Just like anyone else, those of us with disabilities enjoy both travel and independence, two things that can often prove rather tricky without the correct mode of transport. Admittedly, wheelchair car hire companies can be difficult to find, and the disabled transport world isn’t always easy to navigate. Behold, the top three wheelchair car hire companies for anyone wanting an adventure on the road!
Top three wheelchair car hire companies
1. Allied Mobility
Allied Mobility provides a broad range of specially adapted car hire vehicles to cater for the needs of disabled drivers and passengers. Vehicles can be hired on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and they provide a door-to-door delivery and collection service. They have a variety of vehicles, where the wheelchair passenger travels in their wheelchair and vehicles have hand controls or adapted foot pedals, to allow the disabled person to drive.
They provide:
- Cars with Push/Pull hand controls
- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV)
- Wireless Keypad Control
- Automatic and Manual vehicles
- Telephone bookings
- A nationwide door-to-door delivery and collection service
- Comprehensive Insurance
- Reasonable rates
- Unlimited mileage
Perfect for if you’re looking for a UK road trip, this company will happily drop off and pick up your vehicle for you – easy peasy!
2. Adapted vehicle hire
Adapted Vehicle Hire is a particularly interesting company, as an excellent visual table on their site states the different vehicle sizes they have available for hire, going up to the Peugeot Boxer, which holds up to 11 passengers (9 seated passengers and 2 wheelchair users). There’s also an option to enter your postcode, the type of vehicle you require and how long you want it for, before clicking a button for a free quote. Alternatively, you can call 01895 439 111 to receive a personalised quote.
This company, with large, spacious vehicles and numerous adaptations, seems to be the correct one to contact if you are looking to travel to a large event with a big group of people. Stag and hen parties spring to mind! Though, they also provide smaller vehicles for individual users or for small families. As well as calling, you can also contact them via email: info@adaptedvehiclehire.com.
3. Angel vehicle hire
If you’re looking for a company that is straight forward with their pricing and quotes, publishing them for all to see, then Angel Vehicle Hire may well be the company for you. Perfect to hire an adapted car or van for a speedy weekend or midweek break, prices are split into weekly and weekend segments, with a collision damage waiver, or CDW, added to all prices. The measurements of and space in each car are also printed in the price table, ensuring that you have all the information you need for a quick but effective hire.
Additional wheelchair car hire options
As well as the options listed above, it’s worth noting that many of the larger scale hire car companies, such as Enterprise and Europcar, also offer automatic vehicles which can be fitted with hand controls. These vehicles, however, need to be booked ahead of schedule, as they outsource the adaptations fittings to other businesses that meet you at the rental depot and fit any adaptations that you need, at the time of your rental.
Top tips for wheelchair car hire
Whichever company you choose, remember these hints and tips:
- Check that the insurance for the vehicle fully covers your particular impairment.
- Look at the car, before you sign for it, for any marks and scratches that must be noted down – take photographs of any pre-existing damage or scratches, before you drive away, for reference.
- It may be possible to drop your vehicle at a separate point to the one you picked it up from, ask for your own convenience.
- If travelling as a group and planning to drive longer journeys, it may be worth paying extra to allow other members of your party to take the wheel and give you some rest.
- Always check the measurements in the car and the space for a wheelchair to avoid disappointment and extra cost at pick-up. Take into account the wheelchair sizes before hiring.
Hiring a vehicle can be such a liberating experience. Thankfully, it is now possible for wheelchair users, too! Enjoy the open road, and all the accessibility it has to offer! Ah, and don’t forget to have a look at your travel insurance for disabled (it can be useful!).
