Driving insurance in US

cjrw
cjrw Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
edited October 2019 in Transport and travel

Hi,

I am writing as I was very much hoping you would be able to offer some advice, or at least circulate my question and/or point me to relevant information.

I am a wheelchair user, and am planning a trip to Orlando, Florida early next year.  We are wanting to hire a wheelchair accessible vehicle.  We are all British, and resident in the UK.  I have found several companies that provide wheelchair accessible vehicles, however it would appear that none of them provide basic driving insurance - they only offer additional insurance options e.g. collision waivers, not basic driver’s insurance.  I believe this is because they assume that the driver is from the US, and therefore their own driver’s insurance will cover it.  As I said, we are British, so do not have US driving insurance.  Our UK driving insurance only covers for driving in the UK/Europe, not the US.  In other words, I am finding a paradox - most standard hire car companies in the US (e.g. Hertz or whoever) provide basic driving insurance at the point of hire, but do not provide wheelchair accessible vehicles.  In contrast, the companies that DO provide wheelchair accessible vehicles don't seem to provide basic driving insurance, instead assuming that existing insurance (e.g. from a bank) will cover it - which is fine if you are from the US, but not it seems from elsewhere.

Does anyone have any experience in this?  In other words, how is it possible for a UK resident/citizen to get adequate driving insurance when hiring a wheelchair accessible vehicle in the US, specifically Florida?

Please note, just to avoid confusion, that I myself am not the driver.  I am only looking for a wheelchair accessible vehicle (i.e. with a ramp in the rear/side), not driving adaptations.

Many thanks, 

Charlie

Comments

  • Chloe_Alumni
    Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing
    Hi @cjrw and a warm welcome to the community! I personally am unsure what to suggest, but I hope others will be able to provide more information.

    If not, I will have a look and see what I can find. :)
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,602 Championing
    edited October 2019
    Hi @cjrw
    I found this information on the Tranquility Florida website:

    "Hiring a car in America is easy even if you require hand controls or a wheelchair accessible vehicle

    Most car hire firms such as Avis or Dollar will have a fleet of cars which can be supplied with hand controls. Beware though hand control in the USA may be quite different from what you are used to in the UK.

    Wheelchair accessible vehicles can also be hired, these are normally a minivan with a lowered floor and a ramp into the side or rear of the vehicle, if travelling with a small group and one person in a wheelchair these are great. Alternatively you can hire a Full size van which has more space and hydraulic lift.

    I use MobilityWorks(please tell them I sent you) who have both types of vehicle and can supply some with hand controls.

    Specialist companies are not based at the airport, you will need to phone them once you have passed customs and collected your bags in the main terminal, they will then bring the car to you at the airport and complete the paper work. 

    Normally there is only the minimum of insurance provided with these vehicle. You should purchase CDW/LDW policy for all drivers before leaving the UK     Insurance4CarHireis one example. An insurance claim in the US can amount to $10's million. We do not endorse them as a company, but just informing you as to options you might choose

    The vehicle should be supplied with a full tank of gas (petrol). Ensure the hire company show you how the car and adaptations work, especially wheelchair securing straps and that they are adjusted correctly.

    The UK blue badge is not accepted in Florida.     The vehicle will not be supplied with a parking placard (similar to UK Blue Badge) you will need to obtain a Temporary Parking Placard from the Polk Tax Office you will need to email a copy of your blue badge and then call them to make a payment. The temporary placard is around $15. "


    This is a British website advertising an accessible holiday home in Florida, this is information from this person's experience rather than an official website but I thought it might help.


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