Why Are Wheelchair Vans So Expensive?
Converting a vehicle to suit the needs of those with disabilities is costly. The conversion alone can cost upward of $20,000. Add on the vehicle and the bottom line will run between $40,000 and $60,000+.
Why? Three things: The vehicle, the adaptive equipment and 3 to 4 weeks of intensive labor.
The work is not merely bolting in equipment. Extensive alterations to the body and electrical system are made. Depending on what is installed, the entire vehicle may be taken apart, the components installed, and the whole thing reassembled. And because structural modifications can affect the safety rating of the vehicle, it must be crash tested to government standards – another expensive process.
Lowering the floor alone is massive. If the fuel tank must be moved to lower the floor (a common procedure in a minivan), it must be shown that the conversion did not change the evaporative emissions of the original vehicle, and still meet strict government requirements.
You can save in areas that are less complex and require less work. For example, a rear-entry ramp entrance typically costs less than side-entry because its installation is less complicated and takes fewer hours of labor.
Converting an older vehicle or one with high mileage will cost more in the long run and may be a safety issue.
- The average lifespan of a wheelchair van is around 10 years.
- A vehicle with more than 20,000 miles that has not been properly maintained may have hidden corrosion, and may no longer be structurally sound enough after adaptive equipment has been installed. The structural integrity – and your safety – will be compromised.
- A van’s value depreciates by 10% each year, so if you put $20,000 worth of adaptive equipment into an older van, the modifications will probably outlast the vehicle. To remove that equipment from the van and have it installed in a newer van is another chunk of change.
While it may all be overwhelming, an adaptive equipment distributor helps determine which vehicles can be modified to best suit your needs.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.