Open Road Access - ORA

15/10/2026

“How much does it cost to hire a WAV?” is usually one of the first questions people ask, and the honest answer is that it depends on how you need to travel.

Two people can both ask to hire a wheelchair accessible vehicle and need completely different things. One might need a one-wheelchair WAV for a weekend nearby. Another might need space for two wheelchairs, delivered across the country for a few weeks. Someone else might be better suited to an adapted car for a year.

Our latest blog walks through the six things that shape the price, from rental length and vehicle type to delivery, mileage and insurance. It also explains how short-term rental and longer-term subscriptions are priced differently, and what information helps us give you an accurate quote.

You don’t need to know exactly which vehicle you need before getting in touch. That’s something we can work out together.

Read it here: https://openroadaccess.co.uk/blog/wav-hire-cost/

09/10/2026

Sometimes you need an accessible vehicle for longer than a holiday, but buying one still doesn’t feel like the right answer.

You could be waiting for Motability. Your mobility might be changing during rehabilitation. You might need reliable transport every week while you work out what type of vehicle actually suits you.

That middle ground is where longer term accessible vehicle hire can be useful.

Our latest blog looks at five situations where an ORA subscription might make sense, plus what’s included and the different types of accessible vehicle we can look at.

Read it here: https://openroadaccess.co.uk/blog/long-term-accessible-vehicle-hire/

29/09/2026

A successful discharge involves much more than getting someone through their front door.

For someone recovering from a spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, stroke or other serious illness or injury, their previous transport may no longer work for them. Their mobility may still be changing. They may need someone else to drive. They may need to travel in their wheelchair, carry new equipment or work towards returning to driving.

And once they are home, the journeys continue.

Rehabilitation appointments. Healthcare. Work or education. Seeing family and friends. Rebuilding everyday routines.

Our latest blog looks at the transport options rehab teams, case managers and solicitors can consider, from WAVs and adapted vehicles to suitable standard cars, and why a flexible solution can sometimes bridge the gap while longer term needs become clearer.

We also share a practical discharge planning checklist to help teams start those conversations earlier.

Because getting someone home should be the beginning of their return to everyday life, not the end of the transport plan.

Read the full article: https://openroadaccess.co.uk/blog/patient-discharge-transport-rehab-teams/

27/09/2026

Where are you heading this autumn?

Cooler days, changing leaves and an excuse for a hot chocolate along the way. Autumn can be a lovely time to get out on the road and explore somewhere new.

Our latest blog shares five places to consider for an autumn trip:

Pickering and the North York Moors, with Dalby Forest and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway nearby.

Keswick for Lake District scenery, accessible routes and cosy town centre stops.

Conwy for coastal views, the Wales Coast Path and easy access to nearby Llandudno.

Bath for city exploring, countryside drives and plenty of places to stop along the way.

The Scottish Borders for quieter roads, autumn scenery and a slower change of pace.

Hiring a wheelchair accessible vehicle can give you more flexibility to build the trip around what works for you, your passengers and your mobility equipment.

Which one would you choose?

Read the full guide here: https://openroadaccess.co.uk/blog/autumn-wav-trips-uk-towns/

23/09/2026

What does “luxury” mean in the context of accessible travel?

ORA’s David recently sat down with Luiz from The Inclusive Edit for a wider conversation about accessibility and the travel experience.

For Luiz, luxury is less about expensive surroundings and more about removing friction: not having to repeatedly explain what you need, knowing accessibility has already been considered, and arriving somewhere feeling welcomed rather than having to help staff work out how to support you.

“Luxury is confidence, it’s ease, it’s calm.”

A small preview from a much bigger conversation.

Full episode coming soon.

21/09/2026

Disabled people’s right to travel abroad is back in the headlines.

A recent Guardian report highlights the barriers some disabled people face when trying to travel overseas with the support they need.

There are lots of different things that can affect whether a trip feels possible. Accessible transport is one of them.

If you’re planning international travel with Open Road Access, there are options you might not know about:

Taking a WAV abroad? 🚗
You can take an ORA rental vehicle outside the UK with prior authorisation. We’ll need to know which countries you’re visiting and your travel dates.

Planning a shorter trip? 🗓
There’s no minimum rental period specifically for taking an ORA vehicle abroad.

ORA cannot solve every barrier to overseas travel, but we can help make the vehicle side of the journey clearer.

Where would you go if accessible transport gave you more choice?

18/09/2026

Isaac has always been a public transport person.

Trains, buses and the Underground were familiar. He enjoyed the stations, the support staff, the views from the train window and the conversations that sometimes happen along the way.

But a trip to a friend’s wedding in Oxford changed how he thought about accessible travel.

With a wheelchair accessible vehicle delivered to his home, Isaac could travel with his wheelchair, luggage and wedding clothes without navigating stations, changes or booked assistance.

Once in Oxford, he found himself automatically planning which buses he would need, before remembering:

He had a vehicle.

That meant travelling between venues, using his Blue Badge, staying out later and leaving when he was ready.

As Isaac explains in the blog, the experience did not turn him into a car person. What it did was show the value of having choice.

Sometimes public transport works well. Other times, having access to a WAV can make the difference between worrying about how to get home and simply getting home.

Read Isaac’s full story here:

A lifelong public transport user hires a WAV for a wedding in Oxford and shares the honest highs, the niggles and why having a choice matters. Read the story.

16/09/2026

We recently had the joy of welcoming Gemma and her family, the winners of our competition in partnership with Open Road Access - ORA.

What Gemma said:
‘Rose cottage is stunning, with beautiful decor and accessible facilities. We had the pleasure of staying here over the half term holidays, my son who is a full time wheelchair user found the cottage great to get around with level access and wide doorways. He enjoyed washing up at the adjustable height kitchen worktop and was able to do lots more things independently. Katy was very attentive and made sure we were comfortable with everything, we can’t thank her enough for the perfect break.’

Here are a few photos of them in action enjoying the independence Rose Cottage was able to provide their son 🫧

We loved seeing your photos, thank you for sharing with us.

16/09/2026

AD — This is the kind of freedom I wish most people had access to.

One of the biggest things I’ve learnt as a wheelchair user is that a day out can involve way more planning than it should. Will the bus have a ramp? Will the train be accessible? Will there be delays? Will I actually get home?

Having a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) from Open Road Access - ORA (ORA) meant I could just… go. No stressing about buses or train delays, just me, my wheelchair and a spontaneous day out. No delays, happy days! 🙌🏽

I started my day at the Botanical Gardens, enjoying the sunshine, plants and lunch at the café 🌿☀️ Then I headed to Grand Central in Birmingham to meet my friends for dinner and quality time together.

ORA provide:
- Flexible wheelchair accessible and adapted car rentals from 1 day to 1 year
- Collection and delivery to your address
- Driver insurance and breakdown cover included
- Affordable monthly packages for multi-month rentals, with no early-return penalty when your Motability or personal car arrives
- A service designed in consultation and collaboration with 1,000 wheelchair users

If you’re a wheelchair user looking for more independence and flexibility, check out Open Road Access (ORA).

Video description: Zaynab, a wheelchair user, and her family try out an accessible vehicle from ORA. The video shows Zaynab using the ramp to enter the vehicle, loading and unloading her electric wheelchair, visiting the Botanical Gardens, checking in, exploring the plants, having lunch at the café, then travelling to Grand Central, Birmingham, for dinner and quality time with friends.