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Do you need help loading a wheelchair or mobility scooter into your car and transporting it safely? Today we will look at the different types of hoists, lifts, ramps, top boxes and other things that can help.


Getting a light wheelchair into a car is easy for some people. If you have some strength and the right car, you can pull it in front of the passenger’s seat or behind the front seats. And if you can lift and walk a little, you may be able to put the chair in the back of the car without any equipment.

Some wheelchair users can put their chair in the back of the car and walk the few steps round to the front. Some people who can’t do this transfer into the car and pull their wheelchair in behind the front seats, or they lift their rigid wheelchair frame on to the front passenger seat.

For this you have to be:

It also involves putting your wheelchair in the car with you – you may get your clothes or upholstery muddy in wet weather.

The car needs to have:

Here we describe some common techniques. If these techniques aren’t suitable for you, your car or your wheelchair, you may be able to develop your own.

Note: For safety, park facing the traffic so that you can get out on the curb if you are entering from the driver’s side. If this isn’t possible, leave something in sight to alert other drivers. A large luminous wheelchair sticker on the inside of the door may help.

Rigid wheelchairs

Get in through the rear hatch and stow the wheelchair in the back

This works only if you are small and agile and have a vehicle with a flat rear sill and a low floor. You get in through the back, drag the wheelchair after you, and clamber over to the driver’s seat. In small cars, this will be possible only if the rear seats fold flat.

Get in on the driver’s side, put the wheelchair on the passenger seat Once you’re in the car, remove the larger wheels from the wheelchair and stow them behind the seat or on the floor in front of the passenger seat.

Lift the wheelchair frame over your stomach and on to the front passenger seat. You may have to recline the backrest to make more room between you and the steering wheel. If you have a steering ball, this may reduce the distance between your stomach and the steering wheel.

Place the frame on the passenger seat. Make sure it is strapped in securely; secure the wheelchair with a strap or the front passenger seat belt. Otherwise, it could cause an injury if you have to brake sharply.

Folding wheelchairs

Get in on the driver’s side, put the wheelchair behind the seat

Once you’re in the car seat, turn the wheelchair to face the car, and fold it. Lift the front castors over the sill behind your seat so that the wheelchair cannot roll away or topple over.

Then edge yourself and the car seat forwards to make enough space to get the wheelchair in between the back of the seat and the door pillar. It may be necessary to tilt the seat backrest forwards to give you more room. Now pull the wheelchair in so that the back wheels ride up and over the sill. Finally, move the car seat to your driving position.

A sliding swivel seat may make this easier.

Get in on the passenger’s side and put the wheelchair behind the seat

This technique means you don’t have to go out into the road. It also leaves you more room for getting the wheelchair in.

Transfer to the front passenger seat, fold the wheelchair and lift the front castors over the sill. Slide across to the driver’s seat. Move the passenger seat forwards as far as it will go and tilt the backrest forwards. Lean across and pull the wheelchair in over the sill. A walking stick or piece of rope may help you do this. This is much easier if the whole car seat tilts forward.

You need to be able to reach the lever to tilt the seat forwards. Some cars have levers on both sides. Alternatively, it may be possible to attach a cable to it or to swap the driver and passenger seats round so that the lever is in reach.

Getting over the sill

Some people put a small piece of carpet over the door sill to protect the car from damage and make it easier to slide the wheelchair over the sill. If the car foot well is deep it might help to make an internal ramp or build up the well. Adaptation firms may be able to help you with this.

Unable to get a heavy wheelchair or mobility scooter into a car? Harmar Mobility AL560 Automatic Powerchair Lift Outside Carrier

One of the following may help:



Below is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each method for getting a wheelchair or mobility scooter into your car. Harmar Single Fold Safety Ramp – 6′

Hoist or Lift Lift n Go Electric Scooter or Powerchair Carrier

Stowage System Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Wheelchair Carriers 001 Tilt n Tote


Ramps are a comparatively cheap way of getting a wheelchair or mobility scooter into a car. You just need good dexterity and a large enough vehicle.


Folding ramps or telescopic ramps make them easier to especially if they have carrying handles.

Which ramp for which use?

Ramps have sides that help keep the wheelchair or scooter in line. Check that the side guards are high enough to stop your wheelchair from falling off and that they don’t catch the underside of the chair when you’re pushing it up.

For wheelchairs, use two narrow ‘channel ramps’. Make sure the channels are wide enough to allow the castors to turn.

For a three-wheeled mobility scooter, use a wide ramp or three channel ramps. Look for a ramp that is wide enough to take the wheels easily.


Two-way hoists

Four-way hoists

Four-way hoists:

You’ll probably need:

Attaching the hoist

There are different ways of attaching the hoist to the wheelchair – open hooks or hooks that close: Telescopic hoist

You need to use both hands for some hoists – one to hold it in the right place to stop the hooks falling loose, and the other to take up the tension with the control unit. This may be difficult to do standing if you have poor balance.

Controlling the hoist

Most hoists have hand-held control units which can be:

On a few hoists, there are control units that are fixed to the hoist’s arm or base which means you can hold on for support while you’re using it. Some people find these easier to use than a hand-held control.

If you’re traveling without your wheelchair, some hoists allow you to remove the swinging arm to get it out of the way, leaving more room for luggage. The removable parts can be heavy, especially on heavier-duty hoists. Some can’t be taken out of the car because the lifting cords are permanently threaded through them.

Platform Lifts 
To use a platform lift:

Platform lifts are easier than a hoist because:

Platform lifts are:


Straps and cords

Where Do you want to stow your manual wheelchair?

Once you’ve transferred onto your car seat, you can stow your manual wheelchair:

These hoists can be fitted to either the driver’s or the passenger’s side of the car.

How they work A rooftop system means

Most rooftop systems carry the wheelchair in a box. However, in some the chair is exposed to the weather. Rooftop systems can be fitted to most cars without any modification.

Trunk-loading systems are slightly less flexible than rooftop systems, as your car’s trunk has to be large enough, and the right shape. Systems that stow the wheelchair in the rear seat area can be fitted to a limited range of vehicles, and require considerable modification.

Besides ramps, hoists and lifts, the other ways you can carry a wheelchair in a car are by using:


Trailers let you carry a wheelchair without dismantling or folding it, while keeping the trunk free. North Star Trailer Sportstar I Utility Trailer Kit

Trailers can easily carry large items including mobility scooters. However, they will make reversing and parking difficult.

In both cases, you may need a license plate if the one fitted to your vehicle is obscured.

Your abilities

Your car and equipment



Securing things in your car

It’s vitally important to secure the wheelchair when the car is moving. If a wheelchair or parts of a hoist or stowage system came loose, they could cause severe injuries if you have to brake suddenly.



Four-way hoists and lifts

Wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs)

WAVs come equipped with restraints for the wheelchair and for the passenger. Both should be used properly at all times.

In summary, if do not have the ability to just “pop” the wheelchair into the car without encountering problems, there are many things that you can do in order to prevent the hassle of pushing and pulling your wheelchair and hoping that it fits inside the vehicle. In order to be able to fold and store your chair in your car, consider the assistance of additional mobility equipment, such as a ramp, hoist or a wheelchair accessible van.


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