Services for physically challenged customers At Avis, we strive to make everyone's rental experience as easy, safe and stress-free as possible. That's why, as a feature of our Avis Cares® Program, we provide a full range of products and services for our drivers or passengers with disabilities. Our visually impaired passengers can travel worry-free -- just make an advance reservation, arrive with a licensed driver at least 25 years old and you're on your way. Because with Avis, you can be sure we'll meet your needs, before you even get on the road. Scooter Rentals: Avis provides mobility scooter rentals (upon request) at select locations through a partnership with Scootaround Inc., the nation's leading mobility rentals provider. Transfer Board: Enables easier transfer from a wheelchair into and out of the vehicle. Panoramic Mirror: Provides a much larger field of view for any driver. Swivel Seat: Allows the driver or passenger to turn his or her body in the car seat with limited effort.
The swivel seat can easily be removed from underneath the person for transport. Hand Controls: Enables drivers to accelerate or brake using a hand-controlled device. Drivers without disabilities are able to drive the vehicle without interference from the hand controls. Spinner Knob: Enables the driver to turn the steering wheel with a full turning radius using only one hand. Easy Access Bus: Offers an electrically-operated ramp, two ADA compliant wheelchair positions, wider doors, spacious aisles and low luggage racks. With these products and services from Avis, you can be confident that you'll have the smoothest ride possible, every time you rent. To ensure availability, products and services should be reserved at least one day in advance via phone reservation -1-800-962-1434 Speech- and Hearing-Impaired Services Call TTY/TDD 1-800-331-2323. Look for these added benefits every time you rent from Avis: 24-hour Roadside Assistance: Call 1-800-354-2847 for emergency assistance anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.
Avis Preferred® Service: Enroll today for a faster rental experience, added benefits and special amenities-with our compliments. Avis Cares® Program: Child safety and booster seats, local travel safety tip sheets and travel planning websites. Plan your next trip with Garmin GPS Trip Planning. Our tool allows you to save all addresses to your Garmin GPS - in just seconds. No worrying about maps, entering information, or wasting time. Roving Rapid Return®: Avis can quickly check in your car using a state-of-the-art handheld computer that provides a receipt and sends you on your way. : Contains features like "My Avis" where you can book reservations quicker, create personal itineraries and print out rental receipts.Wheelchair Vans For Sale in TexasSkip to Main Content Skip to Text Only Functions Open original version of this page. News & Media Center Valley Metro Phoenix Public Transportation Safe Routes to School/Be Bright Safety Vanpooling can be a cost-saving option for larger groups of commuters.
Valley Metro provides clearly marked vans to qualifying groups of 6-15 commuters, driven by one of the vanpool members. Passengers share the cost of operating the van by paying a monthly fee for gas, insurance, and vehicle maintenance costs. Vanpool members may be eligible for special commuter tax benefits. In keeping with our commitment to safe and accessible service for all passengers, we will provide a wheelchair-accessible vehicle upon request. To learn more, contact Commute Solutions at 602.262.RIDE or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For the Safety and Security of All Vanpool Passengers, We Request That You Follow These Policies: Smoking of any products, including electronic cigarettes, is not allowed on the van. Caustic or flammable materials are not allowed on the van. Service animals trained to assist persons with disabilities are welcome. Other pets must be kept in a secured carrier. Beverages must be in a closed, spill-proof container such as a commuter cup or sports bottle.
If you are interested in establishing a new vanpool group, our Vanpool Forming form can be posted in your workplace. Are you currently a vanpool driver and need to fill empty seats and ensure the groups longevity? Review our Vanpool Riders Wanted form. In the event that you need a guaranteed ride home, make sure you download, complete and submit the Vanpool GRH Form. To learn more, view our current Vanpool Brochure (English) or Vanpool Brochure (Spanish) , download the Vanpool Flyer or call Commute Solutions at 602.262.RIDE or email . Change the current font size:larger | Open original version of this page.Financing options can make van buyers good to go Without a doubt, purchasing a modified vehicle is a huge financial commitment. Added to a pile of medical costs related to your neuromuscular disease, buying a vehicle poses a major financing challenge. In addition to the actual price of a new or used van, the conversion can cost $12,000 or more. So you ask: “How can I possibly pay for all of this?”
Fortunately, you may have more options than you realize in finding the funds for your new vehicle. Traditional vehicle financing means taking out a loan to cover the price of a vehicle and the modifications, and signing an agreement to make monthly payments on the loan’s principal and interest over a specified period. The purchaser, the vendor and the lender, usually a bank or other financial institution, agree upon the terms of the loan. Extended-term financing, including 10-year loans, lets you make monthly payments lower than those on more typical five- or six-year loans. “The best option for retail clients is to have long-term loans with low interest rates,” said Oliver Ramaker, director of business development for Liberty Motor Co., which sells converted vehicles to consumers. For example, Access & Mobility Finance, based in Lafayette, Calif., offers financing nationwide for up to 10 years for new and used modified vehicles. Tom Matson, the company’s founder and president, offers fixed rates, no prepayment penalties and no minimum finance charges.
