The lift, the tie-downs and the trip in between.
Commercial auto, passenger assistance liability, abuse coverage and workers' comp for wheelchair van operators, paratransit contractors and Medi-Cal trip providers running lift-equipped vehicles.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed September 2026 · How this page is researched
Rated on the fleet, the drivers and the trips
A wheelchair van business is rated like a passenger fleet with one extra exposure: the minutes a driver spends operating the lift, securing the chair and walking a rider to the door. Those are the moments that produce claims, and a plain auto policy does not always respond to them.
The transportation programs I use want a full vehicle list, a driver list with a motor vehicle record on every driver, and loss runs covering the last 3 to 5 years without gaps. They start at 2 vehicles, with the widest program starting at 4, so a single van is written on a standard commercial auto policy with assistance and abuse coverage added separately.
- Commercial autoLiability and physical damage on every lift-equipped van.
- Passenger assistanceInjuries while loading, securing and unloading riders.
- Abuse and molestationRiders who cannot protect themselves.
- Workers' compDrivers who lift and secure chairs all day.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Vehicles: year, make, model, lift type and value for each van. Programs start at 2 vehicles.
- Drivers: names, license state and number; underwriters pull a motor vehicle record on each, and licenses should be issued in the state where the vans are based.
- Trips: wheelchair, ambulatory and stretcher share, and whether drivers assist at the door.
- Contracts: broker, Medi-Cal plan or county paratransit requirements.
- Revenue and payroll: annual figures.
- History: 3 to 5 years of loss runs with no gaps, or since the business started.
Wheelchair van insurance, answered
Does my commercial auto policy cover a rider hurt on the lift?
Not reliably. Loading and unloading is the gray area between auto and general liability. The programs I use include it; a standard auto policy may not, so I add passenger assistance coverage when one is used.
I only have one van. What are my options?
A standard commercial auto policy for the van, with professional and abuse coverage added separately. The fleet programs start at 2 vehicles.
What do underwriters pull on my drivers?
A motor vehicle record on every driver, ordered within the last 30 days. Drivers and owners usually need licenses from the state where the vehicles are based.
Can I add stretcher trips later?
Usually, within limits. Most programs cap stretcher work at around a fifth of trips and want to approve it first.
Do you offer wheelchair van and paratransit insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. Sam Alishahi is licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and places policies there directly. In Florida, where Sam's licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime. The shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see truck insurance by state or insurance requirements by state.
Send your van list. I'll shop it.
Vehicles, drivers and your broker's requirements are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. Your application link comes by email right away, and you get an update at every step until your quotes are ready.
(877) 711-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.