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Living well after stroke

It can be intimidating to look for a new car, especially one that is wheelchair accessible. And that’s true if you have never owned a wheelchair accessible vehicle before or you're looking to purchase another one.

That’s why we asked WavMob to put together a checklist that you can use. It can help you make sure you get the right vehicle for your needs. 

WAV stands for wheelchair accessible vehicle. WavMob is one of the leading wheelchair accessible vehicle dealers in the UK. Their team is passionate about helping people purchase the WAV which meets their exact requirements. 

Questions to ask 

We’ll start with some questions you need to ask yourself before you start your search.  

What are my needs 

  • How many seats do I need on a daily basis? 
  • Will I be needing additional seats for family or carers? 
  • Where do I need to sit within the vehicle? 
  • Do I need rear or side entry? 
  • What size is my wheelchair? 
  • Do I drive if so, do I need hand controls or additional aids? 
  • Do I need a manual or automatic gear box? 
  • Do I need adaptions to the vehicle? 
  • Will my needs change over time? 

How will I get in and out?  

  • Do you need an auto tailgate and ramp? 
  • Will you choose a ramp or a lift? 
  • Will you have someone help you? 
  • Do you need a wheelchair winch? 

What is the best travelling position? 

  • Will you have good visibility out of the vehicle? 
  • Where will your wheelchair sit? 
  • Will you be able to talk to fellow passengers easily?  

What size of vehicle do I need? 

  • Will my passengers be able to fit around my wheelchair? 
  • Will the vehicle fit on your driveway or garage, or will it be ok on off-road parking? 
  • Will there be enough space not just for the vehicle but to also account for the space required to use the tail-lift or ramp? 
  • How easy will it be to access car park spaces?  

How will I finance this? 

  • Am I paying with my own money, or do I need finance? 
  • How much is the insurance? 
  • Is fuel consumption important?  

Taking it for a test 

When choosing your WAV, it's important to consider the following. The best way to do this is by trying out the vehicle first.  

Safety 

  • How will you secure yourself and your wheelchair? 
  • How will you secure anything else such as unattended wheelchair, luggage, equipment etc? 
  • How will you secure equipment used to get in and out of the vehicle?  

Build quality 

  • Noise can affect your travelling comfort, so be sure to check this out before buying. 
  • No two WAVs are the same, even if they're the same model. Different conversions have been built to different standards, so some will be more comfortable and less noisy inside than others.  

Reliability 

  • What happens if the vehicle breaks down? 
  • Have you checked if there's a nearby dealer to service your WAV? 
  • Can you rely on the equipment you use to get in and out of the vehicle? 
  • Are there manual overrides for any powered equipment?  

Sourcing a WAV 

There are a lot of ways you can find the right WAV for you.  

WavMob have experienced consultants that can help you find the right vehicle for your specific needs. They can answer your questions and show you  different models and sizes. This will help you to make the right decision. 

You can contact WavMob on  02392 245570

Disclaimer: The Stroke Association provides the details of other organisations and apps for information only. Inclusion on My Stroke Guide does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. 

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