Like many accessible vehicle dealers, Ramaker said, “We’ve had very good success with his [Matson’s] company in the past, even with people who have a poor credit rating because of their medical expenses.” The company, which has provided loans for assistive technology for eight years, will refinance a client’s loan at a lower rate when his or her credit rating improves. “We work hard to try to help everybody,” Matson said. “We work closely with the consumer and the [mobility] dealer to create a loan package that will fit into their budget.” Larry Finman, owner of Special-Needs Vehicles — Adapt Mobility of Tucson, Ariz., has been equally im-pressed with Access & Mobility’s flexibility because it finances the overall cost of the vehicle and mobility equipment. Some lending institutions only lend against the vehicle’s chassis. Matson urges consumers to go through an established dealer that belongs to the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA), in order to get “the appropriate product for their circumstances.”
For more about NMEDA, see “Eye on the Industry.” While 10-year financing reduces your monthly payment, Matson cautions consumers that an extended term means “you’re going to be paying for that vehicle a long time. So you need to take care of it, and try to pay it off early to reduce the amount of interest you pay.” Mike Harris, president of Rollx Vans, said that longer financing terms are becoming more popular in the auto industry (see “Resources for Modified Vehicles”). For example, Ford’s Mobility Motoring Program offers extended-term financing for new, modified vehicles, with the loan period determined by the vehicle’s price. For those who qualify, Ford offers a nine-year term for a vehicle that exceeds $40,000. Harris noted that extended-term financing “can lower your monthly payment by as much as $200,” though you’ll pay more interest in the long run. Along similar lines, the federal/state Alternative Financing Program (AFP) grants low-interest loans to people with disabilities, their parents, relatives or advocates in order to purchase assistive technology or services, including big-ticket items like adapted vehicles.
AFPs operate in 33 states and U.S. territories (see “Resources for Modified Vehicles”). AFP loans feature low interest rates, loan guarantees, extended repayment periods, support services to keep payments current, and the opportunity to build credit or improve a low credit rating. Many AFPs make allowances for bad credit, especially if the credit issues are related to a person’s disability. People who don’t qualify for traditional bank loans may find AFPs more receptive to their applications. Another way to reduce the overall cost of a van is by buying a one- or two-year-old used (“pre-owned”) vehicle with a new modification. Finman urges consumers to focus on vehicles that have less than 30,000 miles and are no more than two or three years old. Stephen Estes, sales manager for Nor-Cal Mobility in Chico, Calif., said that purchasing a used year-old van with a new conversion can cut the cost by $4,000 or $5,000. Or, you can get a quality, used van with a used conversion by working with the NMEDA QAP dealer in your area.
Rather than buying a van, consider leasing or renting (see “Van Rentals”). Caraleasing, a nationwide company co-owned by Caral and Hal Masback in White Plains, N.Y., offers three- to seven-year leases for new wheelchair-accessible vans and other terms for used vans. You choose the vehicle and the conversion, and Caraleasing will custom-build your lease. “Leasing will always be less expensive than financing,” Caral Masback explained. “When you finance a vehicle, you pay for the entire life of the car. When you lease it, you pay for what you use.” At the end of a lease, you have a purchase option or you can return the vehicle to the dealer. Clients also can buy the vehicle at any point during the lease. Caraleasing’s terms cover the cost of the vehicle and the conversion, but not all leasing companies include the cost of the adaptive equipment. Masback said that the company takes an individual’s poor credit rating into consideration, especially when it’s affected by mounting medical costs related to a disability.
“We really work hard to get people into a vehicle that’s going to be within their means,” she said. Additionally, the company offers a special five-year lease that can be canceled if you no longer need the van. The arrangement requires a down payment of $2,000 and at least 15 payments. If the vehicle is returned before the five years are up, you pay an early cancellation charge equal to five months’ payments. “We’ve had a number of people take advantage of the early cancellation program, and it saves them thousands,” Masback said. Through their mobility programs, some major car manufacturers offer reimbursement for the installation of adaptive equipment when you buy or lease a new vehicle. For example, Daimler-Chrysler’s Automobility program will provide a maximum $1,000 reimbursement for conversions made to new Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Chrysler Town & Country models. Consumers can receive up to $1,000 reimbursements for vehicle conversions from Acura, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Lexus, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.