How to Transport an Electric Wheelchair

On this page (11 sections)

1. How do you transport an electric wheelchair by car?
2. What should you check before choosing a loading method?
3. How should you prepare a wheelchair for transport?
4. How do you secure an electric wheelchair inside a vehicle?
5. Can you transport an electric wheelchair in a regular car trunk?
6. What should you know about the wheelchair battery?
7. How do you transport an electric wheelchair on a plane?
8. How can you keep the trip organized?
9. What mistakes can make wheelchair transport harder?
10. When should you ask a mobility dealer or vehicle upfitter?
11. Which electric wheelchair transport method should you choose?

To transport an electric wheelchair, use a lift or ramp rated for the loaded chair, then secure it as the chair and vehicle manuals require. Check the fit, battery instructions, and cargo space before choosing a method.

The right method depends on the chair, vehicle, and whether the user will remain seated during travel. A power chair can be too heavy to lift by hand, so plan the loading method before the trip.

How do you transport an electric wheelchair by car?

Use a compatible lift or ramp, and follow the wheelchair's securement instructions. Compare the chair's total loaded weight and dimensions with the lift capacity, vehicle opening, and cargo area.

A vehicle lift suits regular trips when a compatible installation can raise the chair into or onto the vehicle. A ramp can work when there is a stable approach, enough loading space, and a manageable slope.

Ask a mobility dealer or vehicle upfitter to confirm the setup for the chair and vehicle.

For a wheelchair that travels inside a van or SUV, measure the doorway and cargo area before loading. Include footrests, joystick, and any other parts that affect clearance.

Don't lift a heavy power chair with another person unless the manufacturer gives safe manual lifting instructions. A folded frame does not automatically make a power chair light enough to carry.

What should you check before choosing a loading method?

Check the chair manual, vehicle manual, actual chair weight, and available space first. The loading equipment must support the loaded chair, and the vehicle must carry it safely.

Use this checklist before arranging transport:

• Chair weight with batteries and accessories
• Overall width, length, and height
• Vehicle cargo opening and interior space
• Lift or ramp capacity and compatibility
• Approved securement points
• Battery preparation and transport instructions
• Whether the user will ride in the chair or transfer to a seat

If the user will remain in the chair, include their weight when confirming the lift and vehicle capacity. Ask the equipment maker or upfitter to verify the combined load.

A manual travel wheelchair may be easier to load for some outings, but it doesn't provide powered mobility. Compare a wheelchair for travel with a power chair only if the user can comfortably use a manual chair for that trip.

How should you prepare a wheelchair for transport?

Park on level ground, switch the chair off, and prepare it as the manual directs. Remove loose items that could fall, and protect parts that might catch on a doorway or lift.

Follow the manufacturer's steps for the joystick, freewheel controls, brakes, and battery. Don't disconnect, remove, or adjust components unless the manual allows it.

The iMedic Wheelchair Bag Storage Backpack Organizer attaches to wheelchair handles with two looped straps and has zippered pockets for small items.

Remove the bag before loading if it could snag, swing, or block access to securement points. Keep medication and other essentials with the user when possible.

How do you secure an electric wheelchair inside a vehicle?

Use the securement points and method approved for the chair and vehicle. Keep the chair upright, apply its parking brake as instructed, and make sure straps or restraints don't press on the joystick or controls.

If the user will ride in the wheelchair, the vehicle needs a suitable wheelchair securement system and occupant restraint. Follow both equipment makers' instructions, and ask a qualified dealer or vehicle upfitter to check the installation.

If the user transfers to a vehicle seat, secure the unoccupied chair so it cannot roll or shift. The chair's brakes alone aren't a substitute for securing it during a sudden stop.

Never attach tie-downs to parts the chair maker hasn't approved. If the manual doesn't show where to secure the chair, contact the manufacturer or dealer before the trip.

Can you transport an electric wheelchair in a regular car trunk?

A trunk works only if the chair fits and can be loaded and secured safely. Measure the opening and interior space, and account for any parts the manual allows you to remove.

A manual wheelchair may be a practical alternative when the user can travel in one and it can be lifted safely. The Drive Medical Blue Streak Lightweight Wheelchair has a folding frame, swing-away footrests, and push handles for caregivers.

At 41.3 lb, this chair still needs to be lifted and managed safely. It's a manual wheelchair, so skip it if the user depends on powered mobility.

For trips where a caregiver pushes the user, the Drive Medical Folding Transport Wheelchair has a folding frame, swing-away footrests, and a fold-flat backrest. It weighs 26 lb and has a padded 17 in nylon seat.

