Wheelchair accessible vehicles
This guide provides information on vehicles that allow you to travel in your wheelchair.
Contact information is reviewed every 6 months; all other information is reviewed every two years.
This guide was last updated in October 2011
Contents
Introduction
Types of WAV
Your wheelchair
Getting a WAV
Finance (section of Getting a wheelchair into a car)
Legal (section of Getting a wheelchair into a car)
Useful organisations (section of Getting a wheelchair into a car)
A wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) can make a great difference for disabled drivers and passengers.
Travelling in your wheelchair means you don't need to transfer in and out, or stow it in the boot, so you can travel more freely.
If you have someone who helps you, it can save them from injuring themselves by lifting you or your wheelchair.
If your wheelchair has a specialist seating system, you can benefit from the support or pressure relief it gives you in the car too.
There are a lot of things to think about when you are choosing a WAV. This guide will help you decide what you need.
We look at what WAVs are, the standards and regulations that apply to them and the various types that are available.
We give advice about choosing and financing a suitable WAV, point you towards organisations that can give you more personalised advice and tell you how to go about getting one.
Note If you are able to transfer out of your wheelchair into the driving seat, you may prefer to do this. For safety and comfort it is always better to travel in a car seat if you can. There is more on this in our other guides Getting in and out of a car and Getting a wheelchair into a car.
Note For information on companies that make, equip or sell WAVs, see our Mobility address list, which gives names and addresses of suppliers and fitters and details of the services they provide.