Travelling by Car With a Wheelchair or Walker

Plan before the day

• Know the aid. Check the folded size and weight of the wheelchair, walker or rollator, and measure the car boot. A transit chair or a lightweight folding chair is far easier than a heavy standard one.
• Choose the car. A car with a higher, firm seat, wide-opening doors and a large boot is easiest. A hatchback or SUV with a seat at hip height suits many older people; very low sports cars and very high vans are harder. A car with a rear seat of around 50 cm is easier than a low sedan.
• Practise at home. Do a dry run of getting in and out, folding and loading, so there are no surprises on the day.
• Think about the journey. Plan stops for rest, toilets, water and medicines, and check the route for road quality.
• Take a helper. Never travel alone with a person who needs transfers.
• Pack essentials. Medicines, water, snacks, a cushion, a blanket, a plastic bag, wipes, a spare pad if needed, a phone charger and a card with contact and medical details.

Choosing the seat

The front passenger seat is usually easiest for getting in and out. It has more leg room and a wider door opening, and the seat can be slid back. The rear seat is safer for some, but harder to enter. If your parent is very frail, a rear seat behind the driver or passenger may allow more room for the helper to assist. Check that the seat belt can be fitted comfortably across the chest and lap, not the neck or abdomen.

If the car seat is low, a firm cushion can raise it, so that rising is easier; check it does not compromise the seat belt or the head restraint. See seat cushions for older adults and car seat cushions for older passengers.

Transferring from the wheelchair to the car

If your parent can stand and take a step or two, a standing pivot transfer is the usual method. Always involve a physiotherapist or nurse in teaching the first time.

1. Park the car on a flat, level surface, away from traffic, with space to open the door fully. 2. Position the wheelchair parallel to the car seat, as close as possible, at a slight angle, on the side of the person's stronger leg if possible. 3. Apply the wheelchair brakes and lift the footrests out of the way. 4. Move the car seat back as far as it goes and recline it a little to make room. 5. Help your parent forward in the wheelchair seat, with feet flat. 6. Stand in front, with a wide stance and knees bent, and hold a transfer belt or follow the therapist's method; see how to use a transfer belt. 7. On a count, guide your parent to stand, with their hands pushing on the wheelchair armrests, not on you or the door. 8. Pivot, turning on the stronger leg until the back of their legs touches the car seat. 9. Lower slowly onto the seat, guarding the head from the door frame. 10. Swing the legs in, one at a time, supporting each. 11. Position and fasten the seat belt, check comfort and close the door gently.

For a more detailed step-by-step, see getting an elderly person in and out of a car.

If your parent cannot stand or bear weight, car transfers are unsafe without equipment such as a slide board, a hoist or a specially adapted vehicle. Ask a therapist, or book a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

Folding and loading the chair

• Fold the chair with the footrests removed or swung away and the cushion taken off. Lift with your legs, not your back.
• Keep it clean. Put a cloth or plastic sheet in the boot to protect the car, and keep dirty wheels from the upholstery.
• Secure it. Heavy objects can become dangerous in a sudden stop. Wedge the folded chair so it cannot slide, or tie it down. Do not put a heavy chair loose on the back seat.
• Weight. If the chair is heavy, consider a lightweight model with quick-release wheels, or ask for help. See transit wheelchair or standard wheelchair.
• Walkers and rollators. Fold them and place them in the boot or on the back seat, secured. Keep a stick or folding stick within reach in the car; see folding walking sticks for travel.

Seat belts and safety

• Everyone wears a seat belt, including the person with the wheelchair or walker.
• Do not leave a person sitting in a wheelchair inside a moving car. Standard wheelchairs are not crash-tested for use as car seats, except for those marked as suitable for transport, and the person must be secured accordingly.
• Fit the belt properly: the lap strap low across the pelvis, not the stomach; the shoulder strap across the chest, not the neck.
• Use a cushion or pillow to adjust position, not to block the belt.
• Check the door before moving, to avoid a hand or foot trapped.
• Drive smoothly, with gentle braking and cornering. Avoid sudden stops.
• Check the head restraint is at the right height.

If your parent uses a wheelchair that travels in a van, make sure the vehicle has tie-downs and a proper restraint system.

Comfort on the road

• Cushions and support. A cushion for the seat, a lumbar support and a neck pillow help on long drives; see neck pillows for travel and sleep and lumbar cushions.
• Temperature. Keep the car cool in summer, and avoid direct sun. Use sunshades and keep water within reach. Avoid blowing air directly onto the face.
• Breaks. Stop every one to two hours so your parent can stretch, use the toilet, take a short walk and change position. This reduces stiffness, swelling and pressure.
• Toilet planning. Know where accessible toilets are, and carry what you need. A portable urinal or a spare pad can ease worry; see urinals for men and women.
• Motion sickness. Seat in the front, fresh air and a flat route help. Ask a doctor about medicines, which can cause drowsiness.
• Circulation. On long drives, ankle exercises and short walks reduce the risk of swollen legs and clots; see compression stockings guide.
• Medicines and meals. Keep to the usual schedule, with snacks and water.
• Pressure care. If your parent spends long hours seated, check skin and shift weight at stops; see pressure care in a wheelchair.

Getting out at the other end

Plan the arrival as carefully as the departure. Know where to park for the easiest access, with room for the door and the chair. Ask the host or venue whether there are steps, ramps and lifts, and where the toilet is. At a hospital, ask for a wheelchair at the entrance. For long walks from parking, a transit chair is helpful. Allow plenty of time.

Long journeys and overnight stays

For journeys beyond a few hours, consider splitting the trip with a night in a hotel with an accessible room. Check in advance for ground-floor rooms, lifts, step-free bathrooms and walk-in showers. Bring a shower chair or a non-slip mat if needed. Keep medicines and an emergency card in a hand bag. For planning, see travelling with an elderly parent: a checklist.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a low or cramped car.
• Not testing the fold and load at home.
• Heavy chair loose inside the car.
• Rushing transfers.
• Forgetting breaks.
• Missing medicines.
• No contact card.
• Travelling without a helper.
• Overlooking the destination's access.

When to ask a professional

Ask a physiotherapist or occupational therapist to teach car transfers in your own car, which saves strain and risk. Check with a doctor before long journeys if your parent has heart, lung, circulation or clotting problems, or is recovering from surgery. Our care advisors can arrange a trained companion and plan equipment for trips.