Mobility Vehicle Hire releases accessible vehicle hire subscription service plans
The Accessible Vehicle Club has released a variety of price plans to hire accessible and adapted vehicles which could provide an alternative to buying for disabled drivers who either rarely need to use a car or need a different type of vehicle for various occasions.
The Accessible Vehicle Club (AVC) is an accessible vehicle subscription service. The club has been set up as part of the company Mobility Vehicle Hire Group (MVHG).
The subscription service states that there are no upfront hefty vehicle deposits, no three to five year fixed lease tie downs and “no fixed vehicle type”.
AVC offers a range of vehicles, this means users can, for example, use a small wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) for a few days for shopping and appointments and then reserve a medium-sized wheelchair-accessible vehicle for a week’s holiday.
Among the adaptations available at no extra cost are push-pull hand controls, infrared controls, easy-release handbrake, boot hoist and pedals adapted for those unable to use their right leg.
The cheapest of AVC’s four 12-month subscription plans is £125 a month, which includes free delivery and collection, insurance and breakdown cover.
With six and 12 month plans available, AVC’s cheapest plan allows up to 43 days hire a year of a small, adapted car, or alternatively 14 days of a large electric adapted car, 38 days of a small wheelchair-accessible vehicle or 21 days of a large wheelchair-accessible vehicle, with other vehicle types also available.
There are also four different types of six month plans available which starts with bronze cover at £150 per month, or £900 for the full term. This could be useful to people who have ordered a new car but are having to wait for it to be built.
The minimum hire terms vary, with a minimum of six days at a time for a small adapted vehicle on the bronze plan, allowing you to take such a vehicle on seven six-day hires a year, while someone on the most expensive “platinum” plan would have a minimum hire term of just three days, allowing you up to 40 separate three-day hires of a small adapted vehicle for £4,200 a year.
Graham Footer, Chief Executive of Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK), which has also endorsed AVC, said: “DMUK is delighted to see this new scheme entering the market, which will give people with disabilities more choice with their personal mobility options.
“For people who don’t need a vehicle every day, all year round, this is a great way of getting a vehicle of their choice for the times when they need one.”
AVC states that it is not intended as an outright competitor to Motability, but an alternative option for people who cannot afford upfront deposits or just may not drive their vehicles as often to justify on a long-term lease.
