Read our guide to research and choose the best wheelchair lift company for you. Handicap lifts come in interior, exterior and hybrid models and can attach to vans, sedans and other vehicles. We looked at scooters and wheelchair lifts by considering price, accessibility, availability, weight capacity and transferability.
Key takeaways:
- Our top picks include BraunAbility, alongside several others, each offering reliable lift systems for a range of vehicles and mobility needs.
- Before you buy, review how much a wheelchair lift for a car costs to set the right budget.
When considering which lift is right for you, think in the long-term. What will be the easiest for you to operate every day? Do you need an interior lift, exterior lift or a hybrid lift? What is your budget? If possible, the price should be a secondary issue when considering the best wheelchair or scooter lift.
All prices are correct as of the time of publishing.
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There are several factors to consider when choosing a wheelchair lift for a car, truck or van. One such factor is the type of wheelchair lift you want. The type that’s best for you will depend on your vehicle, whether you have a wheelchair or a scooter and your mobility capabilities. In general, smaller vehicles benefit from an exterior lift and interior lifts work well with larger vehicles. Users with limited mobility often prefer hybrid lift options, as these are the easiest to operate. If in doubt, an affordable exterior lift is a good option because of its ease of use and ability to be easily transferred to another vehicle.
An exterior scooter lift for cars is a platform mounted on the outside of the vehicle. They are popular because they are affordable and compatible with almost any vehicle. Wheelchair hitch lifts take up no space within the car and can easily be transferred from one vehicle to another. To operate this type of lift, the user needs to be able to walk a few feet comfortably, stand for a few minutes, maneuver the mobility device onto the platform and operate buttons on a power lift. The mobility device is strapped to the lift using tie-down straps that keep the mobility device in place.
One drawback of exterior lifts is that they leave the mobility device exposed to the elements. Exterior wheelchair lifts are best for smaller cars like sedans that don’t have room inside and for people who don’t have someone to help them with getting a wheelchair into a car.
Interior wheelchair lifts are mounted inside the vehicle, and the device lifts the wheelchair into the car. Most interior lifts are docking devices that lift the mobility device using attachments. Interior wheelchair lifts work when raising into a truck bed, rear cargo area or side-entry of a van. It typically can be collapsed so it doesn’t take up too much space when not in use.
Interior lifts are more difficult to operate than exterior lifts. To lift the wheelchair or scooter, the user has to attach the docking device to the wheelchair. The device lifts the scooter up and into the vehicle. People using this form of lift will need to be able to walk comfortably a few feet, stand for a few minutes, hook the docking device to the wheelchair and guide the mobility device into the car. Those with physical help from another might like this best, as will those with available space in their vehicle.
A hybrid lift accepts a drive-on platform, like exterior lifts do, but also takes the wheelchair inside the car, like interior lifts. A hybrid lift does not require extensive remodeling of a vehicle — it will attach to your vehicle seating and extend out of the car to allow the placement of the mobility device. Hybrid lifts require the user to walk a few feet, stand a few minutes, move the mobility device on and off the platform and use buttons to operate the lift.
One drawback is that you still need tie-downs, even though the mobility device is stored within the car. Hybrid lifts are best for vans, SUVS and other large vehicles since the lift platform needs to fit inside the vehicle. Hybrid lifts provide the ease of exterior lifts with the added protection of interior lifts.
An interior wheelchair lift that can be detached from the car costs between $1,000 and $3,000; simple exterior lift costs range from $200 to $1,000. Manual exterior lifts fall toward the lower end of this range, and powered lifts fall toward the higher end. More complex exterior wheelchair lifts for cars can cost more, between $5,000 and $10,000. Wheelchair lift prices also depend on factors such as equipment quality, ease of use, size and lift type.
No. Under Medicare Part B, durable medical equipment (DME) can be covered — this includes wheelchairs and scooters themselves, but not wheelchair lifts or scooter lifts. Although many people think a wheelchair lift should fall under the DME category, Medicare does not classify it as such. For that reason, Medicare will not cover a wheelchair lift.
