How to Carry a Wheelchair Passenger in a Car

If you need to transport someone who uses a wheelchair, you may be wondering what your options are. Can they get into a normal car? What happens to the wheelchair once they’re inside? And what if they need to remain seated in their wheelchair throughout the journey?

The good news is that there are several options, depending on the person’s mobility, the type of wheelchair they use and the vehicle you have available.

For some people, transferring into a normal car and storing the wheelchair in the boot is perfectly practical. For others, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) offers a much easier solution, allowing the passenger to travel while remaining seated in their wheelchair.

Let’s look at the options.

Option 1: Carry the Wheelchair in a Normal Car

If the wheelchair user can safely transfer from their wheelchair into a standard car seat, you may not need a specially adapted vehicle.

The wheelchair can then be folded, where appropriate, and placed in the boot. This can work well for people who are able to transfer comfortably, provided there is enough space in the boot and someone is available to help with the wheelchair if necessary.

However, lifting a wheelchair into a boot isn’t always easy. Wheelchairs can be heavy and awkward to handle, and some car boots simply don’t have enough space.

Could You Have a Wheelchair Hoist Fitted?

One option is to have a wheelchair hoist fitted to your existing car. These devices are designed to lift the wheelchair into the boot, reducing the need to lift it manually.

However, it’s worth considering how practical this arrangement would be for your everyday needs. Although a hoist can make lifting easier, you still need to position the wheelchair, attach it to the hoist and operate the equipment each time you want to load it. You then need to unload it again when you reach your destination.

If you’re only making occasional journeys, this might not be a problem. However, if you’re visiting several places in one day, repeatedly loading and unloading the wheelchair can become time-consuming and cumbersome.

It’s also worth considering the cost of fitting a hoist and whether it is suitable for your particular car and wheelchair.

Option 2: Use a Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle (WAV)

A wheelchair-accessible vehicle is a standard vehicle that has been adapted to allow a wheelchair user to enter and travel in the vehicle while remaining seated in their wheelchair.

Many WAVs are based on practical family vehicles, such as the Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter and Volkswagen Caddy Maxi. They are available in different sizes and configurations, with both manual and automatic gearboxes depending on the vehicle.

This means you don’t have to choose a single type of vehicle. The right option will depend on how much space you need, the size of the wheelchair, how many other passengers will be travelling with you and your budget.

Most WAV conversions retain much of the appearance and everyday practicality of the original vehicle. They can also offer familiar features such as air conditioning, satellite navigation, power steering and parking sensors

Why Consider a WAV if the Passenger Can Transfer?

You might wonder why someone would buy a wheelchair-accessible vehicle if the wheelchair user can already transfer into a normal car.

One reason is the difficulty of lifting and storing the wheelchair. Even when a person can get into a car seat independently, handling their wheelchair can be awkward or physically demanding for the driver or another family member.

A wheelchair hoist can be fitted to some conventional vehicles to help lift a wheelchair into the boot. However, the cost, practicality and suitability of a hoist will depend on the car and the wheelchair involved.

A WAV offers another option. The wheelchair can be loaded using a ramp, avoiding the need to lift it into the boot. It may also provide a useful longer-term solution if the passenger’s mobility changes and they can no longer transfer into a standard car seat.

Thinking about possible future needs when choosing a vehicle can save you having to reconsider your arrangements later.

How Do You Load a Wheelchair Passenger into a WAV?

Loading a wheelchair passenger into a rear-entry WAV is generally straightforward. Although the layout and equipment can vary between vehicles, the basic process is much the same.

1. Open the rear tailgate fully.
2. Lower the wheelchair ramp.
3. Position the wheelchair at the bottom of the ramp, facing forwards.
4. Press the button to release the front wheelchair restraints.
5. Pull out the front restraints and attach them to either side of the wheelchair’s front frame.
6. Press the release button again to lock the front restraints in position.
7. Push the wheelchair or use the fitted winch to pull it up the ramp and into the vehicle, positioning it in the designated travelling area.
8. To take up any slack in the front restraints, roll the wheelchair backwards as necessary until the restraints are taught.
9. Slide the rear restraints onto the floor anchor points.
10. Once fitted to the anchor points, press the release lever on each restraint and pull it out to attach it to either side of the wheelchair’s rear frame.
11. Fasten the wheelchair passenger’s seatbelt correctly.
12. Fold the ramp up and make sure it is securely locked in the travelling position.
13. Close the tailgate and check that everything is secure before setting off.

Using a Wheelchair Winch

If your WAV is fitted with a winch, this can be used to help pull the wheelchair into the vehicle. Using the remote control, release the winch strap and attach the hook to the front of the wheelchair frame when it is at the bottom of the ramp. Operate the winch using the remote control to pull the wheelchair up the ramp and into the vehicle.

Understanding the Wheelchair Restraints and Seatbelt

The wheelchair restraints secure the wheelchair to the vehicle, while the passenger’s seatbelt protects the person travelling in it. Both are important.

If you have never used a WAV before, it is worth having someone demonstrate the loading and securing procedure. With a little practice, the process becomes much more familiar.

At Michael Harraway Cars, we can demonstrate how the equipment works and talk you through the process when you view a suitable vehicle.

Which Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle Is Right for You?

There isn’t one WAV that suits everyone. The best choice depends on your circumstances and how you intend to use the vehicle.

For example, you may need to consider:

• The wheelchair: Its overall length, width and height can affect which vehicles are suitable.
• The passenger’s needs: Consider whether the passenger can transfer into a standard car seat or needs to remain in their wheelchair.
• Other passengers: Think about how many people need to travel alongside the wheelchair user.
• The journey: A vehicle used mainly for short local trips may have different priorities from one regularly used for longer journeys.
• Ease of loading: Consider whether you can comfortably push the wheelchair up the ramp or whether a suitable winch would be helpful.
• The budget: Used WAVs are available in different sizes, ages and specifications, so it is worth comparing the options.

Looking for a Used Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle?

Michael Harraway Cars is based in St Georges, Weston-super-Mare, and specialises in quality used wheelchair accessible vehicles.

If you’re unsure whether a WAV would suit your needs, we are happy to discuss your requirements and help you understand the options available.

You can view our current stock of used wheelchair-accessible vehicles online or contact us to ask a question.

We can also demonstrate how a suitable vehicle’s ramp and wheelchair restraints work, so you can see how everything operates before making a decision.

Michael Harraway Cars Ltd
St Georges, Weston-super-Mare
Telephone: 01934 820077

Viewing is by appointment, so please contact us before travelling.