Choosing a vehicle for a wheelchair user

When it comes to choosing a car if you’re a wheelchair or mobility scooter user or you regularly transport someone who is, there are several features and adaptations you need to consider to ensure a vehicle will suit your needs.

Getting seated into a car from a wheelchair

Arguably the most important thing you need to look at when buying a new vehicle is how accessible it is to get in and out of. For many wheelchair or mobility scooter users, getting seated can be a huge struggle so it’s important to identify if you need any adaptations to assist with transferring into the vehicle.

We supply a range of seating solutions from Person Lifts and Swivel Seats to Transfer Plates, all of which allows you to get behind the wheel as a driver or travel as a passenger.

We can provide an individual assessment to determine which solution is right for you and then provide guidance on vehicle compatibility,

Wheelchair lifts and mobility scooter lifts

Then you’ll need to consider if you require any aids to help you lift a wheelchair or lift a mobility scooter into your car. In most instances, because these mobility devices are heavy duty, it’s beneficial to have a hoist system installed.

Our range of wheelchair lifts and mobility scooter lifts make light work of lifting & loading mobility scooters, wheelchairs or powerchairs to and from the boot of your car – all at the touch of a button.

We can fit these hoists into hundreds of vehicles which means your search for a new vehicle is not limited and again we will work with you to provide vehicle compatibility advice.

Make a list of all other requirements

Now you can put together another list of the different requirements you want from a car. This can be anything from how many seats you need right through to the type of engine fuel you’d prefer.

Having this list of minimum requirements will help you narrow down your choice of potential vehicles and select the right one to suit your needs.

Make the most of a test drive

Whether or not you’re going to be driving the car yourself, it’s important to check how the car will fit into your lifestyle. It may seem perfect on paper but in practice does it tick all the boxes? Are the seats comfortable? Has it got enough space? These are the sort of things you’ll want to look out for when you’re on your test drive.