What is a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle?

GM Mobility provides converted vehicles for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, so they can regain their independence. We created this short guide to explain what a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle is, the many different sizes available and the adaptations that can be made to make it more accessible.

What is a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle?

More commonly referred to by its abbreviated form, WAV, a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle is a vehicle that undergoes modification and adaption to meet the needs of a wheelchair user.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles undergo adaptations to securely anchor the wheelchair in place and provide ease of use for the user. As such, the body and interior of the vehicle is altered to provide security and comfort to wheelchairs users. An example of one alteration includes reshaping upfront and rear entryways to allow entry for a wheelchair.

Other adaptations see the primary and secondary control systems modified for wheelchair users who require a Drive From Wheelchair vehicle (DFW). Modifications to the steering wheel, gearbox, ignition, and brakes allow for better control and comfort while driving.

Types of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

There are different kinds of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles to accommodate and keep safe those needing transit while using a wheelchair. Below is a guide on the most common types of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.

Rear Passenger Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

A Rear Passenger Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle is outfitted with a ramp or a lift to support a wheelchair user to enter and exit the rear of a vehicle where they will be a passenger.

The ramp or lift is situated at the side or back of the vehicle and may include a mechanised winch to support the wheelchair on entry or exit from the vehicle. The wheelchair is held in place with a manual or automatic security mechanism during transit, reducing movement of the wheelchair and securing the user.

Some Rear Passenger Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles have the floor lowered to create additional internal space for the wheelchair user and the wheelchair.

Upfront Passenger Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Upfront Passenger Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are adapted to accommodate a wheelchair user by removing the front passenger seat and lowering the floor of the vehicle. This reduces awkward overhead confinement and allows the wheelchair user to sit next to the driver in relative comfort and security.

The angles of the upfront passenger entryway are altered to accommodate an access ramp and the wheelchair. This makes entry and exit from the upfront passenger side of the vehicle easier and more convenient for the wheelchair user.

Some Upfront Passenger Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are modified with a mechanised entry assistance for the wheelchair user to allow easier entrance into the vehicle.

Driver Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Also referred to as Drive From Wheelchair Vehicles (DFWs), a Driver Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle is a vehicle that undergoes specific modifications and alterations for a wheelchair user to drive a vehicle both in safety and comfort.

The vehicle is adapted through measurements of the wheelchair and its user, so the wheelchair remains anchored while in motion and the user can reach all necessary controls with ease.

Some Driver Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are adapted for conversions between a wheelchair user and non-wheelchair users, allowing the driver’s seat to be replaced when required.

Further vehicle modification allows the wheelchair user seating as a passenger either in the front or rear. Modifications for this type of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle tend to be more expensive due to the necessary adaptations.

Internal Transfer Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

To avoid injury to the wheelchair user or the wheelchair itself from roadside transfers, the interior of an Internal Transfer Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle is adapted with a rotation-controlled driver’s seat.

This allows the wheelchair user to transfer from the wheelchair to the driver’s seat unaided while inside the vehicle. The wheelchair is stored in the back of the vehicle, specifically adapted for this purpose, and the wheelchair user can then transfer from the wheelchair into the driver’s seat with the assistance of a swivel base seat by remote control.

Wheelchair entry is either by the side or the rear of the vehicle. For those who do not want to drive on occasion, the vehicle is adapted at the rear for the wheelchair user to remain secure as a passenger.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Sizes

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles fall into four different size categories due to the size of the engine, the vehicle itself and the modifications applied to the vehicle in use by wheelchair users. Below is a guide on Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle sizes.

Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are vehicles that still retain the appearance and feel of a standard vehicle but include the modifications for a wheelchair to access, exit and anchor.

It is a common occurrence in Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles for the wheelchair user to be situated in the rear of the vehicle as a passenger. However, some vehicles are modified for upfront accommodation.

Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are modified with an access ramp – usually at the rear-end of the vehicle – for wheelchair access, with the interior adapted for the safe anchoring of a wheelchair during motion.

This allows for other passengers, a maximum of three to four others, to travel in the vehicle at the same time as the wheelchair user. The entryway angles are modified for easier access to and from the vehicle in a wheelchair.

Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are more manoeuvrable than larger Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, a benefit for those travelling in and around urban areas. Additionally, Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles cost less on insurance premiums due to the smaller engine and overall size, and in turn, are cheaper to run daily because of reduced fuel consumption.

A good example of a Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle is the Ford Custom Nevada and Citroen Berlingo Blaze.

Medium-Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Medium-Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles provide more space than Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles and have proven over-time to be the more popular choice for people requiring wheelchair-adaptive vehicles.

Medium-Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are van-shaped cars and are a go-to option for wheelchair users looking for a Drive From Wheelchair vehicle since they provide more room for their wheelchair. Carers have also found medium-small sized adapted vehicles a popular choice as the extra room allows easier access to wheelchair users when they require assistance.

Medium-Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles can carry three to seven passengers with the inclusion of the wheelchair user and a driver. Access to and from the vehicle is usually by an access ramp at the rear of the vehicle.

There are some disadvantages to a Medium-Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle that, when contrasted against the level of independence it provides to people using wheelchairs, are quite minor in comparison.

