San Diego County has dozens of non-emergency medical transport providers. Some are excellent. Some are not. These ten questions will tell you which is which before you book.
The ten questions
Can I see proof of commercial auto liability and general liability insurance? Are your drivers CPR and first-aid certified? Do your drivers carry current DOT medical cards? Are your wheelchair drivers Q-straint certified? Do you do background checks on drivers? What is your on-time rate? Do you assign the same driver for recurring rides? What languages do you support? How do you handle a no-show or cancellation? Do you bill Medi-Cal and Medicare Advantage directly?
A legitimate provider can answer all ten in one conversation. A risky provider deflects on the first three.
Other signals
Do they have a real office address you can visit? Do they answer the phone promptly, or does every call go to voicemail? Does the website list an NPI and legal entity name? Can they email a sample rate card? Do they have real reviews on Google, not just a logo and a phone number?
Red flags
No physical office. Driver pulling up in an unmarked van. No insurance proof on request. Quotes that refuse to state base rate and per-mile. Reviews that are all five stars and all posted within a single week. A dispatcher who cannot confirm the driver’s name and phone.
Key takeaways
- Insurance, licensing, and certifications are non-negotiable.
- On-time rate and consistent driver assignment matter for recurring rides.
- Language support is a real issue in diverse neighborhoods.
- Run away from quotes that dodge on base rate and mileage.