Ask The Expert!
by Candy Harrington, editor of Emerging Horizons
Sizing Up Rental Cars
I use a manual wheelchair and I’d like to rent a car that can carry my wheelchair and our luggage, when we fly to Seattle later this year. My husband will be doing the driving, so I don’t need hand controls, and I don’t want to spend the extra money for an adapted van. SUVs and vans are not an option either, as they are too high for me to transfer to. Can you recommend a car that will meet my needs?
Generally speaking, different car rental agencies carry different makes of vehicles; however the best way to see if your wheelchair will fit in the car is to simply try it out before you leave home. First, shop around and find your best deal. You’ll probably have to go with a four-door mid-size of full-size sedan, depending on the amount of luggage you take. Then go to the local branch of the car rental agency, explain your situation and ask if you can see if your wheelchair will fit in a particular model. Assuming all of your luggage will fit in the trunk, you can just put your wheelchair in the back seat.
Once you find a model that works for you, book your reservation on-line, then call the 800 number and tell them to flag your reservation so you are not upgraded. Explain to them that you are disabled and that this is an access issue; as your wheelchair has to fit in the back seat and you cannot transfer to a SUV or van. Although upgrades are a good thing, you usually get stuck with a SUV or a mini van when you get a rental car upgrade. And many time they have to upgrade you when they don’t have your requested car available.
In the end, with a little legwork and advance planning, you should be able to find the perfect car for your trip.
