Mobility vehicles give those with impaired mobility the opportunity to get out and about more easily. A well chosen electric scooter or adapted car offers greater independence and the chance to perform daily tasks which might otherwise be impossible. But what happens when things go wrong? Adapted vehicles are expensive and you need to know that in the event of an accident, theft or breakdown you will be protected.

In the past it has been tricky for disabled people to get an insurance policy that comprehensively meets their needs. This has changed a great deal in the past decade. The major insurance providers have become more aware of the needs of their disabled customers and a number of providers now specialise exclusively in the insurance of drivers with disabilities.

When choosing your insurance you not only need to decide which insurer to go with, you also need to decide the level of cover you need. In general the more expensive the insurance, the more comprehensive your coverage. More expensive policies will allow a range of people to drive your vehicle, will offer breakdown recovery services and will help safeguard any adaptions you've made to your vehicle. Conversely, if you don't want these extras, you can reduce your premium by choosing a policy that doesn't offer them.

A frequent concern faced by disabled people when choosing an insurance policy is whether their disability is a rating factor. There is no clear cut answer to this. Some insurers will want to talk through the nature of your disability with you before offering coverage, while others will not. If you believe you are being treated unreasonably by a particular insurer, then take your business elsewhere. There ARE policies that do not consider disability a rating factor. Click here for more information on disability, insurance and discrimination

• Cover for drivers other than yourself: this allows any person to use your mobility vehicle with your permission (useful if you want a carer or relative to drive).
• Payment for alternative transport in the event of a breakdown: if you have had an accident, or your vehicle has broken down, you will need to find an alternative means of getting around until your vehicle is repaired. Some insurance providers will help pay for the cost of this alternative transport, or provide you with a temporary replacement vehicle suitable to your needs.
• Ease of contact in an emergency: most insurers operate a 24-hour contact line which can be contacted in an emergency. This will be especially important if your vehicle breaks down and you need help immediately. You can often pay an additional premium for a "Get You Home" service to cover the costs of returning home after a breakdown.
• The means of payment: most insurance companies will allow you to pay for your insurance over a period of time. Schemes like Direct Debit spread the burden of what can often be a substantial payment.
• The level of cover you want for the adaptations to your vehicle: if you've made expensive adaptations to your vehicle, then you will want these to be insured in addition to the market value of the vehicle. You will almost certainly also want to insure the adaptations on a new-for-old basis, since adaptions rarely lose their value in the same way as a car.

I want an insurance policy that covers everyday journeys in my adapted car. I want my carer to be able to drive it sometimes.
You will need to select a policy that gives cover to multiple drivers. This can be expensive but most disabled-specific policies offer the extra cover as standard. You will need to make sure that not only your vehicle is insured, but that all modifications inside are also covered; you don't want to have to foot the bill for the adaptations if you have an accident.

I use my adapted car to travel to work. I need to know that if it goes wrong, I have some safeguard to keep me on the road.
If your vehicle plays an essential part in your life, then you will want cover that provides an alternative vehicle if yours is off the road. Some providers offer a certain amount of money each day to pay for the hire of an alternative vehicle while your vehicle is being repaired. If you use your car a great deal, then it is also worth having some form of breakdown cover. The most comprehensive will offer to transport you home from the scene of your breakdown or accident.

I want to take my adapted vehicle abroad.
Almost all insurance brokers will allow you to take your vehicle abroad with prior notice. Often the cover will be subject to certain conditions - in the case of a scooter for example, you might find that cover does not apply while it is in the care of baggage holders or airport authorities. More detailed information is available in the Travel Insurance section.

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