Fuel consumption can make day-to-day running of a Medium-Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle a bit more expensive than running a smaller wheelchair-adapted vehicle. The cost of insurance premiums will also increase.

Examples of Medium-Small Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are the Volkswagen Caddy5 Canto and the Ford Quantum.

Medium-Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Another popular option for wheelchair users and carers is Medium-Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. A fair bit bigger than Medium Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, medium-large wheelchair-adapted vehicles provide more room for those with bulkier wheelchairs. The increase in size allows for more convenient and comfier seating arrangements not afforded by those in the medium category.

The majority of Medium-Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are fitted with an access ramp, but some users prefer the installation of a lift. While the latter option makes for easier entrance and exit from the vehicle, the lift reduces the overall head space, and this can result in discomfort during transit.

Medium-Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles seat between six and nine people, including the wheelchair user and driver. There is another benefit to medium-large sized vehicles: with further modification an additional wheelchair user can access and enter the vehicle, and anchor during motion.

The Citreon Berlingo Blaze XL and the Volkswagen Caravelle SE Vermont are examples of Medium Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.

Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are usually vans that have undergone conversion either to accommodate heavier and larger-sized wheelchairs or for accommodating a large family/passenger capacity with adaptations for a single wheelchair user included.

Some Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles provide enough space – or undergo further modification – to accommodate two wheelchair users without sacrificing seating for other passengers.

Instead of an access ramp, it is a common feature of Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles to come with a motorised lift. Accessibility from the rear is the most common form of entrance but some Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles allow entry from the side as well.

The internal space afforded by a Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle gives wheelchair users and their carers better manoeuvrability inside, allowing for quicker and easier movement.

The Peugeot Boxer Utah is a good example of a Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Adaptations

Vehicles adapted and modified for wheelchair accessibility undergo many changes. Below is a guide to some of the changes that makes a vehicle wheelchair accessible.

Control Configuration

When a wheelchair user requires a Drive From Wheelchair vehicle, they may need adjustments to both the primary and secondary control systems (steering wheel, speed, brakes, etc) to make driving more accessible and safe for them.

This usually requires specialist devices or adaptations to the vehicle. For example, a wheelchair user may not be able to reach the accelerator without difficulty.  To supplement the problem, a trigger-grip device is fitted to the steering wheel. This allows them full control over accelerating and braking by hand.

There are many different adaptations that can be made to the control system in a vehicle with several ways around a problem to make driving accessible to wheelchair users.

Steering a vehicle can be just as difficult for some as reaching the accelerator in the footwell of the vehicle. For those who face difficulties using a conventional steering wheel, there are adaptations like the joystick or steering ball which give the driver easier and adaptable steering control over the vehicle. The same modifications also go on to cover engine ignition and speed control.

Restraints and Lockdowns

The safe storage of a wheelchair or scooter during transit is a concern for many people who use them. For that reason, there are several tried-and-tested systems to provide safe anchorage while the vehicle is in motion to protect both the wheelchair user and the wheelchair itself.

There is the popular manual four-point locking system which is a set of four straps attached to the vehicle where the wheelchair anchors in. The straps are kept at a specific length to restrict movement of the wheelchair while in motion, providing effective and safe anchorage.

There is also the automatic docking system that is more suitable for mechanised wheelchairs. The wheelchair user manoeuvres over a docking device installed on the floor of the vehicle where a pin locks into the chair, preventing it from moving.

Vehicle Access

Without needing to be stated, some wheelchairs are heavy, and some are outright cumbersome, making entry into a vehicle a difficult struggle. To make journeys easier for wheelchair users, some larger vehicles can be outfitted with entry aids so getting in and out of a vehicle becomes a lot simpler.

The most common access aid for entry into and out of a vehicle for wheelchair users is the access ramp. There are many different designs, whether it be from manual to automatic or from portable fold-away ramps to ramps with handrails.

Ramps are a priority in providing wheelchair users with the independence they deserve. Vehicle entryways and interiors can be modified to make entry and exit easier using a ramp, ensuring a swift, efficient, but most importantly, safe, transfer in and out of the vehicle.

The most effective way of aiding wheelchair users on entry and exit of a vehicle is a powered winch. The winch attaches to the chair and helps the user ascend or descend the access ramp. The winch prevents physics-bound rolling, removing risk to the user, the wheelchair and others when entering and exiting the vehicle.

There are a variety of lifts to help a wheelchair user enter and exit a vehicle. Hoists can lift a person to and from a vehicle while some hoists are designed to lift wheelchairs and scooters.

Remote control vertical-operation lifts can be installed into vehicles and securely anchor the wheelchair or scooter during ascent or descent. Where a wheelchair or mobility scooter user requires vehicular access, there are many adaptations to increase accessibility.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Warranty

When you purchase a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle from GM Mobility, we continue our commitment to you with our Aftersales three-year Conversion Warranty. The warranty is activated on receipt of vehicle registration and covers the cost of replacement or repair of defective parts caused by manufacturing. It is provided in addition to the standard manufacturer issue warranty.

If you require an extended warranty instead of a three-year warranty, you have the option to select this at the point of vehicle purchase. The warranty, while still in effect, covers the vehicle even after the change of ownership.