Compare Car Insurance Rates for Epileptic Drivers [2023]

In modern times, cars are more of a necessity than a luxury. As such, people who represent many different walks of life routinely use cars to get around, including people who are living with the disease known as epilepsy.

While epileptics need to travel just as much as any other group of people, they can sometimes run into problems when it comes time to buy insurance coverage.

There are many insurance firms that are willing to provide epileptics with coverage under the right circumstances.

This article will dig deeper into this subject and give readers who may be living with this illness solid advice concerning how to go about securing car insurance. It will also highlight the role that comparison shopping can play in this important endeavor.

Compare car insurance quotes today by entering your zip code into our free rate tool.

Car Insurance Coverages

Almost every state requires it’s drivers to purchase car insurance. The only states that do not require proof of insurance are Virginia and New Hampshire; however, these states still require drivers to show proof of financial responsibility in the event of an accident. The required car insurance minimums vary from state to state, so be sure to check with your state’s insurance laws before purchasing insurance.

Mandatory Coverages

Individuals living with epilepsy are subject to the same insurance laws as everyone else. As such, they will need to secure certain coverage types that are mandated by law, including bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

• Property damage liability – will cover the costs of any damage caused by the vehicle of the policyholder. The damage can be to other vehicles on the road or to property.
• Bodily injury liability – kicks into play when the owner of the policy causes physical injury to another person as a result of an accident.
• Personal Injury Protection – (PIP) provides payments to policyholders and passengers of policyholders who are injured during an auto accident.

While having these coverages isn’t negotiable, the amount of coverage that a given customer buys is.

The cheaper the policy that is bought, the lower the payout will be. Conversely, individuals who pay more for their monthly premiums will be able to enjoy better coverage in the event of an accident.

Since individuals who are suffering from epilepsy always have some chance of having a seizure while driving, it may be wise for them to purchase as much coverage as they can reasonably afford.

Elective Coverage Types

The next class of coverages isn’t mandatory in most places. These include collision coverage, comprehensive insurance, glass coverage, underinsured motorist insurance, and uninsured motorist coverage.

• Collision coverage – generally covers any damages that are sustained by the insured vehicle as the result of an accident. This can include damage to the body as well as the engine.
• Comprehensive insurance – provides coverage for damages that aren’t caused by a collision with another vehicle. These incidents can include events such as fires, falling branches, hailstorms, and vandalism.
• Glass coverage – will pay for repairs performed on any of the windows in the insured vehicle. Considering the fragility of glass and the amount of dirt and debris on roadways, it’s not surprising that this type of protection is popular.
• Uninsured and underinsured – motorist coverage provides protection against the unknown number of drivers without insurance who choose to drive anyway. Since uninsured drivers by definition lack any kind of coverage and cannot pay for damages, it makes sense for individuals to have some level of this kind of protection.

Comparison Shopping for Cheap Car Insurance Rates

While insurance companies will, without exception, provide all of these services to their customers, they will not necessarily offer the same amounts of coverage.

With thousands of insurance companies online it could take weeks for individuals to find savings opportunities on their own. This search for savings is where comparison insurance shopping sites come into the picture.

These valuable organizations help customers by doing all of the hard work (like reviewing companies and their options) in advance.

All shoppers need to do is log onto their preferred site and compare prices and policy options. This online comparison saves consumers many hours of searching and often reveals deals that may have remained hidden otherwise.

Epilepsy and Car Insurance

Auto insurance companies prefer to pay out as little as possible, and as such, they generally prefer to contract with individuals whom they consider to be the lowest risks.

Since people who suffer from epilepsy may be a danger to others if they experience a seizure while driving, insurance companies have historically been somewhat leery of providing epileptics with coverage.

The good news is, most states don’t have the same reservations when it comes to providing licenses to those living with epilepsy.

State laws on the subject vary, but in general people with epilepsy that is considered to be controlled can usually qualify for driver’s licenses. Once a license has been secured, it can be much easier to find insurance coverage.

The definition of “controlled” can vary from place to place, but many jurisdictions have no problem licensing those who have not suffered an attack for at least several months.

Drivers who have suffered recent attacks are often required to relinquish their rights to drive for a period of time which is different from state to state.

In addition to this, those who have suffered recent bouts may be placed in so-called “high-risk” pools. These are sub-standard policies that can cost considerably more than the standard policies that are offered to the majority of drivers.

Luckily, past driving records count for something, and epilepsy sufferers who haven’t been involved in major traffic incidents for many years can often acquire coverage at below-market rates.

Drivers with epilepsy who may have had recent episodes can often still find creative ways to save on insurance coverage.

One way to save is to carefully compare the policy offerings of different insurance providers. By mixing and matching options such as premiums, deductibles, and discounts, drivers with epilepsy can often create their own relatively low-cost policies.

There is no doubt that individuals who suffer from epilepsy can sometimes be at a disadvantage in the insurance market. That said, those who make the smart decision to comparison shop for their coverage will almost always end up paying a lot less than those who fail to do so.

Comparison shop right here with our free car insurance comparison tool.