Why Should I Consider A Wheelchair Accessible Car?

This is the first question you should think about when thinking about buying a new or second hand wheelchair accessible car. There are several answers, but the most important I believe is, “Quality of Life”. If you have difficulty with helping a loved one in or out of a vehicle, then you need to consider this. If you want to include a family member in shopping trips, holiday journeys, visiting other family members, or even a school run, then this should also be considered.

Owning a quality built wheelchair accessible car provides peace of mind. Of course there are many different varieties to consider, but the main attention should be, does this car do what I want it to do?

Remember all the car is, is a tool. A tool, to help improve your or a family members quality of life.

So how can it improve Quality of Life?

Well if you are currently physically lifting a disable passenger in or out of a car, then the first thing that you will benefit from is the ease of no longer having to do by the car doing the work for you.

We all experience wear and tear on our bodies over our lifetime. A wheelchair vehicle will help in maintaining independence without sacrificing anyone else’s health or well being.

You will spend way less time when helping a wheelchair user into a vehicle with a wheelchair accessible ramp, wheelchair lift or by also using an electric swivel seat system. This is easier and more efficient than trying to get both the user and chair into a vehicle separately, especially when you see that the vast majority of our cars have an automatic kneel down facility fitted as standard.

It also makes the job of a caregiver simpler, which means wheelchair users can be taken almost anywhere.

You must also consider the most important benefit of a wheelchair vehicle, and that is, Safety!

wheelchair lifts options, wheelchair accessible vehicles are specifically designed for people whose mobility is limited. This implies that they are modified vehicles that ensure that the disabled persons are transported in a more secure way. In addition, the vehicles are made with superior quality equipment. The equipment reduces injury risk while getting into the vehicle and when alighting as well as while travelling. Even transferring the wheelchair inside the vehicle is easy and safe. With in-floor ramps, wheelchair ties and other restraint options, wheelchair accessible vehicles provide the safety that is needed to ensure the comfort of the disabled persons and their loved ones while travelling.

Why Are Wheelchair Accessible Cars So Expensive?

This is a question that I probably get asked most often here at Choice Mobility. While there are many answers that I could give to you, the most direct is that, these cars have so many custom made parts and extras that have been added to facilitate wheelchair passengers is staggering. Not only that, all wheelchair accessible cars, must undergo rigorous and strict safety tests that often it can cost huge sums of money to get to the required safety guidelines satisfactorily.

Also wheelchair accessible cars come in many shapes and sizes, and as such each vehicle must go through everything I have mentioned above. Also there are the specialist engineers that must design, test and fit any and all modifications to the car. This not only takes time, but also vast sums of money.

So in actuality what you are buying, whether it be a new or second hand wheelchair accessible car, all of the above must also be factored in when deciding on your budget. But of course, in our opinion, a well maintained, second hand quality built wheelchair accessible vehicle will always represent more value for money!

Is There Grant Aid or Tax Relief Available For A Wheelchair Car?

Short answer, yes there is. You can read more about the Tax Relief and The Primary Medical Certificate when you click the blue links.

There is a more in depth article about the Tax Relief by clicking the blue link on this page.

But a brief overview of the Primary Medical Certificate Requirements are:

Relief in respect of Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) may be obtained, subject to a maximum of:

• €9,525 for a driver with a disability.
• €15,875 for a passenger with a disability.
• €15,875 for a family member of a passenger with a disability.

Now the above mentioned here is referring to either a brand new wheelchair accessible car, or a used wheelchair car that has not been registered in the Republic of Ireland before.

This is important, as people often get confused about this.
If you have your Primary Medical Certificate and are buying a used car that has already received a VAT and VRT repayment already to the previous owner, then the only tax relief that you are entitled is repayment of excise duty on fuel and Motor Tax Exemption.

Do I Need A Primary Medical Certificate?

No, you do not need the Primary Medical Cert to purchase a new or secondhand wheelchair vehicle, but the benefits of making an application on behalf of yourself or a loved one, far far out way not making an application.

There is a more in depth article about the Tax Relief by clicking the blue link on this page.

But for a brief overview, please read below.

What are The Requirements for a Primary Medical Certificate?

In order to qualify for tax relief under the scheme, the person with a disability must have a valid Primary Medical Certificate. A Primary Medical Certificate confirms you are severely and permanently disabled and:

• Are completely or almost completely without the use of both legs or

• Are completely without the use of one of your legs and almost completely without the use of the other leg to the extent that you are severely restricted as regards movement in your legs or

• Are without both hands or both arms or

• Are without one or both legs or

• Are completely or almost completely without the use of both hands or arms and completely or almost completely without the use of one leg or

• Have the medical condition of dwarfism and serious difficulties of movement of the legs

To get the process moving, you will need to make an appointment at your local Health Office. They in turn will refer you onto an appointment for an assessment with a Medical Officer. The Medical Officer will make an assessment of the person that is making the application, and then you will be told whether it has been granted or not.

You can read more about the Tax Relief and The Primary Medical Certificate when you click the blue links.

Are Your Cars Imported?

Yes. Our cars are imported. In fact about 95% of all Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles or WAV’s as they are also called, here in Ireland are imported. The reason for this is that for example in the U.K. there are many fantastic wheelchair accessible cars available, both new and used. These cars have had all of their modifications done by third party professionals. they provide excellent solutions for the Irish consumer, they are good value and are in very good condition.

Our cars here at Choice Mobility have been imported directly from the manufacturers.

They have had all of their mobility modifications completed in house directly also by the manufacturers direct on the factory assembly line. The manufacturers have specialty production lines that produce these cars and of course their own specialist teams of engineers that design and build these cars.

The quality of the finished product speaks for itself.

What Makes Your Cars Different?

The cars here at Choice Mobility have been imported directly from the manufacturers. They have been hand picked, tested and tested again when they arrive in Ireland.

They have had all of their mobility modifications completed in house directly by the manufacturers on the factory assembly line. The manufacturers have specialty production lines that produce these cars and of course their own specialist teams of engineers that design and build these cars.

The array of specialist modifications that are available for these cars directly from the manufacturers is quite extensive, as well as the variety of cars too. As the cars have been factory modified as opposed to third party modified, normally means that the finished modifications are normally of a higher speck as well as being cheaper, as they come as standard. This of course this does not mean that the quality of our cars is anything less than what is currently on the market just because they maybe somewhat cheaper, in fact it is quite the opposite!

The quality of the finished product speaks for itself.

Do You Offer A Warranty?

Yes, all of our wheelchair accessible cars here at Choice Mobility, come with our standard 6 month warranty. It is also worth noting that each previously unregistered car that is sold, also receives a new NCT, 4 new tyres and of course is fully serviced and valeted.

So you can rest assured that when you collect your car that it will be in tip top condition!

What About Parts?

This is a common misconception that imported cars that need parts cannot be readily got. this is in fact wrong. In fact, as most rolling chassis and engines are commonly swapped between vehicle manufacturers to create one variety or car or another, 99% of all car parts are readily available here in Ireland all ready.

For that 1% that may not be, it is the same as any other car dealership that requires one car part or another, we get it directly from the manufacturers.

In the event of body panels etc, it is the exact same, we contact the manufacturers directly and normally have the part shipped within 72 hours.

Can You Deliver My New Car?

Yes. If you have purchased a car from Choice Mobility and require it to be delivered to your home, then you will be pleased to know that we offer Free Delivery Nationwide for any of our Wheelchair Accessible Cars.