How to Hire a Driver for an Elderly Parent
The right choice depends on how often your parent needs rides and whether the driver is covered if something goes wrong.
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You can hire privately, through an agency, or use a rideshare service built for older adults
A private hire, often someone found through word of mouth or a local caregiving listing, tends to cost less and lets your parent build a relationship with one person. An agency costs more but handles screening, scheduling, and backup if the regular driver is unavailable. Rideshare services built for seniors sit in between, offering on demand rides without a long term commitment.
Which one makes sense depends on how often your parent needs to get somewhere, whether they need help beyond the car itself such as getting to the door or carrying groceries, and how much oversight you want to have. A parent who needs a ride twice a month has different needs than one who needs daily transport to dialysis or work.
Insurance is the first thing to check, not an afterthought
Before anything else, find out whether the driver has their own auto insurance and whether that policy covers them driving your parent as a passenger for pay. Many personal auto policies exclude livery or commercial use, meaning a driver who gets paid to transport someone may not be covered if they cause an accident while doing it.
If you're hiring privately, ask to see the driver's insurance card and ask their insurer directly whether paid transport of a passenger is covered. Some insurers require a separate rider or a commercial policy for this. If you're going through an agency, ask them directly what insurance covers the driver and the vehicle, and ask for that in writing rather than taking a verbal assurance.
Rideshare services typically carry their own commercial coverage that applies while a ride is in progress, which is one reason some families choose that route even though it costs more per trip than a private arrangement.
If your parent's own car is being used, their insurer needs to know a non household driver is operating it regularly for this purpose. Call and ask how this affects their policy before it becomes a problem after an accident.
A driving record check matters as much as a background check
A criminal background check tells you if someone is safe to have in your parent's home. It doesn't tell you if they're a safe driver. Ask to see the driver's motor vehicle record, which shows tickets, accidents, and license suspensions. Most states let a person request their own record and share a copy, or let you request it with their written permission.
A clean record from several years ago doesn't tell you much. Ask for something recent, and ask again periodically if the arrangement continues for months or years.
If you're working through an agency, ask whether they check driving records before assigning someone and how often they recheck. Some agencies check once at hiring and never again, which matters if the arrangement lasts a long time.
Also ask what vehicle will be used. A driver with a clean record driving an old car with worn tires or no recent inspection still carries risk your parent is exposed to.
Questions people ask about this
Can I use my parent's car for a hired driver instead of the driver's own car?
Yes, and it may be simpler for insurance purposes since the policy is already in your parent's name. Tell your parent's insurer that a non household driver will be operating the car regularly and ask how that affects coverage. Some insurers want the driver listed on the policy even if they're not a household member.
What questions should I ask before hiring a private driver for an elderly parent?
Ask to see a valid driver's license, a recent motor vehicle record, and proof of their own auto insurance. Ask directly whether that insurance covers paid transport of a passenger, since many personal policies exclude this. Ask for references from other families if this is their regular work, and ask how they'd handle a medical emergency during a ride.
Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for a hired driver for appointments?
Some Medicaid programs and Medicare Advantage plans cover non emergency medical transportation, but the rules and what counts as a qualifying trip vary by state and by plan. Call your parent's plan directly and ask what transportation benefits they have and how to use them before assuming it's covered.
Is it better to hire through an agency or find a driver independently?
An agency costs more but handles screening, insurance questions, and backup coverage if the usual driver is unavailable. An independent arrangement costs less and can build a more personal relationship, but you're responsible for checking the driver's record and insurance yourself. The right choice depends on how much time you have to manage it and how often your parent needs rides.
What happens if the hired driver gets into an accident with my parent in the car?
Who pays depends on whose insurance was in force at the time and whether that policy covered paid transport. This is exactly why checking coverage before an accident happens matters, rather than assuming it will work out. Ask the driver's insurer, or the agency, directly how a claim would be handled if an accident happened during a paid ride.
See what it would cost to add a driver to your parent's policy before you decide how to hire one.
Start by asking your parent's current insurer how a non household driver using the car would affect their policy, since this shapes which hiring option makes sense. If you're considering a private hire, ask to see the driver's license, insurance card, and a recent motor vehicle record before agreeing to anything. If you're considering an agency, ask in writing what insurance covers the driver and the vehicle during a ride. Call your parent's health plan to ask whether any transportation benefit already exists before paying for something they might get another way. Keep copies of whatever insurance information you collect, since you may need it again if the arrangement continues for months.
