Why we need you to measure your wheelchair...and how to get it right
When hiring a wheelchair accessible vehicle – or ‘WAV’ – one of the things we will ask for is the measurements of your wheelchair. With a large range of WAVs available (the biggest in the UK, in fact), it’s so important that we match you with the right one. We want to make sure that when you hire from us, you are travelling safely in comfort and style.
Most standard wheelchairs will fit inside our WAVs, but double checking the measurements means peace of mind from both your side and ours. Measuring your chair couldn’t be easier, but there are a few things to consider to make sure it is as accurate as possible.
The measurements we need from you include:
Measuring the width of your wheelchair
Knowing how wide your wheelchair is ensuring that it’s as easy as possible for you to enter and exit your hired WAV. This means that we can provide the ramp or lift that is wide enough, as well as making sure that your wheelchair fits comfortably in the vehicle while leaving plenty of space to travel in comfort.
This means measuring the widest parts of your wheelchair. Typically, this would be the measuring from the outer edge of one wheel to the other. Remember to include hand rims in your measurements, too. We suggest getting a friend to help – they can take the measurements while you’re sat in your wheelchair, to get the most accurate width.
Measuring the length of your wheelchair
Knowing how long your wheelchair is means the length from front to back. We will always recommend a vehicle that gives you enough space to travel comfortable, as well as plenty of room behind you for any bags or luggage. It’s also important that you can use all access ramps with ease, too.
The best way of measuring the length of your wheelchair is from the tip of your toes (any footrests included) to the furthest point. This is typically either the back of the chair’s wheels, or the end of the push handles; whichever is the furthest away.
The height you are when in your wheelchair must be considered, to make sure you have enough headroom when travelling. We’ll only recommend a WAV that will be most comfortable for you. This means both being able to enter and exit with ease, as well as having enough space when inside the vehicle.
To measure the height of your wheelchair, start from the ground and measure up to the top of your head. The most accurate way of doing so would be to take the measurement from the back of the wheelchair and going up between the handles.
Got your measurements? Give us a call!
Find visual descriptions easier? Check out our YouTube video that takes you through all this, step by step.
As soon as you’ve got your wheelchair measurements, you can give us a call on 0300 045 4505 or request a callback here. We’ll chat to you about your mobility needs and your reasons for wanting to hire a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Then we’ll recommend the perfect WAV for your travels.
Find out more about hiring a wheelchair accessible hire from us here.
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