The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provides free vans to and from VA New Jersey healthcare facilities for veterans with no other transportation. Learn how to schedule a DAV van ride.
About the DAV service
DAV van resources will work with county veterans’ commissioners to provide transportation to veterans’ medical centers for scheduled medical appointments.
These vans transport veterans throughout the New Jersey area. Each month, 1,500 to 1,700 veterans receive her DAV transport.
arrange a ride
To schedule a DAV van ride, contact your county hospital services coordinator.
East Orange VA Medical Center
Room 13-143
Map of East Orange campus
Phone: Coming soon!
Opening hours: Coming soon!
Lyons VA Medical Center
Building 5
Room 1L
Lions campus map
Phone: Coming soon!
Opening hours: Coming soon!
Note that DAV vans can only provide rides to ambulatory passengers (passengers who can move around without the assistance of a driver). See other Veteran shuttle services for accessible transportation options.
local transportation options
Many medical centers and clinics also have other local transportation available. To find them, check the transit service information for the facility you want to visit.
Guidelines for using DAV bans
Passengers in DAV vans are expected to follow specific guidelines established by the Department of Veterans Affairs and DAV National Headquarters. These guidelines include:
- All riders must be ambulatory (be able to get in and out of the van without driver assistance).
- Drivers of DAV vans are permitted to stop the van only for breaks, emergencies, and to board and disembark passengers. Passengers should not ask drivers to make detours to run personal errands.
- Passengers are not permitted to smoke, chew tobacco, drink alcohol, use foul language, or bring weapons, drugs, or illegal substances into the van. Van drivers are not required to provide transportation to veterans who are intoxicated, abusive, or threatening the driver or other passengers.
- Passengers must not distract the driver.
- Passengers must wear seat belts at all times. Passengers who refuse to wear their seat belts will be refused carriage.
- If a veteran needs to bring another person (such as a caregiver) into the van, approval must be obtained from the VA’s primary care physician or VA-certified nurse practitioner.
- Discharged or cleared veterans may only ride in DAV vans until the van is returned to their home county, if space is available. Veterans should be ready to leave when the van leaves the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
- Veterans should be dressed and ready to go to the hospital at the appointed time. Drivers cannot wait for veterans who are not ready to depart at the appointed time.
- Veterans may only bring items that can be placed on their laps or stored under their seats.
- A DAV van is not an emergency vehicle. Drivers may refuse to transport veterans who they believe are too sick to ride in the van.
- Veterans using the DAV transportation network are not eligible for travel reimbursement.
(M-1, Part 1, Chapter 25, July 8, 1991)