What’s the Best Vehicle to Transport a Mobility Scooter?

It is all very well having a mobility scooter at home, but what happens when you want to go somewhere further than your local area?

You may be able to drive to the next town or even the other side of the county, but once you get there your mobility can be limited if you have left your scooter at home because you cannot get it into your car.

For many people, finding a practical way of transporting their mobility scooter is just as important as choosing the scooter itself.

Carrying a Mobility Scooter in a Normal Car

Trying to get a mobility scooter into the boot of a conventional car can be difficult.

Even relatively small scooters can be heavy and awkward to lift. One option is to have a boot hoist fitted to the car, which can lift the scooter into the boot for you. However, this is an additional expense, with a suitable hoist and installation potentially costing around £1,500 to £1,800 depending on the vehicle and equipment required.

You also need to consider how much boot space the scooter and hoist will use, and whether the car is still practical for the other things you need to carry.

For someone who is already happy with their car and only occasionally needs to transport a scooter, a hoist can be a useful solution. But if you regularly need to take your mobility scooter with you, it is worth considering whether a WAV would be a more practical option.

With a WAV, the scooter can normally be driven or pushed straight into the vehicle using the rear ramp rather than being lifted into the boot. There is also much more usable space around the scooter, and you can choose a vehicle that gives you the passenger seating you need as well.

Another option is a mobility scooter that can be dismantled into several pieces. This can make it easier to put into a conventional car, but it does mean taking the scooter apart and putting it back together every time you travel.

If you are going out for the day and making several stops, that can quickly become a nuisance.

Then there is the weather. Trying to lift a heavy scooter into the back of a car in the rain is not something most people would choose to do if there is an easier alternative.

The Best Type of Vehicle for Transporting a Mobility Scooter

In my experience, one of the easiest ways to transport a mobility scooter is with a wheelchair accessible vehicle, or WAV.

Just because a vehicle is called a wheelchair accessible vehicle does not mean that it can only be used for a wheelchair.

The large rear opening and spacious interior of a WAV make it particularly useful for transporting mobility scooters. Instead of lifting the scooter into a boot or dismantling it, you can normally drive or push it straight into the vehicle using the rear ramp.

Over the years I have sold WAVs to customers who use them for all sorts of purposes, including transporting bicycles, motorbikes and even dogs.

However, one of the most common alternative uses is transporting a mobility scooter. In my experience, customers buying a WAV specifically to transport a mobility scooter probably account for around 25% of my WAV sales.

Which WAV is Best for a Mobility Scooter?

There isn’t one particular WAV that is best for everyone.

The right vehicle depends on the size of your mobility scooter, how many passengers you need to carry and how much other luggage or equipment you want to take with you.

There are several types of smaller WAV that can work very well for mobility scooters. Peugeot Partner and Rifter models are particularly popular choices, with the Rifter now being one of the more common options on the used WAV market. You will also find Citroën Berlingo and similar-sized vehicles converted as WAVs.

These smaller WAVs can be a good option if you want to carry a mobility scooter while still having room for passengers.

Another vehicle I sell a lot of is the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi. These can be particularly useful if you need to carry passengers as well as a mobility scooter. Depending on the particular vehicle and conversion, a Caddy Maxi can provide five seats while still leaving space for a mobility scooter.

That can make a big difference to a family who wants to use the vehicle as a normal everyday car as well as having somewhere to carry a mobility scooter.

How Do I Put a Mobility Scooter Into a WAV?

It is much simpler than trying to lift a scooter into the boot of a normal car.

You drive up to the vehicle, open the tailgate and lower the rear ramp. You can then drive or push the mobility scooter into the back of the WAV.

Once inside, the scooter can be secured using the wheelchair restraints fitted to the vehicle.

Then simply raise the ramp, close the tailgate and drive away.

There is no lifting the scooter into the boot and no need to dismantle it into several pieces.

