Disabled Drivers in N.Y. Pay 28% More for Auto Insurance, Study Says

A new study found that drivers with disabilities in New York City pay 28 percent more for their auto insurance on average compared to non-disabled individuals. The study says that vehicles modified to accommodate disabled drivers often cost more to insure.

The study and its survey were conducted by N.Y.-based auto insurance provider 4AutoInsuranceQuote.com. The company recently surveyed 623 New York City residents — 456 non-disabled and 167 disabled — across the five boroughs, between the ages of 25 and 50. Individuals surveyed were the only person on their insurance policy.

The study found that disabled drivers and auto owners pay about $2,810 annually on average, 28.13 percent more compared to non-disabled individuals who paid $2,193 annually on average.

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits the discrimination of people with disabilities — but the study noted that many individuals who are disabled need specially modified cars, which also cost more to insure.

This adaptive equipment can include wheel chair lifts, specialized steering wheels, air bag removal, and ramps. Modifying vehicle can also mean modifying the insurance policy to add on coverage for these modifications. According to the study, these specialized policies can oftentimes be very expensive and are one of the main reasons why the disabled pay more for auto insurance than the non-disabled.

“Unfortunately, statistics do show that disabled individuals pay more for car insurance than the non-disabled,” the study stated. “This does not mean, however, that you will pay more for auto insurance just because you are disabled. As stated above, insurance companies do not use disabilities as one of their factors in determining your auto insurance premium. It is illegal for them to do so.”

“It just so happens that the disabled population, many times, needs specific modifications done to their vehicles that can be extremely expensive to insure,” the study said.

Source: 4AutoInsuranceQuote.com

Topics New York Auto Personal Auto