Will My Car Insurance Go Up If I Have Epilepsy?

Last Updated on February 5, 2026

If you live with epilepsy, it’s normal to worry about whether car insurance will be harder to get—or more expensive. The good news: in most cases, epilepsy doesn’t automatically change your car insurance price. What matters most to insurers is whether you’re legally allowed to drive and your actual driving record.

Epilepsy can cause seizures that affect awareness or muscle control, which is why every state has rules about driving after a seizure. If you meet your state’s requirements and maintain a valid driver’s license, you can typically buy and keep auto insurance like any other driver.

1. Epilepsy Usually Doesn’t Raise Rates Directly: Auto insurers typically price policies based on license status, driving record, claims, and vehicle—not a diagnosis alone.
2. State Driving Rules Matter Most: Seizure-free waiting periods, medical forms, and reporting requirements vary by state and can affect your ability to stay insured.
3. Coverage Issues Are Often Indirect: If your license is suspended or you have an at-fault crash, your insurer may increase rates, cancel, or nonrenew due to underwriting rules tied to risk and eligibility.
4. There Are Options If You’re Nonrenewed: If standard insurers won’t write your policy, high-risk carriers can provide coverage until you regain standard eligibility.

Can You Get Car Insurance If You Have Epilepsy?

Yes. Many insurers don’t even ask about epilepsy when you apply. In general, car insurance underwriting focuses on things like your driving history, claims history, vehicle, location, and (in many states) credit-based insurance scores—not medical diagnoses.

It’s also important to know that disability laws aren’t a simple “insurers can’t consider anything medical” rule. Insurance is primarily regulated at the state level, and federal disability law includes an “insurance safe harbor” that generally allows insurers to underwrite and classify risk as long as it’s consistent with state law and not used as a subterfuge for discrimination.

In practice, that usually means this: if you’re legally allowed to drive, insurers generally can’t single you out just for having epilepsy. But if your driving privilege is restricted or suspended due to seizures, that license status can affect whether a company will write or continue your policy.

Also, an insurer generally can’t deny you insurance for an arbitrary reason. But companies can refuse an application, cancel, or nonrenew for common underwriting reasons (like an invalid license, a material misrepresentation on the application, or certain high-risk loss patterns) depending on state rules.

How Common Is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological condition involving recurring, unprovoked seizures. It’s more common than many people realize—millions of people in the U.S. live with active epilepsy, and many more will experience seizures at some point in life. The key for driving and insurance isn’t the label itself—it’s whether seizures are controlled and whether you meet your state’s driving requirements.

State Driving Rules: Seizure-Free Periods, Medical Forms, and Reporting

Every state sets its own medical standards for driving with seizure conditions. The most common rule is a required seizure-free period, which can range widely (often months, sometimes longer), and may involve a physician’s statement or periodic medical updates.

Reporting rules also vary. Some states rely on driver self-reporting. Some allow (or require) physician reporting in certain circumstances. And some use medical advisory boards to review individual cases. If you’re unsure what your state requires, check your state DMV guidance and/or a trusted summary such as the Epilepsy Foundation’s state-by-state driving-law resource.

Will Your Car Insurance Go Up Because of Epilepsy?

Not usually directly. Most of the time, epilepsy affects insurance only through factors insurers already rate:

• Your license status: If your license is suspended or restricted due to seizures, some insurers won’t insure you until you’re legally able to drive again.
• Accidents and violations: If you cause an accident (for any reason), your premium can increase because you had an at-fault loss—not because of the medical condition behind it.
• Claims frequency: Multiple losses in a short period can make you look riskier to insurers regardless of why they happened.

If you’re in an at-fault crash, it’s common for rates to rise at renewal. Here’s a deeper look at what happens to car insurance after an accident and why increases vary so much by state and company.

Do You Have to Tell Your Car Insurance Company You Have Epilepsy?

Often, no—because many applications don’t ask. But if an insurer does ask a direct question about medical conditions that affect driving, you should answer truthfully. Giving false information (or omitting something you were specifically asked) can create serious problems later, including claim disputes or policy cancellation.

Separate from insurance, your state may require you to disclose certain medical conditions (or recent seizure activity) to the licensing agency. Because rules vary, it’s smart to confirm what your state requires—especially after a breakthrough seizure or medication change.

Can an Insurer Cancel or Nonrenew Coverage Because of Epilepsy?

An insurer usually can’t cancel a policy mid-term “just because” you have epilepsy. Most states restrict mid-term cancellations to specific reasons, such as nonpayment, a suspended/revoked license, a major misrepresentation, or other legally allowed causes.

Where epilepsy can come into play is indirectly:

• If your license is suspended: The insurer may cancel or refuse to renew because you’re no longer legally permitted to drive.
• If your loss history changes: A pattern of accidents or costly claims can lead to nonrenewal—regardless of the underlying cause.

For example, multiple claims in a short period can sometimes trigger a nonrenewal decision. If you’re worried about that, see how insurers think about claims frequency per year.

Keep in mind: insurers also cancel policies for reasons unrelated to health, like late payments or material application fraud.

What If You’re Labeled “High Risk” Because of Your Driving Record?

If your driving record becomes the main issue—accidents, violations, lapses in coverage, or a suspended license—some standard insurers may decline to write your policy. In that situation, you may need a company that specializes in high-risk auto insurance until your record improves and you’re eligible for standard coverage again.

Tips to Keep Coverage Affordable If You Have Epilepsy

• Stay compliant with your state’s driving requirements: If your state requires periodic medical forms, don’t miss deadlines.
• Choose the right vehicle: Safety features and a moderate vehicle value can help reduce premiums.
• Shop around: Underwriting appetite varies—two insurers can price the same driver very differently.
• Ask about discounts: Defensive driving, bundling, telematics programs, and low-mileage discounts can make a meaningful difference.
• Keep a clean driving record: This is still the biggest lever you control for long-term pricing.

Final Word on Car Insurance and Epilepsy

Most people with epilepsy can get car insurance at normal rates as long as they’re legally allowed to drive and have a typical driving record. Epilepsy usually affects insurance only indirectly—through license restrictions, accidents, or claims history.

If your seizures are controlled and you’re meeting your state’s licensing rules, your diagnosis alone is unlikely to change your premium. If your license becomes restricted or your insurer won’t renew, shopping carriers (including high-risk options) can help you stay covered while you get back to standard eligibility.

FAQs on Car Insurance and Epilepsy