Second Hand Car Ramps for Sale

Why Buy a Used Car Ramp?

Portable car ramps are sturdy things, and many outlive the need they were bought for. A chair gets replaced, a car changes, or a relative no longer travels, and a ramp in good condition ends up for sale. That makes second hand car ramps for sale a sensible place to look, especially if you need a ramp for a short period or want to try a style before committing to a new one.

The catch is that a used ramp comes without the reassurance of a new one: no certainty it has not been dropped, overloaded or left out in the weather, and often no paperwork. This independent guide explains how to judge a used ramp, what to ask the seller, and when to walk away. We don’t sell ramps, and nothing here is legal advice.

Where Used Ramps Turn Up

• Local classified ads and community groups. Often the lowest-cost route; you can usually see the ramp before paying.
• Online auction and marketplace sites. Wide choice, but you may be buying unseen from a distance.
• Mobility shops. Some sell part-exchanged or ex-demonstration ramps, sometimes checked and with a short warranty.
• Charities and equipment recycling schemes. Availability varies by area; ask locally.

Buying from a business usually gives you more consumer protection than buying privately, which is worth weighing up alongside the asking figure.

Is a Used Ramp Right for Your Situation?

Used ramps work best when the need is clear and the stakes are modest: a light manual chair, a low boot, occasional trips, or a trial period before buying new. They are a harder call when the ramp will carry a heavy powered chair or scooter, when it will be used daily, or when the person pushing has little margin for error. In those cases the documented load figure, warranty and support that come with a new ramp are worth more. If the ramp is part of a longer-term plan for getting a person in and out of the car, it may help to talk it through with an occupational therapist first.

Identify the Ramp Before Anything Else

The single most useful step is finding out exactly what the ramp is. Look for a label, stamp or sticker giving the maker and model, often on the underside or near a hinge. Ask the seller for a photo of it. With the maker and model you can look up the maximum load, the ramp’s own weight and its folded size, and check whether spare parts are still available.

If there is no label and the seller cannot name the maker, you are buying a ramp with an unknown load figure. That may be acceptable for a light manual chair on a low boot; it is a much bigger gamble with a heavy powered chair or scooter.

A Careful Inspection

If you can see the ramp in person, set it up fully and look at every part. Take a torch.

• Frame and deck. Look for cracks, especially around welds, hinges and the top plate. Check for bends or twists by laying the ramp on a flat floor.
• Hinges and catches. Open and close them several times. They should move smoothly and lock firmly, without play.
• Surface grip. Worn grit or flattened ribs can make a ramp slippery, especially in the wet.
• Top plate and feet. Check the lip that rests on the boot is straight and any rubber feet or pads are present.
• Telescopic sections. Extend and lock every section; pins should click home fully.
• Missing parts. Spacer bars, carry bags, straps and locking pins are often lost. Ask what is included.

Walk away from a ramp with cracks, bent sections or catches that will not lock. Those are not cosmetic problems.

Car Ramp for Wheelchair Loading: Will It Suit Your Car?

A used ramp was chosen for someone else’s car and chair. Before buying, measure your boot floor height, opening and floor length, and compare with the ramp’s length and folded size. Check the width between any side edges against your chair’s wheels. If possible, take the ramp to your car and try it against the boot lip before handing over money. A ramp that is too short for a tall boot will make the climb steeper than you might want; ask the maker or an occupational therapist if you are unsure what is manageable.

Questions to Ask the Seller

• Why are you selling it, and how long have you had it?
• What was it used with, a manual chair, a powered chair or a scooter?
• Has it ever been repaired, dropped or left outdoors for long periods?
• Do you still have the instructions or the original receipt?
• Can I set it up and try it at my car before paying?

An honest seller will be happy to answer. Vague answers are useful information too.

Buying Unseen From a Distance

If you must buy without seeing the ramp, ask for clear photos of the label, the underside, every hinge and the full deck set up, plus a short video of it being unfolded and locked. Ask how it will be packed and sent, since large ramps can be damaged in transit. Check the seller’s returns terms before paying, and pay in a way that gives you some protection if the ramp does not arrive or is not as described. The GOV.UK summary of consumer protection rules explains how rights differ between private and business sellers.

Cleaning and First Use

Give a used ramp a thorough clean before first use: brush out grit from hinges and slides, wash the deck and let it dry fully. Check again for any damage the dirt may have hidden. Then practise loading at home, on level ground, with a helper, before relying on it on a trip.

Vehicle Access Ramp or Something Else?

A used portable ramp is only one route. If lifting a ramp in and out is hard, or your chair is heavy, a boot hoist or carrier may be better. If the user travels seated in their chair, a wheelchair accessible vehicle with a fitted ramp is a different solution, and a converter or professional installer should advise on any fitted ramp.

More Used-Equipment Reading

For used ramps in general, see our guides to pre-owned portable ramps and second-hand chair ramps. If you are loading a scooter, read about used scooter ramps. To compare with new designs, new portable car ramps explains the main styles. For broader help with getting about by car, the NHS page on driving and transport help lists useful routes.

When You No Longer Need It

Keep the instructions, receipt and any spare parts together while you own the ramp. If you sell it on later, those make it easier for the next buyer to check, just as you have done. Clean it, photograph the label clearly and describe honestly how it was used.

The Bottom Line

A good used car ramp can be excellent value. Identify the maker and model so you know its load figure, inspect every part carefully, try it at your own car, and be ready to walk away from cracks, bends or faulty catches. Take those steps and a second-hand ramp can serve you just as well as a new one.