A platform-style scooter lift works in three easy steps:
Most mobility scooters are far too large to transport directly into your vehicle, so you must install a scooter carrier to a hitch on your car. There are two types of scooter carriers:
Platform lifts work with electricity. They are user-controlled, meaning that the user pushes a button to bring them up and down as well as secure the wheelchair in place.
It can cost $10,000 or more to make a van wheelchair accessible. The process to make a van wheelchair accessible involves:
Ultimately, the cost varies on several factors, including:
In some instances, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van.
Yes, you can rent a van with a wheelchair lift. Rental companies usually charge about 30 cents per mile, $125 a day or $700 for a week. Pricing will vary for extended trips or the additional rental of a wheelchair or electric scooter.
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BraunAbility’s lifts are specifically designed for campers, RVs and full-sized vans. Their models work well for families and users with larger wheelchairs. All lifts are installed by a BraunAbility technician. You can schedule a consultation with a local BraunAbility dealer to see which wheelchair or scooter lift is best for you and your vehicle. Every BraunAbility lift has a 1,000-pound weight capacity and comes with a remote control.
DiscountRamps.com is a wheelchair and scooter lifts dealer. This means they sell a variety of products from different manufacturers, including Apex, Great Day, Harmar, Silver Spring and Tilt-A-Rack. Despite their name, they sell more than just ramps, although some of their lifts do come with ramps. Most products come with a one-year warranty. Not all warranties are transferable, so it’s important to ask before buying, especially if you think you might sell your car.
MobilityWorks is a dealer for wheelchair lifts, scooter lifts and other mobility devices. This means they help consumers find the best model for them from a wide variety of manufacturers. They sell models from Bruno Independent Living Aids, Harmar, Pride Mobility and others. MobilityWorks has 70 dealer locations in 24 states. If you are a veteran, MobilityWorks can work with you to get the correct forms from the Veterans Administration and help you with other VA issues.
SpinLife is a dealer that sells wheelchair lifts and scooter lifts from several different manufacturers. Some of their partners include Harmar, Rage Powersports, E-Z Carrier, Great Day, WheelChair Carrier and Pride Mobility. Most of their lifts can be installed without professional help. Most models come with a one- or three-year warranty. You can return a lift if you are dissatisfied.
Pride Mobility has wheelchair and scooter lift solutions for minivans, SUVs and full-size vans. Some Pride Mobility lift systems are eligible for rebates under certain auto manufacturers’ mobility programs. These can range from $500 to $1200. Additional features from Pride Mobility include the Swing-Away Adaptor, battery packs to eliminate the need for a complex wiring system, in-house chargers, hitch extensions and weather covers.
Offers quiz to help clients find the right product. One-on-one support from a product specialist. Worked with over 1,000,000 people since 1972. Has multiple financing options, including 0% down.
Manufactures stair lifts for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Most products can hold up to 400 pounds. Provides a limited lifetime warranty on select components. Products are made in the U.S. Pricing available through vendors.
Offers a variety of product options including stair lifts, platform lifts, vehicle lifts and ramps. Provides measuring tools for product matching. Prices start at $2,000. Includes warranties with most products.
One of the largest designers and manufacturers of mobility solutions in the United States, their products include lift recliners, scooters and electric wheelchairs outfitted with the latest technology. Prices start around $1,699.
Discount Ramps offers a convenient one-stop site for someone looking for an accessibility ramp or lift. With a steady churn of new inventory, deals rotate almost daily.
MobilityWorks has been providing the county with wheelchair accessible vehicles since 1997. The company emphasizes face-to-face dealings and comprehensive consultations with their customers.
Since 1999, SpinLife is an online retailer of durable medical equipment with an extensive stock of scooter lifts and ramps. Buying in bulk allows them to keep prices low and inventory in stock.
Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use.
