Buying A Used Wheelchair Van

Finding yourself in a wheelchair doesn't have to mean that your ability to be independent is compromised. When you invest in a wheelchair van, you have to ability to drive yourself from one place to another throughout the day without assistance. Purchasing a new wheelchair van can be quite costly, so many people opt to invest in a used van instead.

Here are three tips that you can use to ensure your next used wheelchair van is reliable.

1. Take an inventory of your mobility restrictions.

Before you can invest in a used wheelchair van that is designed to meet your needs, you need to know what your mobility restrictions are. If you have a significant amount of upper body strength, then you may be able to function without a van that has an automated lift.

If you are unable to lift yourself into and out of your chair without assistance, then an automatic lift will be an essential tool allowing you to easily access your van. Being realistic about your mobility restrictions will help you narrow your search to the used vans that are equipped to meet your needs.

2. Think about the size of your family.

If you plan to transport your friends or family members in your wheelchair van, then you will need to invest in a van large enough to accommodate passengers. Used wheelchair vans come in a variety of sizes and configurations, so knowing how many people you will regularly be transporting will allow you to rule out any vans that are too small for your family.

The last thing you want to do is end up purchasing a van that won't fit your entire family, so looking at your space needs will allow you to invest in the right wheelchair van for your situation.

3. Look for adaptive elements that have already been installed.

If you want to keep the cost of your wheelchair van low, it can be helpful to look for used vans that already have adaptive elements installed. If you will need to control your vehicle with hand paddles, this adaptive equipment can be costly.

When a used van already comes equipped with a hand paddle system, you can save a significant amount of money on your vehicle purchase without compromising its ease-of-use.

Being able to invest in the right used wheelchair van will allow you to retain the freedom and mobility that comes from being able to drive.

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