For people with limited mobility or wheelchair requirements, hiring a car can be a nightmare. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to accessible car hire to help you find the vehicle you need. For more tips on renting cars, check out our Insider’s Guide to Car Hire.
Photo by: Photographee.eu/Fotolia
When to Book
Before we start, you should consider when the best time to book is. Car rental companies have less vehicles such as estates, 7 and 9 seater vehicles in their fleet. The idea that leaving your booking to the last minute guarantees a cheap price is a bit of a myth and relies on the supplier not selling all their vehicles – very unlikely in summer!
Long story short, if you need a specialist vehicle – book it early.
Accessible Car Hire (Or Similar)
It’s important to remember the golden rule when hiring a car. You are NOT guaranteed to receive the vehicle you booked upon collection. This is due to a number of unknown variables such as accidents, breakdowns and repairs, one way rentals, and any number of other reasons. If you require a specific vehicle type, get in touch with us when you make your booking and we will gladly make a special request on your behalf. Again, we can’t guarantee you’ll receive this vehicle. We will try our best to make sure you receive a suitable car for your needs.
What Vehicle is Suitable?
When it comes to searching for a vehicle suitable for your requirements, it’s best to look for something as similar to your own car as possible. If you need space for a wheelchair and you know it fits in your Nissan Qashqai, book a Nissan Qashqai (or similar).
Photo by: amelaxa/Fotolia
If you’re not sure if a certain vehicle is suitable, there are a couple of ways of finding out:
- Keep an eye out for the vehicle in a car park. Next time you see one, give it the once over to see if it’s suitable.
- Visit the manufacturer’s website. These days, most new cars have videos of the interior and accessories on the company website which should help you make an informed decision.
If you don’t require a wheelchair but have limited mobility, give some thought to how you’ll get in and out of the car. A Range Rover will likely be too high whereas a Peugeot 308 CC Cabriolet will probably be too low and cramped.
If you’re still not sure, get in touch with us and we’ll assist you with any queries you may have.
Collecting your Accessible Car
The next thing to consider when choosing a car is the supplier’s location. Is the car at the airport or do you have to get a shuttle bus? Our search results will tell you this information so all you have to do is choose whichever option is best for you.
If you end up with a supplier who’s based off site, consider how you’ll collect the vehicle. Will both/all of you get the shuttle bus or is it best for one of you to collect it and return to the airport to collect the other(s)?
Airport Support Staff and Assistance Services
If you’ve booked special assistance through your airline, they’ll be able to contact the airport support services when you land.
Photo by: zstock/Fotolia
Airports in the European Union are required by European Law to help you at each stage of your journey from your arrival at the airport car park, train station, or drop-off point to the check in desk.
After this they should help you:
- Pass through customs and security
- Get to the gate, on to the plane and into your seat
Once you land, the airport should help you:
- Get off the plane
- Get to baggage reclaim
- Get to the point where you leave the airport e.g. car rental desks, train station etc.
If you have any tips for renting an accessible car, let us know below!
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