Roof Rack Wheelchair Lift for Cars

Who Benefits Most From a Roof-Mounted Wheelchair Lift?

A roof rack wheelchair lift enables an independent driver who uses a manual wheelchair to hoist their stowed chair onto the car’s roof automatically after transferring. Without a lift, that person has to haul the folded chair across their body into the passenger side or back seat, which is tiring, awkward and hard on the shoulders over years of use.

The lift takes over that job. It sits on the roof in a weatherproof housing, and at the press of a button it lowers a lifting mechanism down beside the driver’s door, collects the folded chair, raises it and stores it overhead. At the destination, the process runs in reverse so the chair is waiting by the door before the driver gets out.

How the Sequence Usually Works

Designs differ, but a typical cycle looks like this:

• The driver transfers from the chair into the car seat and folds the chair beside the open door.
• Using a control inside the car, they open the roof unit and lower a hoist, strap or cradle to the ground.
• The chair is attached, often with a simple hook or clip, and the lift raises it up and in.
• The housing closes, and the chair travels flat inside the roof unit.
• On arrival, the driver opens the door, lowers the chair to the ground beside them, unfolds it and transfers out.

The whole process is designed to be done from the driver’s seat, which is why it appeals so strongly to people who drive alone.

Which Wheelchairs Suit a Roof Lift?

Roof lifts are intended for folding manual chairs, and only those within the size and weight range the unit is designed for. The chair must fold into a shape that fits inside the housing and can be picked up securely by the lifting mechanism. Powered chairs and scooters are far too heavy and bulky. Rigid-frame chairs may not fit unless they break down in a particular way.

If you are also thinking about changing your chair, bear the lift in mind: a chair that suits the lift perfectly may be the deciding factor. Our folding wheelchair guide covers frame styles and how they fold.

Is Your Car Suitable?

Not every car can take a roof-mounted lift. The unit is heavy, it needs a solid mounting, and the car has to have the right shape and space around the driver’s door.

Points a Fitter Will Look At

• Roof strength and rails: the roof must take the unit’s weight, usually via rails or a mounting system suited to the car.
• Roof capacity: the handbook states how much the roof can carry, and the lift plus chair must fall within it.
• Door opening: the driver’s door must open wide enough for the chair to be lowered beside it.
• Height: the lift adds height, which matters for your garage, car parks and any regular route with a barrier.
• Power supply: the unit needs a safe connection to the car’s electrics.

Some car shapes suit roof lifts better than others. A fitter will be able to tell you quickly whether your car is a candidate, and whether a different vehicle would work better if you are planning a change.

Why Is an Assessment Crucial Before Ordering a Roof Lift?

An independent vehicle adaptation assessment confirms your transfer ability, the vehicle’s roof load capacity and your driving needs before installation. An assessment can look at your transfer, your reach, your chair and your car together, and suggest whether a roof lift, a different aid or a combination would work best. The NHS guidance on driving and using public transport points to sources of help for disabled drivers, including car adaptations. If you need a car to get to work, it may also be worth checking whether Access to Work could help with the cost of adaptations.

How Is a Rooftop Wheelchair Hoist Installed on a Car?

A specialist installer secures the hoist to the vehicle’s designated roof mounting points and wires the unit into the car’s twelve-volt electrical system. Expect the installer to check the roof and rails, position the housing so the lifting mechanism lines up with the driver’s door, and run a cable to a control inside the cabin. Afterwards they should take you through the full cycle several times, with your own chair, until you are comfortable doing it alone. Ask them to watch you do it without prompting before you drive away, and make a note of anything you find fiddly so it can be adjusted.

Parking and Daily Routines

Because the chair is lowered beside the driver’s door, you need a clear strip of ground on that side wherever you park. Wider bays help, as does reversing into a space so the door opens onto a pavement or quieter side. At home, think about whether the garage door or carport is tall enough for the extra height, and whether the driveway leaves room beside the car. It takes a few weeks to learn which car parks and routes suit the taller vehicle, so plan new journeys with that in mind.

Living with a Roof Lift

Advantages

• You can drive and stow the chair independently, with no lifting across your body.
• The chair stays dry, clean and hidden, and the boot and passenger seats remain free.
• The car does not become longer, as it would with a rear carrier.

Drawbacks

• The car is taller, which limits car parks and garages.
• More wind noise and some effect on fuel use are common.
• The unit relies on power and moving parts, so a fault can leave the chair stuck.
• You need space beside the driver’s door, which can be tight in narrow bays.

Planning for a Breakdown

Any powered system can fail. Ask the supplier what happens if the lift stops working with the chair inside: is there a manual release, and how does it work? Keep the instructions for that in the car. Find out how quickly repairs can be arranged and whether a loan unit or alternative is offered. Regular servicing, as recommended by the maker, helps reduce the chance of problems.

Alternatives to a Roof Lift

A roof lift is not the only way to stow a chair without heavy lifting. Depending on your car and abilities, one of these may suit better.

• Boot hoist: a small crane in the boot lifts the chair in. It avoids extra height but needs you or a helper to get to the back of the car.
• Rear carrier: a frame on the towbar holds the folded chair behind the car. Our manual wheelchair carrier guide covers these.
• Ramp into the vehicle: in larger vehicles, a ramp lets the chair be pushed or driven inside. See the car wheelchair ramp page.
• Transfer aids: if getting into the seat is part of the difficulty, aids such as transfer boards or swivel seats may be needed as well. Our guide to wheelchair to car transfer devices looks at these.

Questions to Ask a Supplier

• Which folding chairs does this lift accept, and will mine fit?
• Is my car suitable, and what mounting will be needed?
• How much height does the unit add, and what does it weigh?
• What happens if the lift fails with the chair inside?
• What servicing does it need, and who carries it out?

Ask to see a demonstration, ideally with your own chair and car. Check the terms carefully, including warranty, servicing and what happens if you change your car in future.