Looking for a new ride requires a lot of patience and research on your part. Each car comes with a string of unique features. Therefore, picking the one that fits your needs and preferences perfectly can be quite problematic, especially if you don’t have any experience with how cars work.
Thankfully, there’s always a way for you to narrow your choice down by including some, let’s say, exclusive parts or features into the mix. Including these wouldn’t make your search any easier, but it will make it somewhat shorter, which is a plus. There’s one exception to that rule, wheelchair accessible vehicle.
The reason is quite obvious, the number of these vehicles on the market is not as high. Not to mention that coming across that they tend to be significantly costlier than usual cars. Today, we would like to provide you with a couple of tips that can help you with making a search for a WAV car less stressful.
1. Understand the Market
The first order of business is understanding the market. Depending on your prior knowledge of the topic, you will need to invest a certain amount of time researching. Without any doubt, this is imperative. In case you lack the information about a certain market, you can always consult with this sort of knowledge.
Naturally, each market comes with its unique elements, and understanding them is vital for you to get the best possible deal. In the case of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, you will be able to get a proper deal through the motability scheme. However, not all the markets will provide you with this possibility.
2. Know What You Need
Making the decision before actually knowing what you’re after is a bad move, especially since we’re talking about WAV. The reason is quite obvious, drivers with disabilities require certain conditions for their driving to be at a proper level. Not meeting these requirements would make it impossible.
That’s why it is important to know how much space you need inside the vehicle, are there any additional features that can make the process more comfortable, and is there any need for features besides the one for the driver’s seat.
Thankfully, today’s technologies make it possible for people in wheelchairs to get into the vehicle without any effort.
All of these questions need a proper answer. Surely, it is not easy to come across them. But if you commit enough time and effort to research, coming across these answers doesn’t have to be as challenging as many think it is.
The next aspect that requires your attention is whether you need a pickup, van, or a basic car. In case you are interested in purchasing a used car, then pay attention to the mileage and other relevant factors that could provide you with an insight into the vehicle’s condition.
3. Ask for Recommendations
In case you want to search for a WAV much shorter than it needs to be, you can always ask for some recommendations. For instance, if there’s someone who has experience with purchasing these cars and researching the marketing, asking for advice can save you quite a lot of time.
Naturally, there’s no guarantee that this recommendation would fit your needs perfectly. However, it is a good place to start. Maybe the advice you get can be adjusted with the addition of some twists that could make it fit your needs and preferences.
Another thing you can do is take a look at forums that specialize in this topic. Thankfully, the awareness of helping people with disabilities has raised significantly, and the number of these forums has increased in the last two decades. Maybe you can find just what you look for in one of these.
4. Adaptations and Adjustments
Now, we’ve got to the most significant part of this article of ours. With WAV, drivers are provided with a set of adaptions and adjustments that make driving possible. The first adaption we want to discuss is known as hand controls. These are used for acceleration or braking through a pull/push device.
Individuals who have problems with mobility in their right leg will find an alternative in the left foot accelerator. Not only that but there are also a couple of other possibilities like twin-flip and floor-mounted accelerator. You can see that there are enough options to cover all the needs.
The final factor we want to talk about is the remote control device. It is used to have complete control over things like headlights, windscreen wipers, and indicators. That way, the driver can have the utmost comfort without needing to focus on numerous elements. For all these reasons seeking these adaptations and adjustments is something you cannot do without.
5. Test Drive
Before you make the purchase, be sure to take the vehicle for a test drive. That way, you can determine whether there are any problems with the car itself, and whether is it comfortable enough for you. Sometimes, it could look perfect on the outside, but you shouldn’t rely just on the aesthetics.
We would recommend you take more than one test drive. Only by doing that, you can establish a proper opinion about the vehicle. Also, don’t hesitate to ask the seller any question that comes to your mind. In case the seller shows hesitation about answering them, you shouldn’t conclude the deal.
It’s because chances of stumbling across problems with some parts could lead to additional costs, which you don’t need, right? Also, make sure to pay attention to the seller’s behavior during the conversation. You can learn a lot about people’s intentions during the negotiations.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, choosing a WAV that covers all your requirements is not as easy. You will certainly need to pay attention to a wide array of different elements. Here, you can take a look at a couple of tips on how to make this process much simpler. We are certain you will find all of these equally useful. Remember, be patient, and we don’t have any doubt you will come across any problems.