Wheelchair Holder for Car

What Is a Wheelchair Holder for a Car?

A wheelchair holder for a car is anything that keeps a wheelchair secure while it travels with you, whether it rides in the boot, behind the car or up top. It can be as simple as a set of straps that stop a folded chair sliding around the boot, or as involved as a powered hoist that lifts a chair in, or a rack on the towbar. The aim is always the same: get the chair there and back without damage, without strain for whoever loads it, and without it becoming a loose object in the car.

Choosing a wheelchair holder for car journeys depends on more than the chair. This guide goes through the options from the simplest to the most elaborate, so you can match the holder to your car, your chair and the person doing the lifting.

Why Does a Wheelchair Need Holding in the Boot?

A folded wheelchair thrown into the boot will slide, tip and rattle on every corner. It can scratch the boot trim, damage its own frame and brakes, and in sudden braking a heavy chair can shift forward with real force. In a hatchback or estate, where the boot opens into the cabin, an unsecured chair is a hazard to passengers.

Using proper holders keeps the chair still, protects both chair and car, and makes the boot tidier for shopping and bags alongside.

Are Boot Nets and Ratchet Straps Enough?

• Ratchet or cam straps hooked to the boot’s lashing eyes hold a folded chair firmly in place.
• Boot nets stretch over the chair and hold loose parts such as footrests and cushions.
• Boot organisers with dividers stop the chair sliding sideways and keep bags in their own space.
• Non-slip boot mats add grip underneath and protect the floor.
• Folding strap wraps keep a folding chair closed so it does not spring open.

Most cars have lashing eyes in the boot floor. If yours does not, a fitter can often add them. Put the heaviest part of the chair low and as far forward in the boot as possible, against the back seats.

When Is a Boot Hoist the Answer?

For many families the difficulty is not holding the chair once it is in, but getting it there. A boot hoist, also called a car crane, is a small powered arm fitted inside the boot. The carer attaches a strap or hook to the chair, and the hoist lifts it over the boot sill and lowers it into place. Hoists suit heavier manual chairs, folding powered chairs and small scooters.

Hoists need a boot big enough for the chair and the hoist arm, and they are usually fitted by a specialist. Our guide to the manual wheelchair carrier for a car compares hoists with other ways of carrying a manual chair.

Can a Wheelchair Be Held on the Back of the Car?

If the boot is small or needed for other things, the chair can travel outside on a towbar-mounted holder. Compact holders grip a folded manual chair upright, while platforms with ramps take heavier chairs. A towbar and, often, a lighting board with lights and a number plate are needed.

Our guide to the wheelchair holder for the back of a car explains the towbar options in detail, including weight limits and boot access.

What About Holding It on the Roof?

Roof-mounted wheelchair lifts are a less common but clever option for drivers who use a manual wheelchair themselves. The driver transfers into the car, and a powered unit on the roof lifts and folds the chair into a box. It keeps the boot and back seat free and means the driver can travel independently.

These systems suit certain chairs and cars and need professional fitting. Our page on the roof rack wheelchair lift for cars looks at how they work.

How Can a Driver Stow Their Own Chair?

Many active wheelchair users drive and stow their own rigid or folding chair without help. A common method is to transfer into the driver’s seat, take off the wheels, and pull the frame across onto the passenger seat or into the back. A seat-belt or strap holds the frame on the passenger seat. Lightweight chairs with quick-release wheels make this much easier.

If you do this, secure the frame and wheels so nothing can move into the driver’s footwell or strike you in a sudden stop. Some drivers fit a hook or strap system behind the passenger seat for the wheels.

What About Travelling While Sitting in the Wheelchair?

When the user stays in their wheelchair during the journey, the chair is held by a proper restraint system in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. This involves tie-down straps or a docking system fixed to the vehicle floor, plus a separate seat belt for the passenger. It is a very different job from holding an empty chair and should always be set up by a specialist. Our guide to cars with wheelchair ramps covers accessible vehicles.

Is a Holder Worth It for Occasional Trips?

If the wheelchair only travels a few times a year, for a holiday or a hospital appointment, it is tempting to skip holders altogether. Even so, a couple of good straps and a folding strap to keep the chair closed cost little and take seconds to use. They protect the chair, which may be expensive to repair, and they stop it becoming a loose object in the car.

For hire cars and borrowed cars, pack your own straps, since you cannot rely on the boot having a net or organiser. Check where the lashing points are before loading, and take photos of the boot trim first if you are worried about marks. If you are borrowing a chair from a hospital or a hire scheme, ask whether it comes with a carry bag, which makes it easier to handle and keeps road dirt off the car.

How Do You Choose the Right Holder?

Start with three questions: how heavy is the chair, who will load it, and how big is the car? A light folding chair and a strong carer may need nothing more than good straps. An older carer or a heavier chair points towards a hoist or towbar holder. A driver who travels alone may prefer to stow the chair on the passenger seat or use a roof system.

Consider how often you travel and whether you need the boot for other things. The government guide to transport for disabled people covers wider help with getting around, including the Blue Badge scheme.

Looking After Your Chair in Transit

Take off cushions, bags and loose accessories before loading, and keep them in a separate bag so nothing is lost. Check brakes and wheels after travel, and wipe off road dirt if the chair travelled outside. A cover protects it from rain and spray. Regularly check straps, hooks and holders for wear, and replace anything frayed.

Comparing the Carriers on This Page

The cards below show carriers for the back of a car, including folding and upright designs, platforms with loading ramps, basket carriers and tie-down platforms. If your chair will ride outside the car, compare how each holds the chair and how it fixes to the towbar.