Transportation to Physical Therapy After a Car Accident in Michigan: How to Get Your Rides Covered by No-Fault

Your doctor has prescribed physical therapy three times a week for the next two months. The problem: you can't drive yet, your spouse works days, and the clinic is twenty minutes away. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone — getting reliable transportation to physical therapy after a car accident is one of the most common practical problems injured people in Metro Detroit run into.

The good news is that Michigan's no-fault system was built with this in mind. This guide is the practical side of the question: how to actually get to every session, how to get those rides paid for, and what to do when the claim is slow. If you only want to know whether no-fault covers rides at all, start with our explainer, Does Michigan no-fault insurance cover medical transportation?

This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your specific claim, talk to your insurer or a Michigan auto-accident attorney.

The short answer

Rides to accident-related physical therapy are usually payable under Michigan no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) as an allowable expense. Open your claim, ask your adjuster about transportation, and give your ride provider your claim number, therapy prescription and schedule. Once benefits are verified, CuraTransit can set up recurring auto accident transportation to PT anywhere in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties.

Why missing physical therapy hurts more than your recovery

Physical therapy after a crash is rarely a one-time visit. A typical plan of care is several sessions a week for weeks or months, and progress depends on showing up consistently. When rides fall through, three things tend to happen:

• Recovery slows. Therapists build each session on the last one. Gaps mean repeating work instead of moving forward.
• The treatment record gets gaps. Missed appointments show up in your therapy notes, and insurers review those records when deciding what is reasonable and necessary.
• Stress goes up. Asking friends and family for rides several times a week, every week, wears on everyone.

Solving transportation early — ideally before your first PT appointment — is one of the simplest ways to protect both your recovery and your claim.

What are your options for rides to therapy after an auto accident?

Most injured people end up using one of four options, or a mix of them. Here is how they compare for recurring PT.

If you are wondering how to get to physical therapy without a car and without leaning on family, a non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) provider is usually the most dependable choice for a multi-week plan of care. If you use a wheelchair, it is often the only practical one.

What does no-fault PIP pay for physical therapy rides?

Michigan's no-fault act requires PIP to pay allowable expenses — "reasonable charges incurred for reasonably necessary products, services and accommodations for an injured person's care, recovery, or rehabilitation" (MCL 500.3107). The State of Michigan's own auto insurance FAQ lists transportation to and from medical appointments among PIP benefits (State of Michigan).

For no-fault transportation to physical therapy, that generally means:

• Professional rides to accident-related therapy can be billed by the provider to the insurer once the claim and transportation benefit are verified.
• Mileage reimbursement for physical therapy trips is an option when a family member drives you. Log every trip (date, clinic, round-trip miles) and submit it promptly.
• Your coverage level matters. Since the 2019 reform, drivers choose a PIP medical limit, and therapy, transportation and other allowable expenses draw from the same limit (choosing PIP medical coverage).

No-fault pays for what is reasonable and necessary for accident-related care, so the rides should match the therapy your doctor prescribed for your accident injuries.

5 steps to get transportation to physical therapy after a car accident approved

1. Open your no-fault claim and get a claim number. Generally, you must give notice or apply for benefits within one year of the accident (MCL 500.3145). If no auto policy applies to you, you may be able to apply through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan — see our MACP medical transportation guide.
2. Get the therapy prescription in writing. Ask your doctor or therapist for the order and the plan of care (how many sessions, how often, for how long).
3. Ask your adjuster about transportation. Tell them you cannot drive (and why), how often you attend therapy, and whether you need a wheelchair vehicle. Ask whether they require anything before approving rides.
4. Give your ride provider the claim details. A provider that works with no-fault claims will verify benefits with the insurer before scheduling billed rides.
5. Lock in a standing schedule. Book recurring pickups that match your therapy days and times, and update the provider whenever the clinic changes your plan.

If you would rather not chase this yourself, call CuraTransit at 248-320-9092 with your claim number. We contact the insurer to verify transportation benefits and set up the schedule with you.

Checklist: what to send your adjuster and your ride provider

Keep this information in one place — a note on your phone works:

• Insurer name, claim number and date of the accident
• Adjuster's name, phone and email (and your nurse case manager, if one is assigned)
• Physical therapy prescription and plan of care
• Clinic name and address, plus session days and times
• Your mobility needs: walking, cane or walker, manual or power wheelchair
• Attorney or law-firm contact, if you have one
• A running log of every trip and every appointment attended

The trip log matters. If a bill is ever questioned, a clean record of rides that line up with therapy notes makes the review simple.

