Updated 11/17/2023
Disable people are not limited in their travel plans anymore. Their physical restriction is not a reason to stay at home. There are many different rental companies that provide adaptive car rentals for disabled clients. The main thing is checking their privacy policy!
Table of contents:
Car Rental Policies For Disabled Renters
While planning a trip, it is important to contact your rental car manager to inform the company about a specialty rental and inquire of disabled veterans car rental discounts. Try to contact the rental counter where you will take a vehicle from and not the city main office. Be attentive and ask as many questions as you have. Why? Not all clients know that the car hire for disabled persons with wheelchairs demands to take a two-door model with larger doors or accessible van.
Car hire companies that accept disabled veteran discounts
All big renters accept car rental for drivers with disabilities. They offer you to save money by getting special rates for leisure and business. The companies’ policies are available on their websites in details.
Alamo Rent A Car
More than 500 locations are available for disabled drivers with Alamo. The renter has special rental packages with the best car rental proposals for drivers with disabilities on business and leisure.
Avis Rent A Car
Avis offers you so-called disabled veteran rental car codes for American military veterans. The discount reaches up to 25% for all popular car brands.
Budget Rent A Car
The rental conditions for disabled clients and their family members can boast attractive sales of up to 25%.
Dollar Rent A Car
Dollar disabled veteran car hire discount reaches up to 5%, plus fee waivers for an additional driver or underage driver.
Enterprise-Rent-A-Car
The rates of Enterprise rental car company for disabled veterans go down to about 5% at different locations.
Hertz
Hertz rental car disabled rates go down to 25% at participating locations.
National Car Rental
National gives special offers to all disabled clients. For example, they don’t charge additional drivers fee and underage drivers fee.
SIXT Rent A Car
SIXT rates go down to 5% for veterans on car hire.
Thrifty Car Rental
Thrifty rental car honors veterans with a free one-care class upgrade.
Before you book, always make sure the discount or quote is still active on the company’s website.
Reserve an auto with adaptive driving options IN ADVANCE!
Asking for a vehicle with the adaptive driving devices, don’t forget to check if needed equipment is available at your location. So that it is better to book a car in advance to be sure that it will be equipped properly.
Here you can read about how much time in advance you should book a vehicle with adaptive driving equipment:
| Rental Agency | Terms |
| Alamo | Up to 3 days before pick up;
9-24 hours at the airport locations. |
| Avis | 1 day before pick up. |
| Budget | 48 hours before pick up. |
| Dollar | 24 hours before pick up. |
| Enterprise | Up to 3 days before pick up;
9-24 hours at some major airport locations. |
| Hertz | 9-24 hours before pick up. |
| National | Up to 3 days before pick up;
9-24 hours at some major airport locations. |
| Payless | 72 hours before pick up. |
| Thrifty | 24 hours before pick up. |
All big companies available on the web will provide and install hand controls, removal seats, a foot accelerator, and other adaptive driving devices upon the request of any renter with a disability.
Tips & Hints For Drivers with Disabilities
Disabled drivers may need to rent a specially equipped car or get van rentals and then ask for drivers with disabilities discounts. Rental options vary in their cost and complexity. You can find a list of useful tips below. Continue reading if you need to know how to hire the wheelchair accessible auto for your trip all over the US territory.
Make a travel plan!
How to plan a trip by car for people with disabilities? First of all, it is important to decide how you are going to get around on arrival. Think of renting a specially-equipped car or van. Adaptive driving devices vary depending on your special needs and will work very well for you. Also, it may be easier and even cheaper to use a car hire for disabled drivers for traveling between the cities.
How to book a handicap auto?
Such popular car vendors as National, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, and a number of others offer cars and vans with special adaptive tools without any problems. Drivers, who want to equip their vehicle with hand controlling and lift options, or wheelchair access should select the type of auto they need when calling rental car companies. The time limit you can book an option is 48 hours before you get to your pick-up location.
How much is it to hire a handicap van?
The procedure of hiring an auto takes some time when you need to compare different rental policies and ask questions. There is the main thing to keep in mind: handicap van rentals rates will vary, depending on location. Check your region for rental rates in your area.
Texas & Midwest wheelchair van rates
| Terms | Rates |
| Daily | about $130 a day |
| Over week | about $110 a day |
| Over month | about $80 a day |
| Weekend special price | about $230 per weekend |
Is it possible for disabled renters to book a surrogate driver option?
You may ask the car hiring department you are directly dealing with for adding a surrogate driver option to your rental papers. You are not charged an extra fee for that in most cases. But you, as the main driver, are required to complete your reservation with your card number, and a copy of your surrogate drivers’ international driving license. This person must be not younger than 25 years old. On pick up, the surrogate drivers complete a special driver form to pin it to your rental contract.
How to equip the rented auto with adaptive driving devices?
All adaptive driving devices must be ordered beforehand and added to the rental contract.
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- The hand control is the most popular of adaptive car rental tools. It helps disabled drivers to handle the car;
- Foot accelerator is a helpful option for amputees;
- Wheelchair ramps;
- Spinner knobs;
- The full wheelchair restraint system;
- Lap and diagonal seat belts for wheelchair and seated passengers.
All specific requests should be made and confirmed DIRECTLY with the rental car agency you will take a car from. Disabled veterans car rental discounts are available for all specific drivers on a list of wheelchair accessible vehicles and all equipment to suit their needs.