Ricability Is a Charity That Researches and Publishes Information on Products and Services for Older and Disabled People
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rica bili ty Choos ing a car A guide for older and disabled people 2011 The information contained in this guide is correct at the time of going to print (June 2011). It will be reviewed every two years. See our website for any changes since printing. Ricability is a charity that researches and publishes information on products and services for older and disabled people Unit G03 The Wenlock 50–52 Wharf Road London N1 7EU Tel: 020 7427 2460 Fax: 020 7427 2468 Textphone: 020 7427 2469 Email: [email protected] www.ricability.org.uk Choosing a c ar A guide for older and disabled people Choosing a car can be a complicated Contents decision. Manufacturers’ brochures and test reports in magazines will Setting off 4 help you weigh up and compare such things as performance, What to look for 7 running costs and reliability. Wheelchair users 18 However, if you are having Checklist 21 difficulty getting in and out or Finance 24 driving a car, there are other things you may need to consider. Many Suppliers 27 cars have features that will make The legal side 28 your life easier, and there are simple Useful organisations 30 gadgets and more complex adaptations that can help with Find a car – Car measurement database almost any driving problem. Visit our website to search for the easiest Here you will find what to look cars to get in and out of. There are out for. The guide also describes factsheets like this one on over 700 cars. some of the simpler equipment that can make driving the car easier. There is a section on financing a car if you have a disability and details !" #### of where to go for simpler adaptations, information and help. If you need something more complicated there are other guides in this series which can help. See $ * !! % ! ! && !! " ! & ! ! !! the back of this booklet or visit our % * *) *- website for more information. '( )' '( )- See our Mobility address list for % * (' + ) -( '* *, the names and addresses of & ' + * ,, , -) + , specialist suppliers. 3 Se tting off Basic steps to finding and adapting a car to suit you STEP 1 Ask some WILL YOU TRAVEL WITH SOMEONE? basic questions If not, will you need any equipment to help you get in and out, or to help with WILL YOU DRIVE THE CAR? anything you may carry? If not, you only have to think about getting yourself and any equipment you use into WHEELCHAIR USERS the car, and your comfort once inside. If Think carefully about how you will carry you are going to be the driver, you need to your wheelchair in any car you are think about how you are going to drive considering. How will you transfer from safely and comfortably, and whether you the wheelchair to the car? Will the will need specialist equipment to help you. wheelchair fit in the boot? Will you need equipment to help you? WILL YOU NEED SPECIALIST If transferring is difficult, or if you prefer EQUIPMENT? to travel in your wheelchair, some cars and There’s a wide range of specialist controls vans can be adapted to make this possible. from simple attachments such as wider mirrors and steering knobs to more RICABILITY GUIDES elaborate controls that make it possible for If you need more specialist assistance, almost anyone to drive as long as they more details on these questions can be meet DVLA requirements – see page 28. found in our other guides Car controls , You can also get specialist equipment to Getting in and out of a car , Getting a help with getting in and out, from swivel wheelchair into a car and Wheelchair cushions and transfer boards to powered accessible vehicles (see page 35). lifting swivelling seats and hoists. This You can also get more information from guide gives some information about a Mobility Centre (see pages 30–33). simpler equipment. Plan and compromise HOW MUCH SPACE WILL YOU NEED? n Think about what you may need You may need space for passengers, in the future as well as about luggage or equipment like wheelchairs or what suits you now. scooters. If you have bulky mobility n Prepare to compromise as you equipment, you may need more room for may not find everything you want shopping trips or holidays. in one car. 4 STEP 2 Collect Some of the magazine websites allow you to compare the equipment available information on different cars. There is a lot to think about when choosing For advice, news and reviews: a vehicle, and it is unlikely that you will find www.autocar.co.uk all the information you need in one place. For all this plus car comparisons and Comfort, reliability, performance financial information: (including fuel consumption and CO 2 www.autoexpress.co.uk , emissions), price and running costs are www.topgear.com and things everybody needs to consider. www.whatcar.com . Motoring magazines, the internet, The Top Gear website also has a car newspaper reviews, radio and television chooser to guide you to suitable cars. programmes and manufacturers’ n Which? carries out in-depth car tests and brochures should help you piece together surveys car owners about satisfaction the information you need. and reliability. Members can see the information on their website Particularly helpful are: (www.which.co.uk/cars ), and there is n Motoring magazines. There’s a wide a quarterly magazine, available in range of magazines with advice, news newsagents and supermarkets. and car reviews. Most reviews tell you n There is a wealth of information on the about equipment which is particularly internet. Try these sites for safety testing useful for older and disabled motorists information, prices, reviews, features such as automatic transmission, air and specifications: conditioning, power steering, remote www.carbuyer.co.uk central locking, electric windows and www.euroncap.com mirrors and electric seat adjustment. www.glass.co.uk What Car? lists all new cars every www.newcarnet.co.uk month, with prices. www.parkers.co.uk www.theaa.com 5 SETTING OFF After this, there are the things n Motability also has a great deal of advice you need to think about if you and information, including price and have a disability. accessibility, on its website. And they n Our website www.ricability.org.uk publish a quarterly magazine, Lifestyle, has a guide to choosing a car which with news, views and reviews – free if includes detailed measurements of you have a Motability vehicle, otherwise over 700 current and recent models. £10 a year. Send your name, address and Draw up a short list of cars that are cheque (payable to The Big Agency), to easy to get in and out of – for example, Lifestyle Subscriptions, The Big Agency, with the widest door or lowest sill, or 22 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD. where the seat is the same height as your wheelchair. Or search cars by STEP 3 Try out any boot size – if you need to stow a wheelchair or other equipment. car you are seriously n Mobility Centres (see pages 30–33) and considering organisations of disabled motorists (see page 33) give independent advice. Try getting in and out of it several times. n Disabled Motoring UK (see page 33) has If you use any aids for getting in and out, monthly magazine, with news, features or special cushions, try it with them. If you and advice and reviews of cars tested by are going to be driving, sit in the driver’s disabled drivers. seat and try all the controls. If you have n Motability (see pages 24–25) has a list of equipment to carry try getting that in and accredited car dealers. These dealers will out of the car. If someone else usually know what features in their range of cars helps you, get them to try the car with are helpful for older and disabled people. you. If you have a disability, some dealers They all have specialist information and will bring a demonstration car to you if facilities for disabled people. you ask. Tip n Most people will simply choose a car at a dealer. However, if you need specialist or made-to- measure adaptations you will have to discuss this with a specialist adaptation company before choosing your car – to make sure they will fit. n If you are using the Motability scheme (see pages 24–25), they will manage the process of adapting your car if you ask. 6 What to look for Car designs to look out for, useful extras and adaptations you can add This section tells you what features to look Getting in and out for when choosing a car, including features that are particularly helpful to disabled Look for: people. We also give a rundown of the n Easy to open doors: extra equipment which can help you use a Most door handles are likely to be the type car safely and comfortably. you just pull on – no buttons or levers Prices of adaptations are those typically involved. charged and should be used as a guide only. If you can, shop around and talk to n Wide doors, that open wide: several companies as prices vary. If your legs are stiff you will need room to Adaptation companies are specialists swing them in with the least possible and can often come up with a solution bending. Two and three-door cars usually even when no standard product meets have wider doors. your needs. Some Mobility Centres (see Remember that wider doors need more pages 30–33) will give you the opportunity space to open into (this can be a problem to see equipment, try it out and get more in garages) and you have to reach further information and advice.