This guide is not meant to deter you but to make you aware of the many issues to be considered, in the hope that you make the best choice.

The information given here presumes you are just starting your search for a vehicle suitable for wheelchair transport.

Many people have a genuine interest in motor vehicles and offer more suggestions than you need - even if you are buying a conventional car. We receive many calls from people who have become confused by the conflicting advice given in good faith by friends or relatives. When it comes to wheelchair accessible vehicles, there are a many additional issues to be considered - issues in which very few car sales people or regular motorists have sufficient experience to advise or assist you.

As a result of this lack of understanding, or enthusiasm to make a sale, buyers are sometimes encouraged to buy a vehicle, which may not be appropriate for their needs. Unfortunately, many converters have stories of people who have arrived at their door with a recently purchased vehicle, only to find out, too late, that the vehicle purchase is not suitable for conversion for wheelchair access.

We hope the following may be of assistance to you. It is not intended to be the definitive guide to a wheelchair accessible vehicle selection but rather to alert prospective buyers to some of the areas to be considered.

No motor vehicle manufacturer produces a vehicle to suit all wheelchair users' needs. Therefore vehicles built for general users must be modified to suit your needs as closely as possible. Unfortunately, as with so many disability issues, compromises are inevitable, but we hope we can help to keep compromises to a minimum.
 
  FLOOR SPACE room to move
  HEADROOM are you able to fit
  DOOR OPENINGS ease of access
  WINDOW HEIGHTS can you see out?
  RIDE AND COMFORT don't get bounced around
  VEHICLE DRIVE ABILITY creature comforts
  PARKING where to park
  WHEELCHAIR LOADING/UNLOADING get in or out quickly
  RESTRAINTS AND FITTINGS don't need to be a gymnast
  USER FRIENDLY make it easy to go out
   
 
 
 
The actual size needed will depend on the wheelchair and any additional fittings on it, eg respirator, extended footplates, arm rests or other items which overhang the base of the wheelchair. A fairly standard wheelchair requires a minimum of 1200mm x 700mm. When you take this much space out of a vehicle, plus room for a ramp or hoist, you may be surprised at how little useable space is left for other passengers.
 
 
 
 
15OOmm is ideal for most applications, however very few vehicles offer l5OOmm headroom without major modification. This even applies to some quite large vans. Check the seated height from the floor to the top of the wheelchair occupant's head or their headrest (if fitted) - whichever is the higher. To allow for movement over bumps during travel, an additional 100mm clearance is desirable. Some vehicles achieve additional headroom by lowering the floor, rather than raising the roof. Either way there are big costs involved.
 
 
 
 
Many vans which have adequate interior headroom, fall short on door opening height, either side or rear entry particularly for wheelchair users who cannot bend their neck. Modifying door openings and doors can be quite expensive. Some users get around inadequate door openings by winding the back of the wheelchair down, loading the chair and then winding it back up again after entering the vehicle. While this can be done, it is just one more task to add to the many associated with wheelchair use and should be avoided where possible, for the comfort, long term convenience and sanity of all concerned.
 
 
 
 
The windows of many vehicles, although quite large in area, often provide poor visibility for adult wheelchair occupants, as the top edge of the window is below the wheelchair passenger's eye line. A wheelchair passenger's eye line should be at least 100mm below the top edge of the window to allow optimum viewing pleasure.
 
 
 
 
The answer to many people's needs is a van-type vehicle due to their wheelchair type, equipment needed when travelling, family size or budget. These vans are typically based on one tonne commercial vehicles. You should be aware that the ride can be firm to rough with a light load, particularly in a van with rear wheel drive, as a wheelchair would be travelling directly above the rear axle in a typical seating layout. Due to the van's height, a wheelchair passenger can feel unstable during cornering, or on windy days vans can be buffered by the strong crosswinds. The wheelchair passenger usually sits towards the rear of the vehicle, out of reach of the driver, making communication or observation difficult. For wheelchair passengers who need to travel in a reclined position, close attention should be given to the ride characteristics of any vehicle considered. Driving in a reclined position will exaggerate the effects of going over bumps, as the passenger can be thrown up in the air over bumps unless the vehicle is driven very carefully. Additional restraints may be needed for the back of the wheelchair and/or the passenger. Keeping a passengers centre of gravity as low as possible, to the vehicle, will increase the ride quality for the passenger.
 
 
 
 
Most people desire a vehicle, which can double as a family runabout as well as a wheelchair transport vehicle. Most of the older van type vehicles do not have automatic transmission and conversion to automatic is relatively expensive. Climbing up into a high van can become onerous, particularly for people of short stature or the elderly.
 
 
 
 
Side or rear loading both have advantages and disadvantages and should be considered from all points. Driving a large van is a different experience too and high roof vans often do not fit into garages, car parks or drive throughs. Two metres is often the maximum car park height at many shopping centres.
 
 
 
 
Loading requirements depend on the type of wheelchair (manual or electric), the size (and weight) of the chair and passenger, as well as the height of the vehicle floor above ground, maybe a low floor access vehicle would be more desirable. Ramps are suitable for some applications, while hoists are the answer for others such as mini buses or coaches. The size of the hoist platform needs to be matched to the wheelchair too.
 
 
 
   
 
Wheelchairs and occupants need to be secured properly for travel, so look at the method of securing the chair and occupant and practice it a few times. Standing on your head to reach restraints or getting down on your hands and knees to secure a chair and occupant seat belts can be hard on your body and your clothes. Remember this needs to be done EVERY time you load and unload a wheelchair, whether it is late at night after a function or going from shop to shop. If you are assisting another person to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle, please ask yourself if you would want to go through a major exercise every single time you went in and out of the vehicle. If there is an easier way, let's try and find it together.
 
 
 
 
If loading, parking and driving is too daunting, you may find yourself putting off going out. We've seen it happen and this defeats the whole purpose of having an accessible vehicle. If the vehicle is user friendly for all and every one can use it then the driving and travel experience can be much more than just getting from A to B. It can be fun and NOT hard work.