How to Buy a Quality Used Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle in Bristol and the South West

When someone’s mobility needs reach a tipping point, the search for a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) usually starts the same way: online, late at night, comparing photos and prices without really knowing what to ask for. That’s normal. Most people buying a WAV have never bought one before, and every situation is different — one person might need to carry a mobility scooter, another might need to transport a partner or parent who travels in their wheelchair.

I’m Michael Harraway, and this is what I do all day: help people work out exactly what they need, then find them a used WAV that actually fits — their vehicle, their budget, and their life.

Why buying a WAV isn’t like buying an ordinary used car

Most people buying a standard car have done it a dozen times before — they know roughly what they’re looking at. Buying a wheelchair accessible vehicle is usually the opposite: people know they want one, they just don’t know much about them yet. That’s normally where the conversation starts when someone gets in touch — talking through the different types of WAV available, the sizes, the seating, and what’s actually going to suit their situation, before anything else.

These are significant purchases, and the accessibility features have to be right — not almost right

Some buyers already know exactly what they need before they even pick up the phone. Maybe they’ve seen the exact model on my website, or a friend or neighbour has one and they’ve had a proper look round it, or they’ve spotted someone using one in a hospital car park and thought, that’s what I need. However they’ve got there, they call already knowing exactly what type of wheelchair accessible vehicle they’re after.

Other times, someone calls thinking they already know what they want, and it’s only after a short conversation that a better solution becomes clear. That’s where experience matters, and where a conversation can tell you far more than a photograph ever could.

A customer recently got in touch about a five-seat wheelchair accessible vehicle I had in stock. He liked the vehicle and wanted to come and see it, as well as find out a little more about it.

After asking a few questions about how they’d actually use the vehicle, it became clear that it would primarily be used by him and his wife, who’s a wheelchair user.

The five-seat layout he’d originally been looking at had two front seats, followed by a row of three passenger seats, with the wheelchair space behind them. While this is a very practical layout for families and larger groups, it would have meant his wife travelling right at the back of the vehicle, some distance behind him.

When he came to see the vehicle, I showed him exactly what he’d originally asked about, but I also explained why I thought another layout might suit them better.

I had a three-seat version available, with two seats at the front and a single passenger seat positioned alongside the wheelchair space. This meant his wife could sit directly behind him while travelling in her wheelchair, rather than being separated from him by a whole row of seats.

It was a small difference on paper, but potentially a big difference in how the vehicle would feel to them every day. She’d be travelling much closer to him and feel much more like she was part of the journey, rather than sitting right at the back of the vehicle.

Having seen both layouts in person and talked through how they’d actually use the vehicle, they decided that the three-seat version was the better fit for them, and that was the vehicle they bought.

What actually matters when choosing a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

 

Can you comfortably use the wheelchair ramp?

It’s easy to look at a wheelchair ramp and assume that because it’s there, it’ll be suitable for you. In reality, manual ramps can vary in weight and in how easy they are to fold out and put away.

Think about who’ll normally be using the ramp, and whether they’ll be comfortable handling it every time you use the vehicle. A ramp that feels perfectly manageable to one person may be difficult for someone else, particularly if it’s being used regularly.

If possible, try the ramp yourself before buying the vehicle. It’s much better to find out how easy it is to operate while you’re viewing it than after you’ve bought it.

How many seats do you actually need?

WAVs come with a surprisingly wide range of seating layouts, and choosing the right one is something worth thinking about before you buy. It’s not simply a case of choosing the vehicle with the most seats — the layout needs to work for the people who’ll actually use it.

A three-seat WAV is one of the most common layouts, with two seats at the front and the wheelchair passenger travelling behind. Five-seat versions can have two front seats and a further row of three seats, with the wheelchair position behind them. There are also four-seat layouts, with two seats at the front and two at the rear, leaving the wheelchair space between the rear seats.

Some conversions offer even more flexibility. For example, a five-seat vehicle may have rear seats that fold away when you need to carry a wheelchair passenger, giving you the option of using it as a conventional five-seater or as a three-seat-plus-wheelchair vehicle.

And remember, the wheelchair space doesn’t necessarily have to be used for a wheelchair. Many WAV owners use the space for a mobility scooter instead — in fact, around half of my customers buy their vehicle primarily for this reason. Some have previously used a hoist fitted to a conventional car, but a WAV with a rear ramp can make loading and unloading a scooter considerably simpler.

The important thing is to think about how you’ll use the vehicle most of the time. If you only ever need the wheelchair or scooter space for one person, you may not need a five-seat WAV. Equally, if you regularly travel with family or friends, having the extra seats could make a big difference. Getting the layout right can be more important than simply choosing the newest or most expensive vehicle.

Will my wheelchair or mobility scooter fit?

This is one of the most important things to check when choosing a WAV. Even vehicles with very similar layouts can have quite different amounts of usable space in the wheelchair area. A wheelchair or mobility scooter that fits comfortably in one vehicle may be a much tighter fit in another.

Before you start looking, measure the wheelchair or mobility scooter carefully. For a wheelchair, it is particularly important to consider its dimensions with the user sitting in it, rather than simply measuring the chair when it is empty. You also need to think about the width of the ramp, the height of the rear opening and how much room there is around the wheelchair once it is inside the vehicle.

This is something I always recommend checking before travelling to view a WAV. I list the wheelchair area measurements for every vehicle I advertise, so you can compare them with your own wheelchair or mobility scooter and get a good idea of whether it is likely to be suitable before making the journey.

Manual or automatic gearbox.

Just as important as it would be with any other car, the choice between a manual or automatic gearbox largely comes down to personal preference and what you are comfortable driving.

Some people prefer the familiarity and control of a manual, while others find an automatic easier, particularly when driving in traffic or around town. Neither is inherently the better choice, and there are good reasons for choosing either.

The important thing is to consider who will be driving the vehicle, where it will mainly be used and what you are already comfortable with.

Looking for a used WAV?

If you’re looking for a used wheelchair accessible vehicle and aren’t sure which type or layout would suit you, you’re welcome to give me a call on 01934 820077. You can also contact me through my website if you’d prefer to send an enquiry online. ”I’m happy to talk through what you need and help you work out what to look for, whether you’re nearby or travelling from further afield.

You can also browse my current stock to see what WAVs I currently have available. If I don’t have exactly what you’re looking for, it’s still worth getting in touch. I may have something suitable coming in, or be able to point you towards a layout or type of vehicle that you hadn’t considered.

About Michael Harraway Cars

I run Michael Harraway Cars, an independent specialist dealer based just off Junction 21 of the M5, near Weston-super-Mare. I specialise in quality used wheelchair accessible vehicles, helping customers from Bristol, Somerset and across the South West find a WAV that suits the way they actually need to use it.

Over the years, I’ve helped more than 500 customers find the right wheelchair accessible vehicle. Every customer is different, and that’s why I don’t believe there is one particular type of WAV that is right for everyone. The right choice depends on who will be travelling in it, whether you’re carrying a wheelchair or mobility scooter, how many people you need to carry and how the vehicle will be used day to day.

My website’s a great place to start. Browse the current stock, get a feel for the different types and layouts, and see what catches your eye. But I’d still love it if you picked up the phone once something does. Tell me what you’re looking for and how you’ll actually be using the vehicle — what you need to carry, who’s travelling with you, anything that matters to you — and we can talk it through properly. By the time you come to see me, we’ve already got a good idea of what’s likely to suit you.

Viewing is strictly by appointment only to ensure we can give you our full attention when you visit.

If you’d like to talk through your requirements, you can call me on 01934 820077 or contact me through the website