Last post Wed, May 14 2008 10:59 PM by Kimberly01. 10 replies.
After my husband's cdeath six years ago I bought a Fard Explorer. When I changed the insurance policy to include this new vehicle, I told the rep that I was disabled and wouldn't be driving and that someone else would be driving me wherever I wanted to go. "No problem!" Recently I received a letter from the insurance company saying that they wouldn't be renewing the policy when it came due. When I called the company and asked why, they said it was because I wasn't a licensed driver.
Any other insurance company that I have contacted won't insure my vehicle because I'm not a licensed driver and, if they will, the premium is double of what I had been paying. I can't be the only disabled person who owns a vehicle but doesn't drive it. So what do you do for insurance? Let me hear from you, please!
Apparently, the insurance companies believe the disabled are not allowed to own anything of value!
I guess, in order to get insurance, you have to transfer ownership of the vehicle to a licensed driver (neighbor, kids, etc) and then they have to get the insurance in their name.
Needless to say, this creates questions of ownership in your estate plan, who is liable for taxes and insurance payments, etc, etc, etc. Depending on which state you live in, it can be expensive to change the owner on the title.
I wonder if you could transfer ownership to a trust. This would solve a lot ofyour problems, but I suspect you would still have problems with the insurance.
Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
I'm anxious to hear other thoughts on this because I really think it's unfair that people with disabilities can't own a vehicle unless they are liscensed...it totally cuts out another route of independence that should be available if you're physically unable to drive. I'm wondering if this is something more recently tlhat insurance companies have changed because I thought I'd heard of several people having no problem with this before and lately I've heard of barriers like this...
So anyone else have experience with this?
I found this: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Auto-Insurance-Claims-2055/Insurance-Disabled-Non-Driver.htm
It looks like you may need to call around and perhaps educate insurance agents. I found this task force: http://www.c-c-d.org/task_forces/transportation/tf-transportation.htm If you call them they may be able to help. Please keep us updated; I really want to know what happens!
"I believe everything out of the common. The only thing to distrust is the normal."John Buchan
Insurance companies and banks have their specials ways of pissing me off. Insurance is to help protect one from the results of risk. But too often insurance companies get just a whiff of risk, they run the other way. Unless asked, I'd let them assume you are the driver. Chck with your state's insurance commission or department of motor vehicles.
Hello everyone,
This is an interesting topic that I wish I had responded to earlier. Lately I've been very busy and menace in this thread. Almost the same situation occurred to me in New York State (Brooklyn). For those unfamiliar with the New York City area, Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs/counties that comprise New York City. Essentially the driving conditions that exist in Brooklyn are likely present in any major metropolitan area.
In New York State insurance companies are regulated by the New York State Department of insurance and there is a requirement that all cars have a bare minimum of insurance coverage. A New York State there is a specific category of driver which is called being "assigned risk". This category is for individuals that have a poor driving record and for people that are unique in the eyes of the insurance company. This set of insurance is also a mandatory program in New York State that is put up for submission of bidding whereby an insurance company will agree to accept these types of drivers for a certain number of years. When I first started out I was with two of the major carriers, Allstate & State Farm. At first things were affordable, but as the contracts were renewed and policies were extended year after year, despite having the minimum coverage, I was paying more than $3000. Ouch!
Finally the contract was given to another company and the rate became more than ridiculous. It is a painful memory so perhaps I have sublimated the exact figure, but I believe it was approaching $4600. First step was to file a complaint with the New York State Department of insurance. This resulted in a reduction in my annual premium by approximately $400 and gave me enough breathing room to explore my options. It also probably didn't hurt that a classmate of mine from law school was in the legislature and a member of the insurance committee. Naturally my complaint was forwarded to him as well.
In the past I had contacted Geico and a number of other companies and explained my situation in detail. Pretty much all of the companies refused to write a policy for me. The idea of registering my vehicle under someone else's name out on New York City did not see like a good option. If an accident occurred and there was substantial injuries/damages, that could be an out for the insurance company and might suggest fraud. After all, insurance is meant to cover that type of situation, and not get the protection of coverage, was not a risk that I was willing to take. So, I kept calling different companies.
Finally I stumbled across Progressive Insurance. Wow, they are fantastic!!! The telephone salesman listen carefully and understood my problem. He responded that it was slightly unusual but said "if you can wait a few minutes I will get you an answer." Given that I had not been summarily dismissed, I was beginning to get hopeful. If you minutes later he came back with an affirmative response. Apart from actually providing coverage, the rate was amazing. On a yearly basis less than $1400 I don't know what I said but it probably was something along the lines of "I love Progressive!". I offered to pay upfront for the next two years, but that was rejected. The only drawback is that my policy is only for six months at a time. In the two years that I have been with them my rate has not gone up. Also I can pay with a credit card and that means mileage points! I have not found one thing that I dislike and all. I know, it is beginning to sound like a commercial, but when you consider how important it is to be mobile, it really means a lot.
For the most part, insurance companies are regulated by the state. Other than contacting progressive (sorry I did it again) contact the insurance department in your state. Sorry for the long response. Obviously 3 cups of coffee in one day leads to hopefully interesting verbosity.
Off topic:
I pay 130.00 for my insurance a month. It sucks.
Can I get it for cheaper?
Definitely not in New York City. That would be very affordable in NYC.
T.K. Small, Brooklyn, New York
Thanks for posting that T.K. It's unreasonable to force PWDs to pay outrageous premiums for independence. Gah! Glad you found a solution.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my complaint about auto insurance. It has taken me awhile to respond because of problems with my wireless connection. Anyway -- at this point I have signed on with a company that is charging me double of what my previous premium had been but I'm still looking for something cheaper. I have been in contact with the accessibility specialist at my state council for disabled persons. I'm sending her my story and she intends to rattle some cages at the state level. I'll try to keep you informed.
I pay $70 a month in OH & thought that was kind of high but $130 month wow!!!
