News & Events
Advice for buying a used wheelchair accessible vehicle
Our after-sales team wanted to highlight the fact that they are getting an increasing amount of phone calls from people that have bought wheelchair accessible vehicles second hand, only to find that the dealer they bought it from, can’t help with servicing. One customer, who brought his car into our showroom on the off chance that we could help, had not even been told which company had converted his vehicle when he bought it!
If you are buying a used wheelchair passenger car privately, at an auction, from a dealer, or over the internet, to please check out your facts before buying. This even applies to our own conversions – Gowrings Mobility or old ‘Chairman’ wheelchair passenger cars that are available for sale – despite the Gowrings stamp on the car, all manner of things can have happened to the car since we last saw it, so we cannot guarantee the condition of the vehicle, or the level of service you will get from that dealer.
Get assessed
Is this car the most suitable for your needs? Have you tried your wheelchair and all your equipment out in it? How easy is it to load the wheelchair in and out? Take a test drive – this is essential so that the driver gets a feel for how the car handles, and the wheelchair passenger feels comfortable. Check your visibility from the front and side windows, drive over speed bumps and go round as many roundabouts as you can to see how stable the wheelchair is.
Insist on a full demonstration AND training
At the handover of your vehicle, insist on a full demonstration and training on how to use the wheelchair securing system and seat belt. Is the person showing you knowledgeable on best practice? Has he given you an instruction manual? Remember that if the wheelchair is not secured correctly or the passenger is not wearing a seatbelt, they will not be safe in the event of an accident.
Ask about warranty and how this will be provided.
Remember that the three years’ warranty is often invalidated if the original purchaser sells the car within that time. For example, the Gowrings Mobility warranty is not transferable to the new owner unless the vehicle is bought directly from us. Also you may need specialist parts that are harder to find. Does the dealer stock spare parts and work with garages across the country (i.e. one near you) or will you have to return the car to the original manufacturer for an often lengthy repair? Does the dealer have a dedicated after-sales team to help you with all your queries?
Get a finance check
You need to find out whether there is outstanding finance secured on the car, or whether it has been involved in an accident or insurance claim.
If you would like some friendly, impartial advice on buying second-hand cars, please contact our mobility advisors on Lo-Call 0845 608
If you are buying a used wheelchair passenger car privately, at an auction, from a dealer, or over the internet, to please check out your facts before buying. This even applies to our own conversions – Gowrings Mobility or old ‘Chairman’ wheelchair passenger cars that are available for sale – despite the Gowrings stamp on the car, all manner of things can have happened to the car since we last saw it, so we cannot guarantee the condition of the vehicle, or the level of service you will get from that dealer.
Get assessed
Is this car the most suitable for your needs? Have you tried your wheelchair and all your equipment out in it? How easy is it to load the wheelchair in and out? Take a test drive – this is essential so that the driver gets a feel for how the car handles, and the wheelchair passenger feels comfortable. Check your visibility from the front and side windows, drive over speed bumps and go round as many roundabouts as you can to see how stable the wheelchair is.
Insist on a full demonstration AND training
At the handover of your vehicle, insist on a full demonstration and training on how to use the wheelchair securing system and seat belt. Is the person showing you knowledgeable on best practice? Has he given you an instruction manual? Remember that if the wheelchair is not secured correctly or the passenger is not wearing a seatbelt, they will not be safe in the event of an accident.
Ask about warranty and how this will be provided.
Remember that the three years’ warranty is often invalidated if the original purchaser sells the car within that time. For example, the Gowrings Mobility warranty is not transferable to the new owner unless the vehicle is bought directly from us. Also you may need specialist parts that are harder to find. Does the dealer stock spare parts and work with garages across the country (i.e. one near you) or will you have to return the car to the original manufacturer for an often lengthy repair? Does the dealer have a dedicated after-sales team to help you with all your queries?
Get a finance check
You need to find out whether there is outstanding finance secured on the car, or whether it has been involved in an accident or insurance claim.
If you would like some friendly, impartial advice on buying second-hand cars, please contact our mobility advisors on Lo-Call 0845 608
