What Standard Policies Often Miss
Many standard commercial auto policies do not include a wheelchair passenger endorsement, which means lift-related injuries, securement failures, and boarding incidents may fall outside your covered loss. Always confirm your policy includes explicit wheelchair passenger coverage — not just a general 'passenger transport' description.
Key Endorsements for Wheelchair Vans
Wheelchair Passenger Endorsement: covers injury during boarding, securement, and unloading. Lift Liability Endorsement: covers mechanical failure and operator error with lift equipment. Abuse and Molestation: required by all Medicaid brokers for WAV operators. Hired and Non-Owned Auto: covers vehicles you don't own used for NEMT runs.
State-by-State Cost Estimates
California: $9,000–$14,000/van/year. Florida: $8,500–$13,000/van/year. Texas: $7,500–$11,000/van/year. Illinois: $9,000–$14,000/van/year. New York: $11,000–$18,000/van/year. Michigan: $9,000–$14,000/van/year (high due to no-fault PIP costs). These ranges are for $1M auto liability with wheelchair endorsements included.