Veteran Transportation Options
Our VA New Mexico Health Care System network has five transportation options for Veterans needing a ride to and from their scheduled VA appointments.
Disabled American Veterans Transportation
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provides free van rides to and from 14 of our VA health care facilities in New Mexico and southern Colorado. DAV covers Veterans who don’t have other transportation options who live outside the Albuquerque metro area. Each month, between 1,500 and 1,700 Veterans receive DAV transportation.
If you’d like to schedule a DAV van ride, contact our local DAV Transportation Coordinator.
Call to arrange a ride
DAV Transportation Coordinator
1501 San Pedro St., SE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
Phone: 505-256-2821
All DAV drivers are 100 percent volunteers and rides are subject to availability. Please note that DAV vans can only provide rides to ambulatory passengers (passengers who are able to move around without the driver’s help). For information on accessible transportation options, review our other Veteran shuttle services.
Guidelines for using DAV vans
DAV van passengers are expected to follow certain guidelines, established by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the DAV National Headquarters. These guidelines include the following:
- All riders must be ambulatory (able to board and exit the van without the driver’s help).
- The DAV van driver is only allowed to stop the van for rest stops, emergencies, and to pick up and drop off passengers. Passengers should not ask the driver to make side trips to take care of their personal business.
- Passengers are not permitted to smoke, chew tobacco, drink alcohol, use foul language, or bring weapons, drugs, or any illegal substance on the van. Van drivers are not required to provide transportation to any Veteran who is intoxicated, abusive, or who poses a threat to the driver or other passengers.
- Passengers should not do anything to distract the driver.
- Passengers should wear seatbelts at all times. Any passenger who refuses to wear a seatbelt will be denied transportation.
- If a Veteran needs another individual (for example, a caregiver) to ride in the van with them, they need to get authorization from their VA attending physician or VA-certified nurse practitioner.
- Veterans being discharged or granted passes can ride on a DAV van during the van's trip back to its home county only if space is available. The Veteran must be ready to leave when the van leaves the VA medical center.
- Veterans should be dressed and ready to leave for the hospital at the time specified. Drivers can’t wait for Veterans who aren’t ready to leave at the appointed time.
- Veterans can only bring with them items that they can hold on their lap or store under the seat.
- The DAV van is not an emergency vehicle. The driver may refuse to transport any Veteran who appears to be too ill to ride the van.
- Veterans who use the DAV Transportation Network will not be eligible to receive reimbursement for travel expenses. (M-1, Part 1, Chapter 25, July 8, 1991)
Highly Rural Veterans Transportation Program
The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services has launched the Rural Veterans Transportation Program service. Their program partners with local organizations that provide free medical transportation needs for veterans to and from Colorado, Amarillo, Texas, and the following New Mexico counties: Catron, Cibola, Colfax, De Baca, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Mora, Native American Pueblos, Quay, San Miguel, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Union counties.
Veterans must make a reservation for these free round-trip rides at least three days in advance of a medical appointment by calling DVS Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.
Call to arrange a ride
Highly Rural Veterans Transportation Program
Phone: 505-429-5906
| Partners | Service areas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Partners | An Angels Touch, LLC | Service areas | De Baca, Guadalupe, Mora, San Miguel, Socorro, Sierra |
| Partners | Golden Spread | Service areas | Amarillo, TX, Colfax, Colorado, Harding, Union, Mora and San Miguel |
| Partners | Blue Raven | Service areas | Sierra, Socorro, Native American Pueblos, Catron, Torrance |
| Partners | Albuquerque Express | Service areas | Catron, Cibola, Hidalgo, Torrance, Socorro, Sierra |
| Partners | Shuttle Ruidoso | Service areas | Lincoln, Quay, De Baca, Guadalupe, and Sierra |
Southeast New Mexico Veterans Transportation Network
Call to arrange a ride
Phone: 575-622-0729
2114 West 2nd Street Roswell, NM 88203
If you live in the Southeast region of New Mexico, Veteran organization SNMVTN provides rides for Veterans to and from medical appointments in Roswell and surrounding areas. Southeast NM Veterans Transportation Network hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (MT) Monday-Thursday.
Sun Van Paratransit Service
Sun Van
The Albuquerque Sun Van offers no cost transportation who live within the Albuquerque city limits. Scheduling a ride are 1- 3 days in advance and Fridays are 5 days in advance.
After you complete your application, Veterans are required to fill out an application and have their primary or specialty doctor sign off as well.
Start your application to arrange a ride
ABQ Ride: (505) 243-7433, ext. 4506
Sun Van Application
Veteran Transportation Service
Veteran Transportation Service
Our Veteran Transportation Services provides wheelchair-accessible transport vans for Veteran patients. Contact VTS dispatcher for scheduling within 25 miles from our Albuquerque Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center and Rio Rancho Northwest Metro VA Clinic.
Door to door shuttle:
- First come first serve basis.
- Appointments between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Must call 3 business days in advance.
VTS Coordinator:
Daniel Shrodt
Email: daniel.schrodt@va.gov
Phone: 505-265-1711, ext. 5438, 7029
Alternate Contact:
Hugo Rodriquez
Email: Hugo.Rodriquez@va.gov
Phone: 505-265-1711, ext. 4506
Many medical centers and clinics are also served by other local transportation services. To find those, review the transportation services information for the facility you want to visit.