Plan of action
1 Ask some basic questions.
Prepare to compromise as you may not find everything in one car. Think about what you may need in the future.
Will you drive the car?
Will you drive the car? Or will you be a passenger? Whichever, think about getting in and out and your comfort. See Products and techniques and our guide Choosing a car.
Will you need special controls?
There is a big range - from simple gadgets to very complex controls. Again,see below and our Car controls guide.
What equipment will you carry?
Think about every day and occasional needs.
Do you use a wheelchair?
See below and our guides Getting a wheelchair into a car and Getting in and out of a car. If you travel in your wheelchair as a passenger or driver, a Mobility Centre can advise you about reliable converters and adaptations that can be fitted.
2 Collect information.
Start with articles in motoring magazines and the Internet plus manufacturers' brochures. If you are disabled other sources include:
Reviews by disabled drivers appear regularly in Arthritis News (free to members of Arthritis Care or £12 a year on subscription) and in the quarterly magazine Lifestyle from Motability.
Mobility Centres and organisations of disabled motorists give independent advice and provide a range of services. Mobility Centres can assess if you can drive and find out what equipment suits you. Charges vary from centre to centre - from about £50 to £130 for drivers; passenger assessments generally cost £20-£50. In Scotland assessment is free if referred by a GP. Adaptation firms can use the assessment report to help them find the most suitable equipment for you.
Mobility Roadshow is a regular event with cars and adaptations; you can test drive vehicles there.
Motability have a list of accredited car dealers with specialist knowledge and facilities for disabled people. Their guide to adaptations Make it Yours and Your guide to wheelchair accessible vehicles are free, either in print or downloadable from their website - contact details.
Choosing a car If you need to find a car with a shape and size that might make it easier for you to get in and out, or to find out if it is big enough to fit a wheelchair into, use our Car Measurement Guide to draw up a shortlist of vehicles that may suit you. You can use it to find cars with, for example, the widest doors, lowest sill or most headroom..
3 Try out before buying.
Try out before buying any car you are considering. Dealers may bring one to you and should be able to find an automatic version. Try getting in and out several times. If you use a wheelchair,check that it fits. You might be able to try out adapted cars at a Mobility Centre or an adaptation firm. They will tell you whether the adaptations can be fitted to your car.
4 Try before taking it home.
It is advisable to have lessons with an instructor using the adaptations you have chosen - essential when learning to use a left foot accelerator. Mobility Centres can provide details. Make sure that you are not driving with adaptations for the first time when you collect the car.
5 Get plenty of practice.
It may take time to feel confident. Consider lessons with a driving instructor who specialises in adapted vehicles - Mobility Centres can provide details.
Learning to drive
Mobility Centres and Mobilise can help you to find a driving instructor who specialises in teaching disabled drivers. They use cars with adapted controls or will teach you in your own vehicle.