An electric wheelchair can deliver a huge amount of freedom and independence for a person with mobility issues, enabling them to travel further for longer and with less effort. While designed to be agile under their own power, they are large, heavy pieces of equipment that can’t always be easily moved from one place to another. If you’re researching how to transport an electric wheelchair, there are a number of things you will need to consider.
In this guide, we’re going to look at a variety of electric wheelchair transport options to help you decide which is the most suitable for your needs.
There are a few different ways to transport an electric wheelchair. Take a look and see which is the most suitable for your needs.
If you’re looking to transport an electric wheelchair in a car, you might need to choose one that can be dismantled easily. Not all models can be taken apart like this, and even if they can, they might still be too large if there isn’t much space in your vehicle. The vendor will be able to tell you the dimensions of the electric wheelchair when disassembled, so make sure to check this before you buy.
Electric wheelchairs that can’t be dismantled will need to be transported as they are, which may require a larger vehicle such as a van or minibus. Make sure to measure the size of the wheelchair as well as the available space in your vehicle to make sure it will fit. If you don’t need to transport an electric wheelchair often, you might consider renting a vehicle, provided you, or whoever is driving, is legally and physically able to drive it.
If your electric wheelchair is too big and you aren’t able to purchase a larger vehicle, you could opt for a bumper-mounted rack. Similar to a bike rack, it can be fitted to the rear bumper of your car, allowing you to transport an electric wheelchair even if your car is small. Roof-mounted racks are also available, but most electric wheelchairs will be too heavy to lift onto the roof, particularly for people with mobility issues.
If you’re only using it temporarily, for example after an injury or operation, and you have access to a trailer, this could be a sufficient electric wheelchair transport option. Make sure the chair is secured with ropes and that you, or whoever is driving the car, is comfortable towing a trailer and has the necessary driving licence.
If you travel regularly or spend a lot of time out of the house and are looking to purchase an electric wheelchair to transport easily, you should consider one of the following.
Electric wheelchairs are fairly heavy, but there is a wide range of weights available. If you will be regularly transporting your electric wheelchair, it might be beneficial to opt for one on the lighter side to make things easier. However, don’t prioritise the weight of your electric wheelchair over your comfort and mobility needs.
Compact electric wheelchairs offer a wide range of features and don’t need to be folded or disassembled to fit into a car. This makes them more suitable for smaller vehicles, although they may not be comfortable for larger or taller wheelchair users.
While there aren’t as many options available on the market, and they may not suit everyone’s needs, folding electric wheelchairs are a great solution for people who are unable to use a manual wheelchair but still need the ability to transport their wheelchair in a vehicle or on public transport.
Unless you’re able to purchase a model that can be folded or dismantled, the size and weight of electric wheelchairs makes it hard to get them into a vehicle without any additional equipment. Here are some of the different types of equipment available to help with electric wheelchair transport.
The cheapest option is a wheelchair ramp that can be attached to the back of a vehicle. The wheelchair user can then simply drive up the ramp and into the vehicle, where they can transfer to another seat or remain in the wheelchair with the brakes applied and the wheelchair properly secured. If you don’t need to transport your electric wheelchair often, or are only renting it, this is a very cost-effective solution.
For large vehicles like vans and minibuses, a lift can be attached that will allow the wheelchair user to drive onto an electric platform which is then raised to the height of the vehicle’s entry point. Installation of a wheelchair lift only takes a few hours and is ideal for those who need to transport electric wheelchairs regularly.
If you’re looking to transport an electric wheelchair without making any permanent modifications to the vehicle, a wheelchair hoist is a great option. The hoist picks up the wheelchair from the kerbside, lifts it up and rotates to place the wheelchair inside the vehicle. There are small hoists that fit inside the boot of a car, as well as larger ones that can be fitted to flatbed trucks or trailers.
Now you know how to transport an electric wheelchair, you might be considering purchasing one. The Complete Care Shop online store has a wide variety of electric wheelchairs and power chairs for sale, including folding electric wheelchairs that are even easier to transport.
If you need any advice about how to transport an electric wheelchair, our team of Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants offer an Expert Advice Service and will be able to answer all of your questions and advise you on the most suitable electric wheelchair for your transport needs.
By signing up you consent to us using your email address in accordance with our privacy policy.