This is the story of one of our customers’ experience with ORA.
Around 10 years ago, a former friend and I had a slightly wild plan to hire a car and go to Chester Zoo. At the time, though, the options for hiring a WAV were extremely limited. Very few car hire companies offered WAVs, and the ones that did, as people on the internet like to say, really made it a thing.
The Earlier Problem With Hiring a WAV
There was usually a minimum hire period of a full week, which pushed the cost to well over £1,000. On top of that, you had to book a pre-assessment within a specific timeframe before the hire even began. That meant travelling to their office, wherever it happened to be, so someone could measure my chair and make sure I could get into the vehicle.
Insurance for a WAV was also handled through a third party, which added another fee. Suppose I wanted a company named as a driver, that came with an extra charge, too. So if I wanted to use the car with both my care agency and a friend, I would have had to insure the care agency separately at a specialist rate, rather than using the standard rate for named drivers.
From what I remember, the total estimate, including the trip to head office for the assessment, came to around £1,500. By comparison, hiring a similar non-WAV vehicle would have cost less than £600, and standard cars could usually be hired for less than a week. So really, the whole idea was over before it even began, and I shelved the plan.
Also Read: Empowering Mobility: The Future of Accessible Transport
Discovering Open Road Access
Then, just a few weeks ago, I was on TikTok when I came across an advert for a company called Open Road Access. I will be honest, I still do not know much about them. They may not be brand new, but they were certainly new to me.
The video featured a disabled rights campaigner showing how easy it was to hire and travel in a WAV through this specialist company. To say I was intrigued would be an understatement, so I sent the video to my friends.
They were just as interested. In fact, before I could gently suggest maybe going somewhere near Christmas if they fancied driving us, one friend immediately said, “I’m free next week, let’s do this.”
Why did it immediately feel different?
That, right there, was the first big point in Open Road Access’s favour.
The pricing information was clearly available on the website. It was £75 for a small car, £125 for a medium car, and more for a larger one. That gave us an instant starting point. There was no need to book a pre-assessment weeks in advance. I just had to fill in a form with the information I already had, and then they called me back to complete the rest and take payment.
It really was that simple.
A week before travel day, we had already completed about two-thirds of the process, and we had even chosen a destination: Blackpool.
Check Open Road Access Trustpilot Reviews
The Cost
The total came to about £200. Although that is a bit more expensive than the three of us taking the train, it is a huge difference compared with the roughly £1,500 I had previously been quoted by other companies before even leaving the house.
That total also included a refundable deposit, which I am still waiting for, although they do say to expect it within two to three weeks after the journey, assuming the return inspection goes smoothly.
The overall cost covered the hire of the car and insurance: £75 for the vehicle, an additional cost for a second named driver, £12 for extra insurance, and a £60 refundable deposit. Split between three people, it worked out to be a reasonable cost for a day out with friends.
Travel Day
When the day of travel arrived, I was a nervous wreck. I am not an early riser, and our time slot was between 9 am and12 pmm. I kept waking up every hour, worried that I would oversleep, miss my alarms, sleep through their phone call, and somehow ruin the entire day before it had even started.
Thankfully, none of that happened.
I got up at 8:20 am, which is a time of day I have not seen in a while, and waited. One friend was meant to arrive at 9 am9am, while another was due a little later.
At least one driver needs to be present for the demonstration showing how to use the straps and locking equipment, although Open Road Access do send a video of the process by email the day before the booking.
As it turned out, the friend who was meant to arrive later came early, and the friend who was meant to arrive early was slightly late. Still, we were all together when I got a call just af10:30 am30am to say the car would be delivered within the hour. That was my cue to get dressed.
The Car Arrives
The car arrived just a11:30 am:30am.
It was a blue Peugeot Horizon, a lovely small car with a rear ramp and an extra passenger seat behind the driver, which turned out to be useful for coats. The man delivering it talked us through any marks and existing issues on the car, and encouraged me to take photographs for my own records.
- Then he took us through the demonstration.
I felt a bit like the cheerful audience volunteer in a magic show. The straps were pulled out, buttons and switches were turned on and off, I was secured in place, taken up the ramp, seat belted in, and the doors were shut. Then the doors were opened again, I was unstrapped, and carefully guided back down the ramp.
- And then we did it all again.
- Everything went smoothly.
Forms were signed, signatures were given, and I think hands were shaken. Then the delivery driver was given a lift back to Coventry by a colleague who had been waiting nearby in another car.
Check Open Road Access Trustpilot Reviews
Setting Off
After that, we gathered our bags, strapped me in properly for the actual journey, and my friends decided who would drive in each direction. I had half expected a game of rock, paper, scissors, but they are clearly more mature and practical than I am.
- Then we were off.
- It really was as simple as that.
- We were in Blackpool in less than an hour and a half.
The Journey
My friend who drove us there did an excellent job, despite the steering wheel pulling slightly to the left at higher speeds. Then my friend who drove us back managed the return journey brilliantly as well, including driving in the dark.
We even stopped at a service station for a quick wee, more water, and snacks. All in all, I think we had a great day, and we have Open Road Access to thank for that.
Also Read: A Carer’s Experience with Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Hire
Saying Goodbye to the Car
Unfortunately, I did then have to give the car back, despite promising that I would feed it, pet it, take it out twice a day, clean it every few weeks, and love it as though it were my own child. But that, sadly, is not how contracts work.
We had hired the car for 24 hours, and the insurance only lasted until 12 pm the following day. They usually collect the car on the next nearest business day, or as soon as possible.
Also, after spending a small fortune on food, Madame Tussauds, and Blackpool rock for the entire family, I did not exactly have the funds to keep it forever. Which is a shame, because it was beautiful.
The Return Process
Still, the handover was easy.
A different gentleman came to collect the car. I talked him through some of the issues my friends had noticed while driving, pointed out a scratch in the paintwork that the delivery driver had already shown us, and handed over the keys.
He got into the car with a notebook and drove off a short while later.
Final Thoughts
It was sad to say goodbye, but hopefully, in my heart of hearts, we will see each other again soon. And my friends, I am sure I will be seeing them again soon, too.
And no, I absolutely have not been looking at used WAVs on AbleWorld like a desperate singleton scrolling through missed connections. Who even told you that?
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Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RSUdTXfbeYSmCU9A7
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/openroadaccess
Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/openroadaccess/
LinkedIn Link: https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-road-access/
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/@OpenRoadAccess
