Last Updated on February 26, 2024 by Michael
Rental car companies can provide a wide array of adaptive driving services at no extra charge. These include hand controls, left foot accelerators, spinner knobs, and pedal extenders. Be aware, however, that companies generally need a few days notice. Here are some other handy car rental tips for disabled drivers.
Ask AutoSlash for a Quote on a Cheap Car Rental
Each of the major rental car companies has published a commitment to the needs of disabled customers. The policies are available for a good reason, as rental car companies are considered public accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Top Tip: Disabled Drivers Should Consider Rental Car Availability
In February 2024, a nonprofit law firm brought a lawsuit against Hertz, alleging that the rental car company violated the civil rights of people with disabilities who need hand controls to operate a vehicle. “For many years, Hertz had a policy of providing hand controls for people with disabilities in a wide variety of its rental cars,” Disability Rights Advocates said in a press release. “Unfortunately, in recent years, Hertz has made its services less accessible to people with disabilities by drastically reducing the models and types of vehicles that may be reserved with hand controls.”
According to the lawsuit, disabled renters have found that when renting from Hertz, their options for hand controls were only available on an “extremely limited and often more expensive” set of Hertz vehicles.
Top Tip: Disabled Drivers Should Book Rental Cars Ahead
Here’s how long in advance you should reserve a car with adaptive driving devices:
- Alamo: In general, reserve up to three business days notice depending on the location of the branch. At some major airport locations, vehicles with adaptive driving devices may be available with as little as 8 or 24 hours advance notice. To make a reservation, call (800) 651-1223.
- Avis: Reserve at least one day in advance via phone reservation at (888) TRY-HARDER.
- Budget: Reserve assistive devices within 48 hours of car pickup. To make a reservation, call (888) 221-1203.
- Dollar: Reserve at least 24 hours in advance of the rental. To make a reservation, call (800) 800-4000.
- Enterprise: In general, reserve up to three business days notice depending on the location of the branch. At some major airport locations, vehicles with adaptive driving devices may be available with as little as 8 or 24 hours advance notice. To make a reservation, call (866) 225-4284.
- Hertz: Reserve at least 8 hours notice at major airport locations or with 24 hours notice at other major locations. To make a reservation, call (800) 654-3131.
- National: In general, reserve up to three business days notice depending on the location of the branch. At some major airport locations, vehicles with adaptive driving devices may be available with as little as 8 or 24 hours advance notice. To make a reservation, call (800) 328-6323.
- Payless: Reserve at least 72 hours notice in advance of pickup. To make a reservation, call (800) PAYLESS.
- Thrifty: Reserve at least 24 hours in advance of the rental. To make a reservation, call (800) 847-4398.
Car Rental Tip for Disabled Drivers: Bring a Surrogate
Customers with disabilities who do not have a driver’s license can still rent when accompanied by a surrogate driver with a valid driver’s license. Minimum age restrictions and other normal rental qualifications apply, but there is no additional driver charge for the surrogate driver and the surrogate driver does not need to have a credit card as would normally be required.
Rent a Wheelchair-Accessible Car or Van
Among the top car rental tips for disabled drivers is to get to know which companies offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Most major rental car companies such as Alamo, Enterprise, National do not offer lift-equipped cars or vans for rental. A notable exception is Budget; call the Budget Special Needs department at (888) 221-1203.
In many major cities, specialty companies such as Accessible Vans of America, Wheelchair Getaways and Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals rent vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts and other devices.
Rent a Car with Adaptive Driving Devices
Rental companies are able to provide certain types of adaptive driving devices, such as hand controls. Requesting such accommodations in advance is strongly recommended. Requests should be made, confirmed, and reconfirmed directly with the rental car companies after making your reservation.
Let AutoSlash Track Your Car Rental for Price Drops
Upon arrival at airports, shuttle buses are routinely accessible for wheelchairs and luggage storage. To avoid shuttle buses completely, customers can check their AutoSlash price quotes to identify the “In Terminal” rental options versus the “Shuttle” rental options. Some airports, such as Baltimore-Washington Marshall International (BWI), have a consolidated rental car center that’s nowhere near the terminal—taking a shuttle is the only option for renters.
