16 replies to this topic

[SA MINI]

Hi. I'm 21 years old I am also disabled. Been driving since 18
I previously had my mini auto in my mothers name on her insurance. It's was around £700. After this I then insured it on my own for around £1800 with a very high voluntary exess. I had my renewal price the beginning if this year. £3500 :/ This I thought was shocking nothing had changed with me or the car. Only the price. I then went on go compare. Cheapest is £3.400. I've noticed if I remove unemployed due to disability quote drops to £1,300 with high excess. Would I get in trouble saying I am employed when I'm not ? If not I will just have to pay out because I love driving my mini so
much . But apparently the insurance companies will be dropping prices oneday when the get rid of no won no fee injury cases so I could hold out but for how long lol. Any help aprichiated

[MaxAndPaddy]

I find the fact that your quote goes up that much because you are ''unemployed due to disability'' disgusting. Have you tried the same insurance company as your mum and explained the situation to them? The fact you had a year with them as a named driver on your mums policy and now 1years no claims with your own may help.

Rather than filling in on-line quotes I think you need to speak directly with companies and explain your circumstances, but no you cant lie about employment or your insurance if a claim was made would become invalid.

This has made me really cross on your behalf...hope someone on here can help you more

[Nikral]

are there not organisations for your situation that can help or maybe advise an insurance company who will take into consideration your circumstances. I think its disgusting having to pay that much for insurance whatever your age or disability, insurance companies are having it to easy being able to charge what they feel like and then blame it on uninsured drivers. If they kept premiums low then maybe they would not create the problem where people take the chance of driving without insurance.
Rant over ..... and relax

[Ethel]

Did you have to declare the nature of your disability? It's hard to see how they could assess an increased risk if you didn't. You'd think being unemployed would reduce the risk, it's not like you'll be claiming loss of earnings. Making a false statement could invalidate your insurance, maybe you could find a way to change your status, such as some occasional voluntary work or becoming self employed (there's no minimum income), I doubt insurers have any precise definition: they'd have to tell you what it is & I've never seen one. You might also make a discrimination case with the help of a related charity. However, the easiest thing is likely to be finding a specialist insurer.

[SA MINI]

Did you have to declare the nature of your disability? It's hard to see how they could assess an increased risk if you didn't. You'd think being unemployed would reduce the risk, it's not like you'll be claiming loss of earnings. Making a false statement could invalidate your insurance, maybe you could find a way to change your status, such as some occasional voluntary work or becoming self employed (there's no minimum income), I doubt insurers have any precise definition: they'd have to tell you what it is & I've never seen one. You might also make a discrimination case with the help of a related charity. However, the easiest thing is likely to be finding a specialist insurer.

the original insurers knew of my disability from when i was insured with my mother & then with my own policy
the disability is only on the left arm which is not really hi risk as i drive auto. i think i will ring them nearer the time i want it on the road to see what they can do about it. as for the go compare results my guess is that they think being un-employed people would be more likely to drve around all day rather than it being parked at work. not that you could afford to do that without a job
i will look more into specialist insurers now thanks for your help

[SA MINI]

thanks for your input people i will get to the bottom of this rubbish

[haggz]

maybe worth checking with the citizen advice beurea - CAB. im sure if you have informed dvla and they have accepted your disability the insurance company cant discriminate you for being disabled. my dad is disabled and has declared his medical conditions and nothing has affected his primiums

[mini-luke]

Try these guys: http://www.fishinsurance.co.uk/

My mum's insured with them.

[SA MINI]

i will try both of these above if i don't have any luck cheers

[mikey72]

What's does the price compare to as just unemployed?
If that's substantially different, you should raise a complaint with them.

[Bungle]

i didn't think insurance company's were aloud to discriminate against being disabled ?

[ShoutforJoy]

i didn't think insurance company's were aloud to discriminate against being disabled ?

That's largely true but you have to remember that all mods to the car have to be declared, also any restrictions placed on the driving licence - each of these would be taken into account and could result in higher premiums for both able and disabled people.

The biggest factor in this extortionate premium is likely to be unemployment. I will suggest that the OP looks at specialist insurance companies, some companies specialise in insuring disabled people (like fish) but also check the classic mini specialists. Also consider a restricted mileage policy if you don't drive a huge number of miles. I'm sure you will be able to get this quote down.

[MrBounce]

I am insulin dependent diabetic and back in the 90's they used to try to discriminate by asking me how many units of insulin I took. They are not medically trained so would not know the difference. I think they were rating you on being a badly controlled diabetic if you took more than a certain amount, which is utter garbage.

Any company which asked this idiotic question got an earful and did not get my business. When I eventually worked in insurance, the simple truth was: "if the DVLA issue a licence, we write the business" I think you'll find that the issue is with unemployment, not the disability. Insurance companies are very scared of bad publicity from lawsuits which will show they've discriminated...

[Big Sam]

Do you qualify for any benefits due to your disability?

You may be better off forgetting the mini and going the route of http://www.motabilitycarscheme.co.uk

Which you could of course get a Bini with...

[Carlos W]

I'd love to mention the equality act 2010 in relation to this!

What a load of rubbish, if the DVLA are happy to issue with a licence then you are fit to drive!