This is also a manual chair. Don't choose it as a substitute for a power chair when the user needs powered mobility for daily activities.

What should you know about the wheelchair battery?

Follow the battery instructions for the specific wheelchair. Battery type, removal steps, and transport rules vary by model, so don't guess or borrow instructions from another chair.

Protect the battery from impacts, water, and loose metal objects. If removal is required, use the manufacturer's steps and store it as directed.

Air travel has separate rules for mobility device batteries. If you're flying, read whether electric wheelchairs can go on planes and confirm the requirements with your airline before booking.

How do you transport an electric wheelchair on a plane?

Contact the airline before travel with the chair's make, model, and battery details. Ask how the chair will be handled, which battery information is needed, and whether removable parts need special preparation.

Car loading instructions don't cover airline handling. For a trip where you'll be choosing a chair, see our guide to electric wheelchairs for travel.

If you plan to use a cane after transferring from the chair, check the airline's guidance and our advice about taking a walking cane on an airplane.

How can you keep the trip organized?

Keep the manual, contact details, and removable parts with the chair. Store them where a caregiver can reach them without unpacking the whole vehicle.

Before leaving, note the chair's make, model, and battery type. Those details can help a dealer or airline give relevant instructions if something needs attention during the trip.

Pack only what you need within reach. A wheelchair bag can hold small items, but it shouldn't block controls, securement straps, or access to the user.

What mistakes can make wheelchair transport harder?

The common mistakes are skipping measurements, guessing about capacity, and securing the chair to unapproved parts. Check each step before loading, especially when using a new vehicle or transport setup.

Avoid these problems:

• Measuring the cargo area but forgetting the narrower door opening
• Using a ramp or lift without confirming its capacity for the loaded chair
• Assuming a folding chair can be lifted safely by one or two people
• Letting a bag or loose accessory block tie-down points
• Relying on the chair's brakes instead of securing it inside the vehicle
• Removing a battery or part without following the chair manual
• Letting the user ride in the chair without a suitable occupant restraint

A short practice run with the vehicle empty can help reveal clearance or access issues. Stop if the chair shifts, the ramp feels unstable, or any restraint presses on a control.

When should you ask a mobility dealer or vehicle upfitter?

Ask a mobility professional when the fit, capacity, battery preparation, or securement method is unclear. Get confirmation before using equipment near its limit or carrying a person in a wheelchair inside a vehicle.

This is especially useful when the user will remain seated in the chair. The vehicle needs equipment designed for the chair and occupant, installed according to its instructions.

A mobility scooter has different loading and securement needs. See how to transport a mobility scooter in a car if that's the equipment you need to move.

A case may help protect a scooter or its parts during storage and handling. Compare options in our guide to the best mobility scooter transport case.

Which electric wheelchair transport method should you choose?

Choose based on who will load the chair, how often you travel, and whether the user will stay seated. For frequent trips, ask about a compatible vehicle lift; for occasional loading into a van or SUV, compare a properly rated ramp with the available space.

Use a manual travel chair only if it meets the user's mobility needs and can be loaded safely. For a power chair, let its weight, battery instructions, and approved securement points guide the plan.

For air travel, contact the airline early and confirm battery requirements. For car trips, have a dealer or qualified upfitter confirm a new lift or securement setup before carrying the chair.

Frequently asked questions

How do you transport an electric wheelchair in a car?

Use a vehicle lift or ramp with a capacity that meets the chair's total loaded weight, and secure it as the chair and vehicle manuals specify. Check the vehicle opening, cargo space, chair dimensions, battery instructions, and whether the user will ride in the chair or transfer to a vehicle seat.

Can you put an electric wheelchair in a car trunk?

Only if the chair fits and can be loaded and secured safely. Many power chairs are too heavy to lift by hand, so check the chair and vehicle manuals and consider a compatible lift or ramp.

Don't assume a folding frame makes a chair safe to lift or transport loose.

Do you have to remove the battery to transport an electric wheelchair?

Follow the wheelchair manufacturer's instructions for transport and battery handling. Some chairs have removable batteries, but the right steps depend on the model and battery type.

Keep the battery protected from damage, and ask the manufacturer or dealer if the manual doesn't explain how to prepare it.

Can an electric wheelchair be transported on its side?

Don't lay a power chair on its side unless its manufacturer says that position is safe. Tilting or laying it down can affect components, and the chair may shift during travel.

Keep it upright when possible, secure it as instructed, and ask the manufacturer about any position the manual doesn't cover.