5 Questions To Ask When Buying A Car To Accommodate A Wheelchair
No matter whether someone in your family has always used a wheelchair or this is something you have had to adjust to recently, you will need a car that accommodates this so that the family can travel with ease.
Today, there are lots of wheelchair accessible vehicles for sale. In this post, we look at five key questions to help you find a car that fits your budget, lifestyle, and needs.
Number one: Who will drive the vehicle? You are going to have a more limited selection of vehicles available to you if an adaptive driver is going to get behind the wheel. If the latter applies, you need to think about whether you wish to drive from your wheelchair or whether you would rather be transferred to the driver’s seat. You should work with an experienced driver rehabilitation specialist if you have not driven a car or any type of vehicle before.
The second question is what are the key dimensions of your wheelchair? How you manoeuvre, exit, and enter with different mobility vehicles is determined by the height and weight of the wheelchair user, as well as any other mobility equipment. This means you need to measure the combined weight of the passenger and the wheelchair. You also need to note the width of the wheelchair at its widest point, and the height, which should be measured from the floor to the top of the wheelchair user’s head, as well as the width of the wheelchair’s wheels and the length of the passenger when seated in the wheelchair.
Where are you going to park the vehicle? This is the third question to think about. This is a vital question with regards to how you are going to enter the vehicle. For instance, if the vehicle is going to be parked in a narrow garage most of the time, a side-entry ramp is not ideal.
Next, what key features do you need? There are so many different features available for wheelchair users today. This includes backup cameras, satellite navigation, power sliding doors, DVD players, removable seats, and much more.
Finally, what is your price range? Before you start looking for a wheelchair accessible vehicle, you need to decipher your budget. Of course, you may have some form of government aid or assistance. Allowances differ based on your circumstances, and you may even decide you wish to use your allowance on other mobility equipment, rather than a vehicle. Don’t overlook the used market either. You can get a used Range Rover and other high-quality brands adapted to suit your needs. You can also opt for a Nearly-New car, which you may be able to change every three years.
Now that you have asked yourself the five key questions regarding cars for wheelchairs, you are now ready to find the perfect one for you. You should never cut corners when doing so. After all, your comfort is the most important thing.
