Had an interesting experience purchasing a wheelchair van a few months ago and thought I would share my experiences.
It had become extremely difficult for me to continue to drive on my own. I still had good use of my upper body, decent use of my left leg, and no use of my right leg with the exception of being able to slightly move the foot. Early in my diagnosis had only foot drop in the right foot. Got a carbon orthotic device to stabilize the ankle but that made accelerating and braking very difficult with a stiff foot. Tried to stay ahead of the game and looked into hand controls for my 2007 Honda Accord. Hand Control Tips.
While plentiful in supply, the required regulations make them very costly for an ALS Patient with no idea of how long they will be used as I progress. California law dictates that a "Certified Trainer" meet with you if you decide you want to proceed. They decide what you will need and are also required to "train" you on how to use the new device(s) after you obtain them from a "Certified Dealer" and have them installed. Estimated around $500 - $1,000 for a simple accelerator/ braking device mounted on your wheel, another $500 - $1,000 for the training and evaluation. The PALS is left to decide whether or not to spend the $1,000 - $2,000 on this based on guessing how many months you will be able to use it before arms and hands give out and render this useless. If you need to modify this again as you progress later on, you most likely will have to repeat the steps and costs noted above again. Finally, and if you chose to move forward, additional considerations include transferring in and out, when someone else utilizes the same vehicle the ease of temporary dis-engagement for them and re-engagement for you, and the cost of returning the vehicle to it's original condition after you can no longer utilize it and/or it's time to re-sell.
Ultimately, I decided to pass on the hand controls and kept driving on my own until very recently based on the ROI vs the unknown costs and timing. Extremely difficult transfers in and out of the drivers seat and a few falls convinced me to purchase a handicapped equipped wheelchair van a couple of months prior to absolute need. Glad that I didn't wait, and my wife is even happier.
My father worked in the automobile care industry for years and I grew very comfortable buying and selling vehicles over time. Many people grow very anxious during this process but fortunately I was never one of them. Relished doing my research (and the internet has made that even more easy recently), walking out (or sometimes pretending to walk out) of a few dealers, and feeling like I was in control of the process. Buying a wheelchair van is different. Since there is no Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds.com for information, you are pretty much on your own as to defining what is a good deal. There are also many model options.
Price Value Decision, New vs Used - Factors to weigh include ROI on a $5,000 to $60,000+ investment with timing unknown as to how many months or years you will benefit. Add in the fact are probably less than two years into the whole money pit that is ALS, and cash flow is not normally at its peak. I cannot tell you how many PALS I have seen buy the $50,000 brand new van and then are able to use it for only a year or two or even a few months. Your spouse or heirs have to then go through the same transaction anxiety of not knowing what the vehicle is really worth when selling it. Buying used does not diminish these anxieties but at least reduces the dollars at stake. Of course, buying new and under warranty for 60,000 miles pretty much gives you full piece of mind regarding potentially costly adaptive modification repairs. It's up to you which way to go as both options have many pros and cons.
How to Deal on a New or Used Van - As previously noted, there is no KBB or Edmunds
to research price. You have to get down to pre-internet basics (even
though you can use the internet to get them) and study up. Look online or visit dealers around your area or region and see
what the going price is for comparable new or used units. Take any used vehicle you are serious about to an independent mechanic for evaluation. If the seller refuses, walk away. Most independent mechanics will evaluate a used vehicle in 30 minutes for a nominal charge, or even agree to do it for free if you do any subsequent repairs there. Ask fellow PALS, and also ask the dealer for
referrals. When buying new, ask to see the dealer invoice, but be prepared to allow them a
10-15% margin over cost (vs 5-10% on a normal vehicle). These vehicles are pretty basic chassis but the adaptive equipment upgrades are specialized and costly so comparisons to a non-handicap version of the same vehicle is not applicable. A dealer has a reputation at stake and you should as ask for and check with past PALS referrals. See how the
manufacturer warranties compare and the price of an extended warranty as
well. When buying used, focus on the remaining warranty and look into the cost of an extended warranty if needed. These add re-sale value after the fact when transferable. And
don't be afraid to let Dealer A know you are talking to Dealer B, C and
D, it always works when played properly.
Model Options, Adaptive Equipment and Accessories - Toyota, Honda
and Dodge are the main brands today to research. Do your research on available options and talk to current and former users before making any decisions. Take into account what you need today and also what you will need tomorrow as you progress. Buying one you can test drive vs shipping one in from afar, Side vs. Rear Entry, standard belt straps vs EZ Lock devices, base unit vs multiple accessories, actually
replace the driver and/or passenger seat vs positioning in the middle,
and the list goes on.
Sales Tax - Please beware (at least in California) that the sales tax is only applicable to the base chassis. That may be only $5,000 on a $20,000 used van or $20,000 on a $50,000 new unit. Don't get swindled.
Insurance - Many insurance agents are not used to handling handicap vans. Be careful that they understand the value of the adaptive equipment vs. the standard model chassis and will be able to measure depreciation and cost of replacement on those in case of claim. Insurance Tips.
Tax Deductions - After exhausting the 7.5% AGI standard some or all of a purchase may be tax deductible. See your CPA for details. Tax Tips.
Veterans Benefits - On a side note, I am not a veteran but wanted to make those who are
aware that Congress recently raised the handicap vehicle grant to
$18,000 vs $11,000. Veterans Tips.
Depending on the PALS VA rating, the veteran can be eligible for this
grant up to twice every four years. It covers $18,000 on the vehicle
itself and much more regarding disability adaptive upgrades. One vet
told me he could get a brand new $55,000 Toyota van for around $12,000
out of pocket. You will need to file an "Application for Automobile or other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment (Under 38 U.S.C 3901-3904)."
Please contact either the Paralyzed Veterans Association or the VA.
At the end of the day, I decided on a clean used 2003 Dodge Caravan base unit with 90,000 miles, no warranty, and very few options. Cost me about $20,000 including tax, delivery charge, license and fees. Has a raised hydraulic suspension, an automatic push button Braun Hydraulic side entry lift, a removed middle seat, standard straps, and that's about it. Has worked very well so far, knock on wood. Gets me from Point A to Point B comfortably and safely. Not the fastest unit in the lot, not the biggest, and definitely not the newest. Crossing my fingers on potential repairs going forward. Guess this vehicle buying decision mirrored almost every other that I have made over the years. Practicality, safety and operating cost have almost always led me to a bargain. After all, like my father always said, "since they are all used the minute you drive them off the lot, why not let the former owner pay for most of the depreciation." Why should I change now?
The attached is only my opinion, and a record of my own experiences. Like any other post on this blog it is meant to share information. It's up to you to use it or not, and how to proceed. Good Luck!
