Who Will Drive Your Wheelchair Van?
Buying a wheelchair van is exciting. However, don’t get so caught up in the excitement that you forget to think about this key thing: who will be driving your mobility vehicle?
The answer to this question will have a huge impact on which vehicle you should buy, as well as on whether or not a handicapped driver certification will be beneficial.
You may be the wheelchair bound person and will be driving the vehicle yourself. Or, perhaps you’re a caregiver to someone in a wheelchair. Maybe you need a vehicle that will allow both wheelchair users and non wheelchair users to drive it.
Whatever the case may be, it’s important to know your needs before you buy.
Tips for Drivers in Wheelchairs
If you’re buying a wheelchair van that will be driven by a driver in a wheelchair, it’s very important to discuss your needs with us prior to buying. We can match just about any need, no matter how specific, but we have to know about it upfront.
If you are a wheelchair user and plan to drive the vehicle yourself, we invite you to come to our storefront location. There, you can work closely with one of our certified mobility specialists to ensure you get a van that meets all of your needs, even if they require customization.
Something else to keep in mind is that you may be certified to receive a special endorsement on your license plate for mobility features that make it easier for you to drive. These include things like hand controls. If you’re not sure whether you need these endorsements or about the certification process, don’t hesitate to ask us.
We are always happy to help. After all, our main goal is to get you into the van that’s just right for you!
Decide on a Vehicle Structure
As a wheelchair user and driver, something else you have to think about is what type of vehicle structure you prefer.
Some people, for example, like to stay in their wheelchairs while they drive. Others prefer to transfer out of their wheelchairs when driving.
Your preference is totally up to you, but it will affect whether you need a transfer seat, a side-entry wheelchair van, or some other setup.
We invite you to speak candidly with us about your driving preferences and needs so that we can help you to choose the perfect vehicle structure.
Do You Need a Wheelchair Tie-Down System?
Regardless of who is doing the driving, you will likely need a wheelchair tie-down system on your vehicle.
We are proud to offer both 4-point tie downs and electric wheelchair restraints. We’d be happy to go over these options with you to see which one would best fit your chair.
What About Hand Controls and Other Features?
As you can see, you already have a lot to think about when it comes to choosing the perfect mobility vehicle.
However, outside of the major things discussed so far, you should also consider whether or not you wish to take advantage of our other mobility features.
For example, we offer high quality hand control systems that can make driving easier than ever before. We can even custom-place these controls to suit your driving preferences.
Other great features we offer include:
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Reduced effort steering
Contact Our Mobility Experts
A lot of thought and decision-making go into choosing the right wheelchair van.
Here at Van Products, we understand that all of these choices can be a bit overwhelming. However, we are here to help you through it, step by step, and decision by decision.
When you move through the process with one of our mobility experts, the end result will be a vehicle that has everything you need, no matter what your needs are.
We invite you to contact us today to get started down the road to your perfect van.
we will NOT be undersold!
