Disabled Drivers In NY Feeling The Pinch Of Higher Car Insurance Premiums

Many people who are disabled are able to get specially modified vehicles so that they can get a driver’s license. A new study has found that men and women who are disabled and live in New York pay almost thirty percent more for their car insurance premiums than those who are not disabled.
The main reason behind this disparity is that people who are disabled often need to purchase vehicles that make a car operate differently. For example, a person who is paralyzed from the waist down would not be able to operate a car with a brake or gas pedal. The car would have to be modified to have these pedals become levers on a steering wheel which would increase the overall cost of the vehicle. When insurance companies determine risk, they look at the overall cost that it would take to replace a driver’s vehicle if it is stolen or totaled. These vehicles are often valued at over $50,000 because of all of their modifications so it can add extra expense to monthly car insurance premiums.
On average, drivers who are disabled will pay a little more than $2,800 for their car insurance premiums while non-disabled drivers will pay less than $2,200. In today’s economy, this can be a tough pill for disabled individuals to have to swallow. Some drivers have stated that car insurance companies do not have the right to charge more but it is technically not a form of discrimination since all drivers are charged based on certain criteria. A non-disabled driver might pay more for their insurance coverage if their car costs more than a modified vehicle and their driving record has blemishes on it.
It is important for disabled drivers to have a modified vehicle that suits their needs. It is a good idea to have a car insurance policy that will cover these modifications so that if the vehicle is totaled or stolen, they can be replaced. Wheel chair lifts, ramps, and modified steering wheels can be expensive so it is important to have a comprehensive insurance policy because liability only policies are not very cost effective with these vehicles.
It is important for disabled drivers to have clean driving records to help them to be able to offset the increase in insurance premiums that they will pay. New York is a state with a lot of drivers which means that there are huge car insurance pools. This can help drivers pay less for their car insurance premiums if they minimize their risk as much as possible. In today’s economy, drivers need to consider driving less and buying less valuable vehicles if they can so that they can reduce the amount of money that they need to pay for coverage.