Getting to the doctor, the grocery store, or a friend's house should not be the hardest part of someone's week. Arizona has a real, if scattered, network of ride options for older adults — volunteer drivers, city dial-a-ride, ADA paratransit, and Medicaid-funded medical transport. Below is a starting map of the programs we send families to most often.
Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility rules change. Please call ahead to confirm details before booking, and tell us if a listing is out of date so we can fix it.
Volunteer driver programs
Free or donation-based rides from screened community volunteers — the warmest option for medical appointments, errands, and social visits. Most require a short application and a few days' notice.
Benevilla Volunteer Rides
West Valley (Surprise, Sun City, Peoria)
Volunteer drivers for medical appointments, grocery runs, and errands. Donation suggested.
Foundation for Senior Living (FSL) — Transportation
Maricopa County
Door-through-door rides for older adults to medical visits and essential trips.
Duet — Partners In Health & Aging
Greater Phoenix
Free volunteer rides for homebound older adults; pairs neighbors with seniors.
Pima Council on Aging — Neighbors Care Alliance
Pima County / Tucson
Network of neighborhood groups offering volunteer transportation and check-ins.
Dial-a-ride & ADA paratransit
Shared, on-demand public transit for adults 65+ and riders with disabilities. Reduced fares; reservations are usually open 1–7 days in advance.
Valley Metro RideChoice / Dial-a-Ride
Phoenix metro (most member cities)
Shared, on-demand rides for ADA-eligible riders and adults 65+. Reduced fare.
City of Phoenix Dial-a-Ride
Phoenix city limits
Curb-to-curb shared rides; reservations recommended 1–7 days ahead.
East Valley Dial-a-Ride
Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale
Operated by Valley Metro; ADA and senior service across the East Valley.
Sun Shuttle Dial-a-Ride
Pima County (outside Tucson core)
On-demand rides in Green Valley, Marana, Oro Valley, and other Pima communities.
Sun Van (Tucson)
City of Tucson
ADA paratransit for riders unable to use fixed-route Sun Tran buses.
Non-emergency medical transport (NEMT)
Rides specifically to and from medical care — including dialysis, oncology, and VA appointments. Some programs are free for AHCCCS members, veterans, or active patients.
ModivCare (formerly LogistiCare)
Statewide — AHCCCS members
Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for Medicaid-covered appointments.
American Cancer Society Road To Recovery
Statewide
Free rides to and from cancer treatment for patients who need transportation.
Veterans Transportation Service (Phoenix VA)
Maricopa County veterans
Free rides for enrolled veterans to VA medical appointments.
DAV Transportation Network (Tucson VA)
Southern Arizona veterans
Disabled American Veterans volunteer drivers to VA medical centers and clinics.
Tips before you book
Book early when you can
Most dial-a-ride and volunteer programs ask for 1–7 days notice. Same-day rides are limited and usually cost more.
Ask about eligibility up front
Many free or reduced-fare programs require an age, income, ADA, or medical-eligibility check. The application is usually short.
Confirm the level of help
Curb-to-curb, door-to-door, and door-through-door are different. If your loved one needs help inside the home, say so when booking.
Have a backup plan
Volunteer rides can fall through. Keep a paid option (Uber Health, Lyft, or a NEMT broker) saved as a backup.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for dial-a-ride in Arizona?+
Most dial-a-ride programs in Maricopa and Pima counties serve adults 65 and older and riders with an ADA-eligible disability. You typically apply once with the local transit agency (Valley Metro, City of Phoenix, or Sun Tran) and then book individual rides 1–7 days ahead.
Is ModivCare free for seniors?+
ModivCare is free for AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid) members traveling to a covered medical appointment. It is not a general ride service — the trip must be to or from approved medical care, and the member or their provider books it in advance.
How do I get a free ride to a doctor's appointment?+
Start with three options: ModivCare if the rider has AHCCCS, the Veterans Transportation Service or DAV Network if they are an enrolled veteran, and a local volunteer driver program (Duet, Benevilla, FSL, or PCOA's Neighbors Care Alliance) for everyone else.
What's the difference between curb-to-curb and door-through-door service?+
Curb-to-curb means the driver waits at the vehicle. Door-to-door means they walk the rider between the door and the car. Door-through-door includes help inside the home — important for riders who use a walker, are unsteady, or live alone. Always ask which level a program offers before booking.
How far in advance should I book a senior ride?+
Plan on 1–7 days for dial-a-ride and 3–7 days for volunteer drivers. Medical transport brokers like ModivCare usually need at least 3 business days for non-urgent trips. Same-day rides are limited and almost always cost more.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us where you live and what kind of ride you need — we'll help match you with the right program and walk you through the application.