Car or van to carry a person in a wheel chair

[winchman]

Looking for one to get a relative out and about any top tips on finding one budget is 2K but ideally less
I have tried the usual places but unless I am searching incorrectly I cant find any cheaper ones?

 

[Barking Mat]

That's a bit of a specialist niche, it you're expecting ramps and all that you'll have to up your budget.

Are you unable to transfer them from a wheelchair to a car seat ?

That would be loads cheaper, involving manual handling, depends on weight and the person's ability to be manoeuvererd, and type of handicap.

I have some experience in this.

 

[winchman]

That's a bit of a specialist niche, it you're expecting ramps and all that you'll have to up your budget.

Are you unable to transfer them from a wheelchair to a car seat ?

That would be loads cheaper, involving manual handling, depends on weight and the person's ability to be manoeuvererd, and type of handicap.

I have some experience in this.

Sadly he is too frail to move from wheel chair to car etc, he just needs a ride out to keep him sane as he is either in bed or more recently we have managed to get him in to a special chair.
Its took a lot of money, physio and time to get him in to a wheel chair.
I have seen one locally but its a Fiat which I am not a fan of and the stuff to secure the wheel chair is missing

 

[Barking Mat]

How do you get him into his wheelchair ?

Hoist ? Is he a big man ?

Can he hold his own weight ? (Can he support himself with help ?)

 

[Greeves246]

Autotrader, add option WAV, I sold my Citroen Berlingo for £2000 to a mate three years ago . Was ideal for carrying a bike to shows.

New & Used Cars for Sale - Auto Trader UK

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[voipio]

Have you looked at the Motability Scheme:

Find a vehicle | Motability Scheme

Use our search tool to find the right vehicle for you.

www.motability.co.uk

Also mobility grants:

Individual grants

Our grants are designed to help disabled people access transport and make more journeys.

www1.motability.org.uk

 

[gaz1]

as above but this names vehicles to choose from

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles - your questions answered (2025 update) | Autotrader

Find out if a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) could be the right fit for your lifestyle and needs.

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[bricol]

Used this service for my mum:

Accessible Transport & Companionship - Driving Miss Daisy

Safe & reliable transportation & companionship, our wheelchair accessible vehicles and fully trained companion drivers are there for you.

drivingmissdaisy.co.uk

Not exactly peanuts, rather more than a more usual taxi, but the lovely lady with my local one was, well, lovely.

If he's not quite that bad, I would imagine a ride out a week in a more mainstream wheelchair accessible taxi might well work out more affordable than purchasing, maintaining, taxing insuring etc another vehicle.

 

[frank horton]

ask the Help the Aged, they did great for me.....prob one u can rent just for the day....

 

[premmington]

@winchman

Don't buy a wheel chair access ex Taxi - just don't.

Wheel chair access Taxis from most licensing districts - are "free plates" - not Hackney plates that are bought and sold. They tend to be an easy route into being able to use Taxi ranks (where a provite hire plate can't) - bought by people with no money for vehicle maintenance. They tend to be worked like a "Blackpool Donkey" - and are fit for the knackers yard when sold off.

----------

I will be crossing this bridge with my Mother soon - and in the end I will using ramped/lift Taxis like everybody else does.

Plus to be honest - don't dismiss the Bus - I pushed Mum up to bus stop a few weeks ago - big red bus rocked up - driver dropped it down on air suspension - rolled Mum in - same again on way home. Both drivers asked if I wanted any help - which I did'nt - but they both asked. Took her up town - for eye test - she went to Boots bought some girly face cream - we had lunch/coffee out - loaded her lap with some shopping from Sainsburys - Bus rides are all geared up for wheelchairs mate.

 

[TEO]

Bricol's suggestion is a good one, especially if you want to do something while you're looking for a vehicle.

Re: motability, the grants don't mix with a personal independence payments

 

[TEO]

ask the Help the Aged, they did great for me.....prob one u can rent just for the day....

Now called Age Uk

 

[Agroshield]

Are these people any possibility?

Merseylink

Merseylink

www.merseytravel.gov.uk

 

[ahebron]

No idea on UK prices but here in NZ I just bought a 2015 Nissan Note (ex Japan conversion) with swing out passenger seat to take my mum out for trips. She has been house bound for the last 6 months and was in tears of happiness the first trip. But different to your relative as mum (91) can still use her walker frame to get out to the car. She was always a nervous passenger and I can only imagine the fear of being in a wheelchair in the back of a car/van. Once she looses the ability to use the walker frame I am unsure how we do it.

 

[johnik]

I had to get one when i lost my leg, cost me silly money but it was that or stay at home and slowly go crazy.
to stay in his wheelchair, he will need the proper hold down straps and the reinforcements for the straps to bolt on to, all a bit complicated if you want it to be safe and legal, pity you are at the other end of the county as i have some hold downs and ramps gathering dust.

 

[winchman]

Used this service for my mum:

Accessible Transport & Companionship - Driving Miss Daisy

Safe & reliable transportation & companionship, our wheelchair accessible vehicles and fully trained companion drivers are there for you.

drivingmissdaisy.co.uk

Not exactly peanuts, rather more than a more usual taxi, but the lovely lady with my local one was, well, lovely.

If he's not quite that bad, I would imagine a ride out a week in a more mainstream wheelchair accessible taxi might well work out more affordable than purchasing, maintaining, taxing insuring etc another vehicle.

This looks great sadly none locally

 

[winchman]

Are these people any possibility?

Merseylink

Merseylink

www.merseytravel.gov.uk

Thanks forgot about this will have a look

 

[winchman]

How do you get him into his wheelchair ?

Hoist ? Is he a big man ?

Can he hold his own weight ? (Can he support himself with help ?)

Hoist from bed to special chair, then two people to stand him up and twist in to wheel chair, quite a big bloke too. He is having physio to try and get him more mobile, he is getting better but it's very slow progress. Can't stand on his own yet

 

[winchman]

Have you looked at the Motability Scheme:

Find a vehicle | Motability Scheme

Use our search tool to find the right vehicle for you.

www.motability.co.uk

Also mobility grants:

Individual grants

Our grants are designed to help disabled people access transport and make more journeys.

www1.motability.org.uk

We did look but deposits are high and by the time it arrived he may no longer be with us.

 

[Blobber]

This lot normally have a lot of used vehicles, not local to you but may be worth a call?

Cars – IJC Car Sales Ltd

ijccarsalesltd.co.uk