionally, any modifications to your vehicle that accommodate your disability may influence your insurance costs.
Coverage for drivers with disabilities
A car insurance policy for a driver with a disability includes the same coverages as a car insurance policy for a driver without a disability.
| Coverage | Definition |
|---|---|
| Collision insurance | An optional coverage type that pays to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged in a collision with another vehicle. You can only file an accident-related claim for your vehicle’s repairs if your policy has collision coverage. |
| Comprehensive insurance | An optional coverage type that covers damage to your vehicle caused by non-collision hazards, such as car theft, falling tree branches, hail and other unexpected events. |
| Bodily injury liability (BI) | Pays others’ medical costs in an accident you cause, up to your policy limits. It’s mandatory in most states. |
| Property damage liability (PD) | Pays for repairs or replacements of any vehicles or objects you damage in a crash, up to your policy limits. It’s mandatory in most states. |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Helps cover medical expenses for you and your passengers after a car accident, regardless of who caused it. This is required in some states. |
| Medical payments | Additional coverage outside of PIP that pays for medical care for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who caused it. This is optional in most states. |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) | Covers you, your passengers and any property damage in a case where the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have insurance, or carries insufficient coverage to pay for your costs. This is required in some states. |
If your vehicle has been modified to include adaptive equipment, consider these additional types of coverage:
- Custom parts and equipment coverage (CPE): This type of coverage can be added to cover your vehicle’s special equipment.
- Roadside assistance: This add-on helps with towing, tire changes, battery jumpstarts, and more.
Affordable car insurance for drivers with disabilities
Though having a disability doesn’t affect your car insurance rate, you can offset any costs you incur on additional coverage with insurer discounts and usage-based coverage.
Car insurance discounts
Most insurance providers offer discounted rates for things like maintaining a clean driving record, bundling auto and homeowners insurance and paying your bill online.
Insurers may offer discounts for:
- Paying your full premium upfront.
- Going paperless.
- Installing an anti-theft system.
- Insuring multiple cars with the same provider.
- Staying accident-free for a number of years.
Check with your insurer to see which discounts are available to you.
Usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance
Two ways drivers with disabilities might be able to save on the cost of insurance is through usage-based insurance (UBI) and pay-per-mile insurance.
Both programs use telematics to track your driving tendencies — either via a device plugged into your vehicle or a mobile app — but they have different focal points.
UBI: Usage-based insurance assesses your driving habits by analyzing factors such as the intensity and frequency of braking, the speed of acceleration and the time of day you drive. If you practice safe driving habits, you could earn discounts on your premium.
Pay-per-mile: These programs only measure the distance you travel. Mileage-based insurance can save you money if you drive less than the average driver. Your insurance premium will vary each month based on how frequently you drive.
Learn more: Cheap car insurance for low-mileage drivers
Compare quotes
Any time you consider purchasing car insurance, it’s wise to get multiple quotes to find the best deal. Don’t assume the first quote you get is the best.
Your rights as a driver with disabilities
As a driver with a disability, your civil rights are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). An insurance provider can’t deny you or unduly raise your rate because of your disability status. Your insurance company also can’t prevent you from driving — only your doctor and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can declare you unsafe to drive.
A driver may choose to disclose any health conditions to their car insurance company, or the insurer may learn about a driver’s condition by investigating changes to their driver’s license or incidents in their driving history.
If you feel that you’re not being given a fair rate — or if an insurance company tries to deny you coverage just because of your disability — you should report the company to your state’s department of insurance.
The ADA has tips to help individuals file a successful complaint.
Common vehicle modifications for people with disabilities
In some cases, your insurance company may require you to install certain modifications in your vehicle to reduce your risk on the road.
To cover any vehicle modifications, you must purchase custom parts and equipment coverage. This coverage can typically be added to any policy that includes full coverage.
The table below shows common vehicle adaptations for drivers with disabilities and passengers:
| Modification | Description |
|---|---|
| Hand controls | Allows a driver to operate the accelerator and brakes using hand-operated controls on or near the steering wheel. |
| Scooter/wheelchair ramps or lifts | Allows a passenger or driver using a wheelchair or scooter to enter the vehicle. |
| Transfer seats | Helps a wheelchair user to transfer from the wheelchair to the driver’s or passenger’s seat. |
| Pedal extenders | Bring the gas and brake pedals closer to the driver’s feet. |
| Left foot accelerator | Allows a driver to operate the gas pedal with their left foot instead of the right. |
| Seat belt adjustments | Provides extra protection for drivers or passengers with mobility limitations. |
| Amputee rings | Rings clamp onto the steering wheel to assist drivers with below-elbow amputations. |
| Steering wheel knobs | Knobs attach to steering wheel for easier steering with one hand. |
Financing resources for vehicle modifications
Several nonprofits and government organizations are committed to helping finance vehicle modifications for drivers with disabilities.
- The Mobility Resource is an adaptive driving marketplace that helps drivers find state grants for wheelchair accessibility modifications on vehicles.
- The Adaptive Driving Alliance is a national network of wheelchair-accessible car dealers that can help you find financing and other resources.
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) helps connect veterans with disabilities add adaptive equipment to their vehicles.
- Your state’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency can help cover the cost of vehicle modifications. These offices provide services for people with disabilities and will be able to direct you to resources, including alternative transportation options, if necessary.
Car manufacturer rebates
You may be able to get a rebate from your vehicle’s manufacturer for vehicle modifications and adaptive technology.
Reimbursement is typically up to $1,000 on new vehicles. Manufacturers with reimbursement programs for special equipment include:
- Acura Mobility Program.
- Audi.
- BMW.
- Chrysler DriveAbility.
- Dodge DriveAbility.
- Ford Mobility Monitoring.
- Honda Customer Mobility Assistance.
- Hyundai Mobility.
- Infiniti Mobility Assist.
- Jeep DriveAbility.
- Mazda.
- Nissan Mobility Assist.
- Ram DriveAbility.
- Subaru Mobility Assist.
- Toyota Mobility Assistance.
- Mobility by Volvo.
FAQ
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What kind of modifications can be made to my car to improve its accessibility?
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Can I add a carer or family member to my car insurance policy?
Megan Lee is an editor, writer, and SEO expert who specializes in insurance, personal finance, travel, and healthcare. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for several websites, including NerdWallet. When she`s not crafting her next piece of content, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to drink cortados, attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.
Annie is a writer and editor at Jerry and has more than a decade of experience writing and editing digital content. Before joining Jerry, she was an assistant assigning editor at NerdWallet, where she covered loans. Previously, she worked at USAA and newspapers in Minnesota, North Dakota, California, and Texas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.
