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Getting a wheelchair into a car (view report contents)

Introduction

Getting a light wheelchair into a car is easy for some people. If you have some strength and the right car, you can pull it in front of the passenger’s seat or behind the front seats. And if you can lift and walk a little you may be able to put the chair in the back of the car without any equipment.

If you can’t do this, or have a heavy scooter or wheelchair, there are various types of equipment to help. This guide describes what’s available to help get a wheelchair into a car and transport it safely. This is the fourth edition of the guide. Information on products including prices, was updated in 2004 and the contact details in 2005.

This guide covers

  • hoists which lift a manual or powered wheelchair into a vehicle


    • a boot mounted hoist


  • rooftop hoists which winch a manual wheelchair up and on to the roof of a car


    • a rooftop hoist


  • racks which carry a wheelchair on the back of a car

    a wheelchair rack


  • trailers and ramps.

Whatever type of equipment you want, it is worth talking to a Mobility Centres about how the various alternatives available may suit you. Some centres will have hoists you can try out. They also carry out assessments to see what kind of equipment may suit you.

After this talk to a few suppliers - tell them about your car, your wheelchair and your disability.

Motability (see Finance section) has an accreditation scheme for vehicle adaptation and conversion companies. All adaptations for Motability customers must be carried out by companies accredited under this scheme. In addition, Motability has introduced Codes of Practice for certain adaptations, including wheelchair hoists and stowage systems. They lay down standards for such things as safety, ease of use, quality, reliability, installation and maintenance.

Acknowledgements and thanks

Our thanks go to the disabled people who tried the equipment for our original tests and to Ann Mells who organised them. Laboratory tests were carried out by Mike Dudden, Liz Marshall, Brian Seabrook, Tim Wagstaffe and Geoff West.

For this and previous updates we are very grateful to those who commented on drafts and helped in other ways – Rolf Lamsdale of the Mobility Advice and Information Service (MAVIS), Paul Gambrell, Dave Elvin and Lesley Riley of Motability, Jim Kerr of Lesley Reeson Associates and to Roy Walters, David Walker and colleagues of NMEDA UK.

Research Dylan Simanowitz
Update Tom Crawley
Edited by David Yelding
Design Price Watkins
Illustration Clive Goodyer
Printing WPG

Ricability gratefully acknowledges funding from the Department for Transport. The authors of this guide are employed by Ricability. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of the Department for Transport.

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Report Contents

Introduction
Which type?
Wheelchair hoists

Wheelchair hoist summaries

Rooftop Hoists

Rooftop hoist summaries


Other ways of carrying a wheelchair
Racks and containers
Buying guide

Specialist trailers

Ramps
Finance
Helpful organisations
Mobility Centres
Suppliers