Products and techniques
You may well be able to drive an unadapted car, particularly if it has automatic transmission and power steering. However if you have difficulty controlling your arms or legs, consider the adaptations available. See below and our Car controls guide, and perhaps get individual advice from a Mobility Centre .
Getting in and out
If your main car key is small but full of electronics, fit a chunky holder on a spare key for more leverage. They cost about £5 and are available from general aids suppliers.
Having the door hinges modified and the seat runners extended will give you more space to get in and out of the car. It may be possible to have an existing seat converted - to be higher, made height adjustable, swivel or to be powered. Costs start at about £850 from adaptation firms. If swivelling helps, there are turning cushions (mostly between £20 and £80 from general aids suppliers) and replacement swivel seats, mostly from £700 upwards, from adaptation firms. To get in,sit first then turn and bring your legs in, doing the reverse to get out.
If you use a manual wheelchair, you may be able to lift it into the back of the car and walk the few steps to the seats. If you can't, there is a range of devices and techniques for getting you and the wheelchair into your car or van.
See the Ricability guides:
Getting a wheelchair into a car for:
- hoists which lift a manual or powered chair into a vehicle
- rooftop hoists which winch a manual chair up and on to the roof of a car
- racks which carry a wheelchair on the back of a car
- trailers and ramps.
Getting in and out of a car for:
- hoists which lift and lower you on to a car seat
- lifting seats which swing out and into the car, lowering and locking into a position to suit you
- wheelchair systems which are a specially designed wheelchair that slides into the car while you are sitting in it and becomes the car seat
- wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVS) which you travel in while in your wheelchair
next page: Primary controls