Keeping rides rolling: Transportation Network vehicle ordering window approaches

This past year, dedicated DAV volunteers across the country gave over 230,000 rides to veterans for their Department of Veterans Affairs medical appointments.

Many of those rides were provided by volunteers driving vehicles that DAV departments and chapters—often with the help of the DAV National Service Foundation’s Columbia Trust—purchased and donated to the VA, making the DAV Transportation Network a critical program in helping veterans who don’t have reliable transportation of their own get access to their medical care.

From 1987 to 2025, DAV has donated 3,909 vehicles to the program at a cost of more than $97 million. The Columbia Trust is a grant resource for departments and chapters that helps make this level of donations possible. The Trust is a financial support tool that helps our departments and chapters carry out services to veterans, which includes helping cover the cost of Transportation Network vehicles. The Trust relies on financially well-positioned departments and chapters to share their resources with those in need.

But it takes more than money to keep the Transportation Network running smoothly. Strong local programs rely on diligent member leaders who know and follow the process and timeline for ordering new vehicles.

The window to order these vehicles opens once a year during the last quarter. The exact timing for 2027 purchases depends on when DAV receives vehicle and pricing information. With guaranteed availability and the lowest price, this annual window is the only time departments and chapters can purchase Transportation Network vehicles.

Once pricing information is sent to DAV, Voluntary Services will send a memo signed by the national adjutant providing the details, deadlines and request instructions.

Below is just an overview of the ordering process; the memo details every step and scenario. Please refer to it for full instructions when it becomes available.

Requesting vehicles is an online process that must be initiated by department leaders. Chapter leaders can’t open or start their own vehicle request applications. Vehicle requests can only be made if:

There’s an immediate need for a vehicle

You have approved volunteer drivers

Your local VA medical center is willing to accept the donation

You can guarantee the funds for the minimum share requirement (which is 55% of the total cost of the vehicle)

Department leaders must apply on behalf of their chapters but can request collaborators through the “Invitations” tab inside the application. Department leaders who are first-time users of the online portal, must select “Request Password” and use the email address on their membership record to get credentials.

Collaborators will be emailed a registration link to access and edit vehicle applications. They won’t be able to submit finished requests though. This allows department leaders to control access while delegating the responsibility of filling out the form to chapter leaders.

Departments must use one application for all vehicle requests under their purview. They shouldn’t submit an application until all their department and chapter requests are completed.

The previous year’s department and chapter annual financial reports (AFRs) must be approved by DAV National Headquarters before an application can be considered. If a department or chapter is not required to file under provisions of the National Bylaws, they still must include their previous year’s AFR into the application.

Departments applying on behalf of chapters requesting financial assistance must also include their departmental AFR. As a reminder, all AFRs are now completed online and are due by June 30, with a built-in 90-day extension of Sept. 30. More information about the AFR submission process can be found in this memo.

The DAV National Service Foundation needs these financial reports for all those requesting financial assistance as this is an essential component of assessing a department or chapter’s financial health, properly determining the financial need, and deciding what percentage—up to 45%—of the cost of the vehicle the Columbia Trust will cover.

Even if financial assistance is not requested, signatures on the application certification(s) from department and chapter leaders (if applicable) are required.

If you have any further questions, contact the National Service Foundation Columbia Trust at nsf@dav.org or 859-441-7300, option 6, then press 2.