Some people prefer to stay sitting on their mobility scooter and drive it up the ramp and into the vehicle. Once inside, they can turn the scooter seat around and step off the scooter before walking down the ramp.

Others prefer to stand beside or behind the scooter and operate the controls while walking alongside it.

There isn’t really a right or wrong way of doing it. It is simply a case of finding the method that works best for you.

Can I Still Carry Other Passengers?

Yes, and this is where choosing the right WAV becomes particularly important.

The number of passengers you can carry alongside a mobility scooter will depend on the vehicle, the conversion and the way the seats are arranged.

Some smaller WAVs may provide space for three or four people alongside the scooter, while other vehicles can offer more seating.

The Volkswagen Caddy Maxi is a particularly good example of this. Some conversions can provide five seats while retaining space for a mobility scooter, making it a useful option for families who don’t want to sacrifice passenger space.

Some Peugeot Rifter and Citroën Berlingo WAVs can also have different seating arrangements depending on the model and conversion.

If carrying  passengers is important to you, don’t assume that all WAVs are the same. Check the actual seating arrangement of the particular vehicle you are considering.

What Size Mobility Scooter Will Fit in a WAV?

This will depend on both the size of your mobility scooter and the particular WAV and conversion.

As a general guide, vehicles such as the Peugeot Partner, Peugeot Rifter, Citroën Berlingo and Volkswagen Caddy can accommodate many of the smaller and medium-sized mobility scooters.

Many 4 mph and 6 mph scooters can be suitable, while some larger 8 mph scooters can also fit depending on their dimensions.

I have sold WAVs to customers with larger scooters, including a Peugeot Partner to a customer with a Kymco Maxi XLS 8 mph scooter, which fitted into the vehicle.

If you have one of the larger 8 mph or off-road-style mobility scooters, you may need to move up to a larger WAV such as a Peugeot Expert, Citroen SpaceTourer or a similar larger van-based vehicle.

These vehicles provide considerably more internal space. As an example, a Peugeot Expert conversions can offer around 180cm of usable length for the scooter, although the exact space will depend on the conversion.

Always Check Your Scooter Measurements

This is something I would strongly recommend before buying any WAV.

Don’t rely solely on the fact that somebody else has managed to fit a particular scooter into a similar vehicle. Measure your own scooter, particularly its overall width and length, and compare those measurements with the usable space inside the WAV.

If you are unsure whether your scooter will fit, give us a call. We can talk through the size of your scooter and the vehicles we currently have available.

Choosing the Right WAV for Your Mobility Scooter

If you are looking for a WAV specifically to transport a mobility scooter, I would start with the scooter rather than the car.

Work out exactly what you need to carry, how many passengers you normally have with you and what sort of journeys you make.

If you only need to carry a relatively small scooter and one or two passengers, a smaller WAV may be all you need.

If you regularly carry several passengers, a Volkswagen Caddy Maxi or another vehicle with a suitable seating arrangement could be a better choice.

If you have a large 8 mph scooter, you may need something larger again.

There is no point buying more vehicle than you need, but equally, buying a WAV that is too small can be an expensive mistake.

Where Can I Buy a Used WAV for a Mobility Scooter?

If you are looking for a wheelchair accessible vehicle that can also be used to transport a mobility scooter, please get in touch.

At Michael Harraway Cars, we have been specialising in WAVs for many years and are always happy to talk through your requirements.

If you already own a mobility scooter, bring the measurements with you and, where practical, we can help you establish which vehicles are likely to be suitable.

We are based in St Georges, Weston-super-Mare, close to Junction 21 of the M5, making us convenient for customers from Bristol, Somerset, South Wales and the wider South West.

Our viewings are by appointment, so please contact us before travelling and we can make sure there is someone available to help you.

The important thing is to buy the right WAV for your particular needs, rather than simply buying the first vehicle that looks as though it will fit your scooter.

You can also contact us online or view our current range of used wheelchair accessible vehicles.

We are always happy to help, and there is no obligation to buy.