Wheelchair car and accessible vehicles (WAVs) are a big purchase for any disabled driver. When buying a new or used WAV there are essential features designed to support you that you should either consider investing in or making sure are already installed in the car you buy. These features make entering and exiting the vehicle easier.
The first and most obvious feature to check for is a ramp. These come as either manual, or are powered and controlled via a remote control. They are very efficient, low cost and easy to operate. They can be fitted to almost any adapted mobility vehicle. Whilst these can be fitted as an ‘after-market’ upgrade it is often better to purchase a vehicle with one already installed. The second feature for mobility vehicles that can be really beneficial is an entry lift. Similar to wheelchair access ramps, lifts are a great addition to a vehicle that can facilitate easy entry and exit from wheelchair accessible vehicles.
A lift can be a much easier and more efficient way to get in and out of your vehicle, but they are also more expensive and generally only found within larger vehicles as they do take up considerable space within the vehicle. The final feature you should look for in a wheelchair adapted car are restraint belts. These are used to lock a wheelchair in place to minimise it moving about when driving. Make sure the front restraint belts are self-locking. With all these features you should ensure that they adjust to accommodate different shapes and models of wheelchair.
At Automotive Group, our wheelchair car selection all come with adaptations for wheelchair passengers, just like those listed above.
