After the United States government passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and then amended in 2009, handicapped citizens of the country had better access to buildings, parking spots, and other entities than before. There are thousands of wheelchair vans available for purchase these days from various companies. Handicap vans with wheelchair access can be purchased in various models such as Ford, Chrysler, Dodge and even Buick. So, if your preference for vehicle models varies then you have plenty to choose form when purchasing a wheelchair van that meets your specific needs. There are brand new and used vans available for purchase and making this type of purchase is extremely important and should not be taken lightly.

Purchasing a New Wheelchair Van

Most wheelchair vans, when brand new off the assembly line, will last about ten years before major repairs will need to be performed. The parts and equipment inside the van, which are specially designed for handicapped persons, might not last as long as the van itself. These are only some of the things you need to consider when purchasing a wheelchair van. The cost for a brand new wheelchair van varies depending on the brand of the vehicle, its size, and the amount of equipment inside the van. Most new vans range in price from as low as $21,000 to as high as $41,000. If you are seriously considering purchasing a brand new wheelchair van then you should make sure that you have enough money to spend on such a purchase while also making sure that you have exhausted all other options, such as converting a current van or purchasing a used wheelchair van.

Purchasing a Used Wheelchair Van

It is recommended by many people in the industry that if you decide to purchase a used wheelchair van you should only purchase those vans that are no older than three years old. Why? Well, most wheelchair vans will only last roughly ten years if new. Therefore, why would you want to purchase a used van that is already five years old? You would only be getting five years of use out of it, give or take a couple of years. When purchasing a used wheelchair van you should have the vehicle inspected by your mechanic to make sure that there are no glaring problems with the engine or other mechanical parts inside the vehicle. You should check to see if there is still a warranty on the used vehicle and if it is a certified used vehicle. If one or both of these items cannot be met then you should move onto another used van. You must then compare the amount of money you will be saving by purchasing a used van than a new van to the amount of money you might have to spend to improve the equipment inside the van. If you are going to spend more on new equipment then you might want to look into purchasing a new van altogether.