Getting started: Cars and disabilities

Woman thinking about disability and a car.

Getting an adapted car is a big investment and most likely something you will have to live with for a long time. Our recommendation is to take your time during this process. Meet with occupational therapists and vehicle adaptation professionals. Investigate what solutions are available for you and what you think will best suit your life.

Vehicle adaptation in 4 simple steps

Talk to a professional
The first step to getting an adapted car is to educate yourself. Surf the web for information, visit a local mobility centre or the road authority. The latter will help you find out the legal requirements in your country. You can also visit one or more vehicle adaptation specialists. If you don’t know where to look for these a good starting point is this Dealer list.

Assessment
Once you feel a bit more confident about the available options it is time for a so-called assessment. This is something you do together with an occupational therapist and/or a vehicle adaptation professional. During an assessment, you go through your needs and the solutions that are available. The whole point of the assessment is to help you decide what solution and what car is best suited for your needs.

Financing
Is the user a child or a working adult? Is it a congenital disability or the result of an accident? There are various ways to provide funding for a vehicle adapted for a disability. Different countries have different solutions, some, unfortunately, have no solutions at all. But even in those cases, it might be possible to get help with funding, for example through various organisations.

To learn more on how to get funding for your vehicle, talk to disability associations or your local vehicle adaptation professional.

How to finance your accessible vehicle

Adaptation
You’ve finally settled on a car and it's time to start working on it. Remember to do a final check with your vehicle adaptation professional first. You need to verify that the car you want is compatible with the adaptation solutions you need.

You might be called in for a couple of visits along the way in order to make small adjustments and test runs before everything feels perfect.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Below you’ll find the answers to some the most common questions about cars and disabilities.

What does it cost to adapt a car for someone with a disability?

A question that is impossible to answer before doing an assessment. Depending on what you need and want, it can vary quite a lot. If the price tag at first seems daunting, remember that there are many ways to finance both your car and the adaptation itself. Investigate what’s available to you, where you live.

Can you adapt a car to suit a child with disabilities?

Yes, of course, adaptation for kids are as common as they are for adults and the elderly. The solutions range from offering safe and proper seating positions to saving the parents' back from heavy lifting.

I have a disability; can I get a driver’s licence?

Depending on your abilities and where you live the answer is both yes and no. Contact your local road authority to find out what rules and regulations that apply to you.

What about service and warranty?

As a product manufacturer, we provide a three-year warranty on our products. A professional vehicle adaptation installer should at least provide some warranty on their work as well.

How do I know which product works for me?

Together with an occupational therapist and/or a vehicle adaptation professional, you do a so-called assessment where you discuss all the variables for example type of disability, car model and family situation. From this, you will get suggestions on different solutions that suit you and your life.

Can you adapt any type of car?

Our philosophy is that you should be able to choose the car you want, regardless of brand or type. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, but in most cases, there is a solution. Over the years, we have adapted many different types of vehicles, for example, sports cars, motorhomes, trucks and even farm equipment. Everything depends on your needs and wishes.

How long does it take to get my car adapted?

It varies from case to case. Depending on the extent of the adaptation, the workload of the company performing the adaptation as well as the type of adaptation. Getting a car with a lowered floor, for example, requires extensive work which of course is time-consuming. Whereas getting a hand control fitted can be done within a day.

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