Taking Care of Your Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

With any vehicle, it is important to keep up with regular maintenance to ensure safety and prevent future breakdowns that protect you and your wallet. In addition to the regular oil changes and checkups, maintenance for your van’s mobility equipment is also vital to keeping it running in top shape.

Important Mobility Vehicle Maintenance Tips

• Annual Maintenance

  Professional wheelchair van or vehicle maintenance needs to be performed only twice a year. This quick, maintenance includes the inspection of the ramp motors, power kneel components and all other electrical components. The maintenance also includes lubrication and cleaning of the door tracks, cables and support wheels.

• How You Can Help

  You can monitor the vehicle’s condition yourself during the rest of the year by making sure you have someone clean up loose debris, snow and ice out of sliding door tracks. This is especially important because items on the tracks can cause damage to the doors. Always be sure to clean debris from around the lift as well, and remember to never leave the lift down in a public place. You may only be going into the store for a few minutes, but that is just enough time for a driver who doesn’t see your lift to drive by and damage it.

• Where to Go for Maintenance

  If you take care of your handicap accessible vehicle by taking it in for maintenance every six months, its performance should serve you well. For peace of mind, make sure to take your vehicle to someone you can trust, such as a technician accredited by NMEDA’s Quality Assurance Program (QAP). The QAP is a nationally recognized accreditation program that trains technicians about the specific needs of your mobility vehicle, so you can be sure your vehicle is getting the best service possible. Our dealer locator can help you find a QAP accredited mobility dealer in your area.

With proper maintenance and care, your wheelchair accessible vehicle will be running smoothly for years to come. How do you keep your ride in tip-top shape? Let us know any tips or tricks you have on our Facebook and Twitter!

The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is an advocate for mobility and accessibility for drivers with disabilities. If you need help with converting or buying a handicap accessible car, truck or van, please consider one of our mobility equipment dealers.