Keeping Life Moving: Understanding Your Options for Accessible Car Travel
For many people living with a spinal cord injury, having access to a suitable vehicle can make a significant difference to everyday life.
Whether it is getting to work, visiting family and friends, attending appointments, pursuing hobbies or simply having the freedom to make your own plans, accessible transport can play an important role in maintaining independence.
Following a spinal cord injury, the way someone travels can change significantly. A vehicle that worked well before an injury may no longer meet their needs. Getting in and out of the car may become more difficult, or additional space may be needed for a wheelchair or mobility equipment. Some people may also need adaptations to drive independently.
As mobility needs change, finding the right vehicle and understanding the available options can feel complicated.
For some people, changes in their circumstances may also mean that the Motability Scheme is no longer the right option, or they might be exploring ways to own an adapted car instead.
That is why understanding the wider options available can make a real difference.
What are vehicle adaptations?
Vehicle adaptations are specialist modifications that can make getting into a car, travelling as a passenger or driving more accessible.
The right solution depends entirely on the individual. For someone living with a spinal cord injury, that might mean hand controls and a steering aid to be able to drive safely and comfortably. For someone else, it could be a swivel seat to make transfers easier, or a hoist to help load a wheelchair or mobility scooter.
There is no single solution that works for everyone.
A professional mobility assessment can help identify what a person needs from their vehicle, both now and in the future. This can include looking at mobility, comfort, lifestyle, the type of journeys someone makes and how they currently get in and out of their car. The aim is to find a solution to work for the individual.
A different way to access and own an adapted car
Traditionally, someone looking for an adapted vehicle might need to navigate several different providers to help with: choosing a car, finding the right adaptations, arranging installation and understanding how everything fits together.
Adapt & Drive, from Mobility in Motion, is a different approach to adapted car ownership.
It brings together a brand-new vehicle, specialist adaptations and expert mobility support, all in one place. Customers can explore a range of vehicles; have their mobility needs assessed and receive guidance on the adaptations that could best support them.
The vehicle is then supplied with the adaptations fitted and ready to use.
For people who want the reassurance of owning their adapted vehicle, Adapt & Drive offers another way to do just that. Purchase your vehicle outright or choose from tailored finance options, with adaptations included where required.
One of the advantages of Adapt & Drive is access to exclusive manufacturer discounts on selected vehicles. These discounts can make a significant difference to the overall cost of an adapted vehicle and, in some cases, may exceed the cost of the adaptations themselves.
For example, Dannie saved more than £7,000 on his new Vauxhall Combo Life, reducing the overall cost of purchasing an adapted vehicle.
As the cost of adaptations varies with an individual’s requirements, these savings can make a wider range of vehicles more accessible, allowing customers to choose the vehicle that best suits their needs and lifestyle.
Depending on individual circumstances, some people may also be eligible for VAT relief on a qualifying vehicle and its adaptations. Eligibility depends on the person and their specific circumstances, so it is important to seek appropriate advice.
For some customers, the combination of manufacturer discounts and VAT relief can make a brand-new adapted vehicle far more affordable than they might expect.
A real-life example: Elizabeth and Ian
When Elizabeth and her husband, Ian, came to Mobility in Motion, they were looking for an alternative to their wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV).
Travelling in the WAV meant that Ian remained in his wheelchair rather than transferring into a car seat. For Ian, this made journeys difficult and often caused significant nausea, making it harder for the couple to get out and about and enjoy everyday activities together.
They wanted to find a solution that would make travelling more comfortable and enable Ian to travel in a car seat.
Following a mobility assessment, Elizabeth and Ian explored different vehicle and adaptation options. The solution they chose was a brand-new Nissan X-Trail fitted with a Turny Evo swivel seat and the 16-inch Carony system.
The swivel seat and Carony system helped make transferring into the vehicle easier and more comfortable, allowing Ian to travel comfortably in a car seat.
The couple were also able to save £2,964.16 compared with the cost of a comparable used 2025 Nissan X-Trail, meaning their new, adapted vehicle, with a dealership warranty, cost less than the used-car alternative they had considered.
For Elizabeth and Ian, the difference has been about much more than changing their vehicle. It has changed how they spend time together and enjoy life outside the home.
As Ian puts it, the new vehicle has “changed our lives”.
For Elizabeth, the most important outcome was seeing Ian able to travel more comfortably and confidently:
“The best bit? My partner has travelled comfortably, safely, with no nausea.”
Their experience highlights an important point: an adapted vehicle is not just about the equipment installed. It is about finding a complete solution that supports someone’s comfort, confidence and independence in everyday life.
Finding the right solution for changing needs
For someone living with a spinal cord injury, vehicle needs can change over time.
A person may initially travel as a passenger before later exploring adaptations that enable them to drive. Alternatively, an existing vehicle may no longer be suitable if mobility, strength, transfer ability or equipment needs change.
For others, changes in personal circumstances may mean that a Motability lease is no longer available or suitable, and vehicle ownership becomes an option worth exploring.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice will depend on an individual’s mobility, lifestyle, financial circumstances and future needs.
A good starting point is to consider questions such as:
- What is becoming difficult about travelling at the moment?
- Is the challenge getting into the vehicle, driving, transferring or loading equipment?
- What would make journeys more comfortable?
- Will the solution need to support changing mobility needs in the future?
- Is vehicle ownership, leasing or another funding route most appropriate?
Advice and support to help you find the right option
Choosing an adapted vehicle can involve a lot of decisions, particularly if your mobility needs have changed following a spinal cord injury.
Mobility in Motion’s team can provide advice and guidance across a range of options. This could include exploring adaptations for a vehicle you already own, finding a new adapted vehicle through Adapt & Drive, or understanding the adaptation options available through the Motability Scheme.
The right route will depend on each person’s circumstances, mobility needs, lifestyle and preferences. The important thing is to get advice based on your individual situation and to understand the options available before making a decision.
Accessible travel is about independence
Choosing an adapted vehicle is a significant decision, and the right solution will be different for everyone. Whether that’s adapting a vehicle you already own, leasing through the Motability Scheme or purchasing through Adapt & Drive, understanding the options available is the first step towards making an informed choice.
The right advice can make all the difference, helping you find a vehicle and adaptations that fit your lifestyle today while giving you confidence for the future. After all, accessible travel isn’t just about getting from A to B. It’s about having the freedom to live life on your own terms.