VMI Assurance: Roadside Help for Wheelchair Users
Author: Laura Slawny
Published: 16 Jun 2019 - Updated: 6 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Announcement
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This announcement describes the VMI Assurance Program, a specialized service pairing Mobility Roadside Assistance with at-home repairs from Wrench, Inc. for owners of wheelchair accessible vehicles. It affects drivers and passengers with mobility challenges, including seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals who purchase a new or used vehicle with a new conversion from Vantage Mobility International, AMS Vans, or Revability, and who receive one year of complimentary coverage. The service matters because standard roadside providers are rarely equipped to help accessible vehicles or the people who rely on them, leaving wheelchair users at real risk of being stranded. Beyond towing, jump starts, fuel delivery, and lockouts, the program adds paratransit transport for the driver and passengers, wheelchair lift and ramp troubleshooting, and mobile mechanics dispatched to a home or office, which makes it a practical resource for anyone weighing the ownership costs and safety of an accessible vehicle.*
At a Glance
- 1 - Coverage rollout began in July through the VMI Signature Dealer Network.
- 2 - Members receive a personal MRA ID card and full benefits at no added cost.
- 3 - Wrench mobile mechanics operate 7 days a week and can save roughly 30% versus dealer service repairs.
- 4 - Mobility Roadside Assistance has served mobility challenged clients since 2013 and is the largest such program in the United States and Canada.
Topic Definition
- Mobility Roadside Assistance
Mobility Roadside Assistance is a specialized emergency service designed for people who drive or ride in wheelchair accessible vehicles, combining traditional roadside help with support tailored to riders who have mobility challenges. Unlike conventional plans that focus only on the vehicle, it provides paratransit transport so the driver and passengers are moved to a safe location rather than left stranded, and it includes technicians trained to service wheelchair lifts and ramps alongside standard tasks such as towing, jump starts, emergency fuel, tire repair, and lockout assistance. The approach reflects the understanding that for a wheelchair user, a disabled vehicle can compromise both independence and personal safety, so the service treats the person and the equipment as equally essential parts of getting someone back on the road.
Overview
Getting stranded with a vehicle broken down is an inconvenience for the averagedriver, but for a driver or passenger with mobility challenges, it can be much more than an inconvenience.
Safety concerns and the fear of getting stuck on the road are major pain points for those who travel in wheelchairs. Unfortunately, most roadside service or repair companies aren't typically equipped to assist with getting accessible vehicles back on the road, and they're especially not prepared to assist individuals with mobility challenges using the accessible vehicle. That's why Vantage Mobility International (VMI), a leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles, is partnering with Mobility Roadside Assistance™ (MRA) and At-Home Service™ provided by Wrench, Inc. to deliver the VMI Assurance program - an exclusive solution offered by VMI.
VMI will provide one year of complimentary roadside assistance for customers who purchase a new or used vehicle with a new conversion from VMI, AMS Vans or Revability. What makes this different from other roadside services is that in addition to taking care of the vehicle, MRA will also assist the driver and passengers with paratransit service, ensuring they don't end up stranded on the side of the road.
Repairs
Once the vehicle and owner are transported to a safe location, Wrench, Inc. mobile mechanics will provide the convenience of certified automotive technicians dispatched to the customer's home, office or other location to complete the repairs and get their vehicle back on the road again. This dual approach to vehicle service and support will ensure a peace of mind for customers whenever they set out for a drive in their vehicle.
MRA's specialized service also includes troubleshooting with a mobility technician, service for the accessible vehicle's wheelchair lift or ramp, as well as tire repair and/or replacement. MRA will also provide all the standard roadside services such as towing, vehicle jump starts, emergency fuel and vehicle lockouts.
"This partnership furthers VMI's commitment to empower people with disabilities by giving them more options and greater confidence to live an independent lifestyle," said Mark Shaughnessy, CEO of VMI. "When our customers purchase an accessible vehicle from VMI, AMS Vans or Revability, we want our customers to feel assured that we will do everything possible to provide the best ownership experience for many years to come."
Membership
VMI/AMS Vans/Revability customers will get MRA's roadside assistance membership for one year. They will receive a personal MRA ID card and access to all the benefits at no cost to them. VMI will begin rollout of the VMI Assurance program in July, beginning with its Signature Dealer Network.
