Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Janet Johnson looks at what’s available and what to look out for when choosing a wheelchair accessible vehicle

Sometimes people who are newly disabled can make hasty decisions and spend more money than is really necessary in their understandable quest to regain their mobility. The range of vehicles available and choice of options is wide and the prices are also wide-ranging. It pays to look around and have a plan of action.

Have an assessment
Do you really need a wheelchair accessible vehicle? Assessment centres can advise you if your need is definitely for a WAV. They can also advise you on the use of leg lifters, swivel seats and people hoists as well as the best method of transfer from a wheelchair to your current car. This may allow you more time to look around.
Occupational therapists, or mobility advisers, at assessment centres help to narrow down the search by assessing each individual’s needs and giving a list of pointers to consider when looking for a vehicle. These would include the height of the person seated in the wheelchair and the amount of clearance or headroom they need.
It’s not much fun if you find the vehicle’s been converted to give you the additional height you need, but the base of the frame of that handy additional window that’s been put in actually obscures most of your view so you can’t see out properly. Some of the less expensive conversions do not lower the floor but raise the roof so the disabled person appears in full view in their wheelchair. Commonly known as popemobiles amongst disabled people, such vehicles have their detractors but there are many other solutions, including vehicles where you sit alongside the driver in your chair.
Having a checklist from an assessment centre will help you hone down the list of what to look at and help you work out what is most important when you start doing your research.

Visit the Mobility Roadshow
The Mobility Roadshow is an annual event held over three days in June. It is the best place to see all the variety there is andto find out what is new. Staff on the stands are helpful and keen to show off their range. You can try out the vehicles for size, comfort and accessibility and ask all the questions that occur to you.
This year, the show is again being held at Donington Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12 — 14 June. The show catalogue is a good reference guide and worth holding on to for further research.
You can find out in advance which exhibitors will be there by checking on the Roadshow website.

Motability
Since the changes to the Motability scheme that were announced in February, quite a few more people have been thinking of going down that route. The relaxation of the mileage regulations and the more customer focused attitude being developed should go a long way to converting the doubters. Some people are bothered by the restrictions on the number of drivers, but if need be you can make a temporary substitution to a named driver by contacting the scheme’s insurers, Royal Sun Alliance Motability.
If your need for a vehicle is because your disability has worsened, and you are already a Motability customer, do discuss this with them. It may be that you are eligible for some help towards the cost of a new vehicle and if your current vehicle is no longer suitable because of your worsening condition, the termination of the existing lease should be at no cost to you. If you do want to go down this route, Motability has its own team of skilled occupational therapists and specialist engineers who will assess your needs. Grant funds are rationed, so you will be offered the most cost-effective
solution to meet your needs, not necessarily what you would prefer. Try to get a good dialogue going with the person at Motability who is working on your case. If you feel you are being offered an unsuitable solution, you will need to let Motability know the reasons why so that another solution can be considered.
Sadly, the Motability scheme is only available to people who receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance and if you are over 65 you cannot apply for this. Many people become disabled later on in life when this benefit is not available.
Second-hand
If you are not eligible for Disability Living Allowance, have you considered a pre-owned or second-hand vehicle? These days vehicles are more reliable and WAVs are often returned with quite low mileage. There are several private businesses that specialise in sourcing second-hand WAV vehicles and there are some good bargains. Adam Price, who runs the Accessible
Vehicle Register, will track down a vehicle if you let him have your specification and can wait a little while.
Clarke Mobility, based in Kent, has a selection of WAVs in stock from £2750, fully serviced with a warranty. Demonstrations and delivery anywhere in the UK mainland is free. Mr Clarke will turn up with a couple of suitable vehicles on a low-loader for you to try. This firm started out as a small family garage just doing a few WAVs and has rapidly built up this side of the business.
They buy ex-Motability vehicles, which often have low mileage and can be quite a bargain. They will also buy back vehicles that are no longer needed.
Widnes Car Centre deals in Versa sales and all cars are prepared and valeted and come with six months warranty, and all the securing equipment is included.
I think it is safe to say that all the vehicle converters have second-hand vehicles for sale that have been taken back in part-exchange.
For peace of mind it’s worth having any second-hand ear checked over by a mechanic or one of the motoring organisations, but think carefully if you are offered an extended warranty which you have to pay for. Ask lots of questions! Faults with second-hand vehicles frequently turn out to be mechanical and caused by wear and tear, therefore not covered by such warranties.

Vehicle conversion companies
Some of the main vehicle converters are Brotherwood Automobility, Gown ngs, Constables, Jubilee Automotive, Lewis Reed (who have just moved to new, larger premises). Steering Developments and Gleneagles Conversions.
The Hill Gruau system uses MPV derived vehicles, integrating the chair fully with the car. Their vehicles have full manufacturer approval and conformity certification to Ml status. This accreditation is becoming a big issue on the safety side and
will eventually lead to legislation.

VAT
Another factor to be aware of is the relaxation of VAT rules. If you are a wheelchair user and need the vehicle adapted with a hoist for the chair, or ramps, or you need to remain in your wheelchair all the time, you can claim VAT exemption on a new car providing any adaptation work is done before you take delivery and everything is placed on one invoice.
Your adaptation company should be fully aware of the rules, but the DDMC office has leaflets about the regulations and there is a good HM Customs website and telephone enquiry line. With the VAT exemption, the conversions almost pay for themselves.
Don’t forget that servicing of a zero-rated vehicle should also be VAT-free.
Regretfully this relaxation of rules does not apply to scooter users, which is hard to understand especially as some disabled people who would qualify for the exemption if they used a wheelchair feel safer in one of these vehicles because of the protection the chassis offers.

Discounts
Ford offers a 3% discount to disabled people who are blue badge holders (subject to the garage’s individual discretion) and Vauxhall has built up a good
following with disabled people and also offers a discount. It is worth enquiring from your garage to see if they can accommodate you.
The BBC2 programme “Wrong Car Right Car” shows people being coached on how to haggle with car dealers, both over new car deals and second hand ones.
DDMC members are entitled to a £400 cashback on certain models of Renault cars — you need to contact the office fordetails of this scheme. The Renault Kangoo is a widely converted vehicle for wheelchair use so why not enquire?

Parking
Finally, parking for a WAV can be problematic as they often need more space than a standard vehicle so the ramps or tail lift can be operated. Stickers asking
people to leave plenty of space for you to get your wheelchair in and out can be useful. GPSP Stickers do a good range of these.