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Accessible cars

One word covers two very different tasks. The first is getting behind the wheel yourself: geometry solves that — seat height, door aperture, grab handles, an automatic gearbox and, where needed, hand controls. The second is carrying a wheelchair: a conversion solves that, and a conversion is model-specific, has to be entered in the vehicle documents, and suits the person it was built for. If you need both, look for the base vehicle first and the converter second.

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What matters

  • For a sideways transfer one number counts: the height of the car's seat cushion compared with the wheelchair's. If the two are roughly level the transfer is horizontal; every step up or down makes it harder. Measure both before you start looking at models.
  • Hand controls for accelerator and brake require an automatic gearbox and are registered as a modification to the vehicle; the driving licence carries a corresponding code. Which conversions are approved for a given model is a question for the converter, not the listing — approval depends on the body, the steering column and the airbags.
  • For carrying a wheelchair the height of the tailgate aperture decides, together with whether the floor can be lowered. A high-roof van is therefore almost always the base; with a saloon only a dismantled chair in the boot remains, and that is a different solution with different requirements.
  • An already converted car costs less than base plus conversion — but only if the conversion fits. Check the side the controls are on, the seating position, the ramp length and the anchor points before the price convinces you. A conversion can be adapted, but the adaptation can cost more than the difference to an unconverted car.

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Common questions

Does a conversion have to be registered?
Yes. A change to controls, seats, floor or doors alters the vehicle relative to its type approval and has to be inspected and entered in the documents. Which procedure applies, which body inspects and what paperwork the converter must supply depends on the country of registration — in Switzerland the cantonal road traffic office, in EU states the responsible registration authority. Do not buy an already converted car without the record of that inspection.
Who contributes to the cost of a conversion?
Depending on the country and the circumstances, a disability or accident insurer, a vocational rehabilitation scheme, or a cantonal or regional body may come into it. What is covered depends on the cause of the impairment, the purpose of the journeys and the amount — and the commitment comes before the conversion, not after. Get the position from the responsible body before you buy a car: some contributions require the base vehicle to meet particular conditions.

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