Wheelchair van or ambulatory ride? Matching the ride to your recovery

Your needs will likely change as you heal, and your rides should change with them.

• Early recovery: if you are using a wheelchair, a wheelchair-accessible van lets you ride while seated in your own chair, secured with a ramp or lift — no painful transfers into a car seat.
• Later recovery: once you are walking with a cane or walker, ambulatory transportation gives door-to-door help at a lower level of service.

Tell your provider when your therapist clears you for the next stage, so the vehicle type stays appropriate. CuraTransit does not provide stretcher transport; if you must lie flat, ask your care team about an ambulance.

What if coverage is pending, denied or exhausted?

Claims do not always move as fast as therapy does. Here is how people typically keep going:

• Pending: insurers generally have 30 days after reasonable proof of loss to pay benefits. While a claim is being set up, some people pay privately for the first rides and keep receipts. Ask the provider before booking how billing will work.
• Denied: ask the adjuster for the reason in writing. A Michigan no-fault attorney can tell you whether the denial can be challenged.
• PIP limit exhausted: once your PIP medical limit is used up, the insurer stops paying allowable expenses. Rides can continue as private-pay medical transportation, quoted before you book.

CuraTransit always discusses the payment path with you before scheduling, so there are no surprises. You can review all four options on our insurance and payment page.

Getting to PT in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties

CuraTransit is based in Southfield and drives accident patients to outpatient physical therapy, chiropractic, rehab and specialist appointments throughout the three counties — including clinics run by the large Metro Detroit health systems and independent PT practices.

• Wayne County: Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia and surrounding communities
• Oakland County: Southfield, Troy, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Novi and Pontiac
• Macomb County: Warren, Sterling Heights and Clinton Township

Longer trips outside the three counties are quoted case by case depending on distance. Ready to set up rides? Book online or call 248-320-9092.

For case managers, adjusters and law firms

If you manage auto-accident clients, transportation is often the first thing that breaks a treatment plan. CuraTransit can take a referral with the claim number and therapy schedule, verify transportation benefits with the insurer, and run recurring trips with consistent pickup times. We can also share trip confirmations so the treatment record and the transportation record match. Learn about referral and facility arrangements on our partners page.

Frequently asked questions

Does Michigan no-fault pay for rides to physical therapy?

Usually, yes. Michigan no-fault PIP pays allowable expenses for reasonably necessary care, and the State of Michigan lists transportation to and from medical appointments among PIP benefits. Coverage depends on your PIP medical limit, claim status and benefit verification.

Can I get mileage reimbursement if my family drives me to PT?

Many insurers reimburse mileage for trips to accident-related treatment when a family member drives. Keep a log of each trip with the date, clinic and round-trip miles, and submit it to your adjuster promptly.

Do I need a doctor's order for therapy transportation?

The therapy itself needs a prescription, and insurers review whether rides are reasonable and necessary. Having the therapy order and plan of care in hand makes approval of recurring transportation much smoother.

How far in advance should I book recurring PT rides?

Call as soon as you have your therapy schedule and claim number. Verifying no-fault benefits can take a little time, so booking before your first session avoids missed appointments.

Can my nurse case manager or attorney schedule rides for me?

Yes. Case managers, law-firm staff and family members can arrange rides for you with the claim information and your therapy schedule.

What if I don't have auto insurance?

If no auto policy applies to you, you may be able to claim benefits through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (MACP). CuraTransit accepts eligible MACP cases after claim assignment and benefit verification.

Does CuraTransit drive to chiropractic and rehab appointments too?

Yes. We provide rides to accident-related physical therapy, chiropractic care, rehab, imaging and specialist visits across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties.

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Hurt in a car accident? Don't let rides decide whether you make it to therapy. Send us your claim number and we'll verify your no-fault transportation benefits and set up your rides to physical therapy — wheelchair or ambulatory, one-time or recurring. Not covered yet? We also offer private pay and accept eligible MACP cases, and facilities can ask about a transportation contract. Call 248-320-9092 or book your ride online.

Sources: State of Michigan — Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions; State of Michigan — Choosing PIP medical coverage; Michigan Legislature — MCL 500.3107; Michigan Legislature — MCL 500.3145.