Insuring Your Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

The information below is not to be taken as legal or professional advice, contact your insurance agent with questions about your insurance needs.  

Insurance for Your Wheelchair Van

Having the proper insurance coverage for your wheelchair van will save you money, time, and hassle. It must all cover the cost to replace all components for your wheelchair van.  Additional items to insure include hand controls, transfer seats, power tie downs, steering modifications, and the ramp type. Your existing insurance company can offer you this insurance, but you will need to disclose to them that you need to cover the cost of all mobility equipment that is installed in your vehicle. When insuring your vehicle, you will need to provide your vehicle's 17-digit VIN which will generate its unconverted replacement value.  You will then need to provide documentation of the installed mobility equipment from your mobility dealer which will help both you and your agent understand the dollar amount of coverage you need to be protected from a loss. 

Insurance for Hand Controls, Transfer Seats, Power Tie Downs

Options added to your wheelchair van are expensive to purchase and expensive to replace.  Having them insured on your auto insurance is recommended and is easy to do.  Inform your insurance agent of the items added to your vehicle and have them add the dollar amount you paid for the equipment to the current insurance coverage amount.  Provide invoices and brochures of the equipment added so both parties are understanding exactly what needs to be replaced if you are in an accident. 

Is Wheelchair Van Insurance More Expensive?

Yes, but you are insuring much more than the vehicle itself. Here is an example:

• You purchase a New Chrysler Pacifica Wheelchair Van and pay $41,500* for the chassis and $29,500* for your BraunAbility in floor conversion. You also need hand controls installed ($1,250*) and a transfer seat installed ($4,200*).  The total you paid for your modified vehicle would be $76,450.* 
• If you simply gave your insurance agent the required 17-digit VIN for the vehicle you would automatically have coverage for the $41,500* and not the actual purchase/replacement cost of the other mobility equipment which totals $34,950.* Therefore, you want to include $34,950* of additional coverage to your wheelchair van insurance so everything is covered and able to be replaced. 
• If an accident occurs and you only have vehicle coverage for the $41,500* you will be responsible for the remaining $34,950.* In this case the cost would be way more than adding the extra monthly coverage for the $34,950.* So be sure to inform your insurance agent of the added mobility equipment and the dollar amount so you can be fully protected. 

*The price figures used above are for example only, prices may vary widely depending on your specific mobility equipment and market conditions. 

Please note that the information covered above should not be taken as legal or professional advice, please contact your insurance agent to learn more about what levels of insurance will properly insulate you from risk.