"We are excited to partner with VMI, AMS Vans and Revability as we continue to expand our market leading service programs across North America. VMI's focus on the customer experience and lifetime service makes this strategic partnership a natural fit for us. Combining VMI's products with our growing service-based platforms, we will be able to offer Mobility Roadside Assistance™ to an even greater number of families, individuals, veterans, and businesses that deserve our very best in service," said Jim Speer, founder at MRA.
"As a disabled veteran myself, I heard at the Seattle VA hospital from fellow veterans about their concern of being left on the side of the road when they used their emergency roadside service. I knew then that there was a need for this type of service we've created. Knowing we have their backs will allow so many to pursue their dream of mobility freedom with their very own accessible vehicle."
Wrench, Inc. will provide the extended convenience of any repairs or maintenance required on location for the customer with a team of certified mobile mechanics.
"Our mobile mechanics are available to provide service on location, 7 days a week," said Edward Petersen, Co-Founder and CEO at Wrench. "We are full-service auto experts and our certified technicians will perform most maintenance and repair services right in the customer's driveway or a safe location for the mechanic in the environment where the vehicle is parked. Our goal is to give customers the freedom to go about their day, tending to more important things. We are thrilled to partner with VMI and bring this extra sense of mobility freedom to its customers."
VMI
Vantage Mobility International (VMI) is a leading manufacturer offering the industry's broadest choices of wheelchair accessible vehicles for personal and commercial use. Over the past 30 years, VMI has advanced the mobility industry with a robust portfolio of new and used ADA compliant minivans and SUV's equipped with custom solutions, side and rear entry options, and high-capacity wheelchair platform lifts.
VMI is the parent company to Revability, Inc., and AMS Vans.
Mobility Roadside Assistance
Since 2013 Mobility Roadside Assistance™ has been providing peace of mind for thousands of mobility challenged clients, through emergency roadside and paratransit service for the mobility challenged, their passengers, vehicle and equipment.
Mobility Roadside Assistance™ is the largest mobility roadside assistance program in the United States and Canada, focused on the mobility challenged population at large.
Wrench
Wrench is a new approach to car repair that allows people to schedule their service online or via their app with fixed price or customized quotes. The company performs a wide range of services on all types of cars and trucks serviced at the customer's home or office, saving people hours of travel and service time and savings of as much as 30% versus dealer service repairs.
Wrench is a privately held company headquartered in Seattle, WA with major investors Madrona Venture Group, Tenaya Capital, Vulcan Capital and The Alumni Venture Group.
Frequently Asked Questions
NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)
Does the VMI Assurance Program cost extra when buying a vehicle
No, VMI provides one year of complimentary roadside assistance to customers who purchase a new or used vehicle with a new conversion from VMI, AMS Vans, or Revability at no added cost.
What happens to my wheelchair after the vehicle is towed
Mobility Roadside Assistance provides paratransit service so the driver and passengers are transported to a safe location along with the vehicle rather than being left on the roadside.
Can the mobile mechanic fix my vehicle at home
Yes, certified Wrench technicians are dispatched to your home, office, or another safe location to complete most maintenance and repair work where the vehicle is parked.
Is the roadside service available outside the United States
Mobility Roadside Assistance operates across both the United States and Canada, making it the largest program of its kind in North America.
Does the program cover wheelchair lift and ramp problems
Yes, the service includes troubleshooting with a mobility technician and repair support for the accessible vehicle wheelchair lift or ramp in addition to standard roadside help.
What standard roadside services are included
The program covers towing, vehicle jump starts, emergency fuel delivery, tire repair or replacement, and vehicle lockouts alongside its mobility specific services.
How do I access my membership benefits
Enrolled customers receive a personal MRA identification card that provides access to all program benefits for the full year of coverage.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: What sets this partnership apart is its recognition that a breakdown is not just a vehicle problem but a personal safety problem, a point driven home by MRA founder Jim Speer, a disabled veteran who built the service after hearing fellow veterans at the Seattle VA describe being left on the roadside by conventional providers. VMI, founded three decades ago and parent to both Revability and AMS Vans, offers ADA compliant minivans and SUVs with side and rear entry and high-capacity platform lifts, while Wrench, a Seattle-based company backed by investors including Madrona Venture Group and Tenaya Capital, supplies the certified technicians who complete repairs in the customer's own driveway. Together the arrangement targets families, individuals, veterans, and businesses who need both their vehicle and themselves brought safely off the road, a gap that ordinary roadside plans have long overlooked.*
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Laura Slawny and published on 16 Jun 2019, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.