More Than a Minivan: The $150,000 Reality of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

When most people see a van with a ramp, they think, “Oh, cool, a ramp!” What they don’t realize is that they are looking at one of the most expensive and highly engineered pieces of medical equipment on the planet.

There are a lot of misconceptions about Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs). Some people think it’s a simple weekend DIY project involving a few bolts and a piece of aluminum. The reality? It’s more like a high-tech automotive reconstruction.

It’s Not Just a Van—It’s a Total Rebuild

You don’t just “add” a ramp to a van and call it a day. To create a WAV, a standard vehicle has to go through one of the few specialized manufacturers in the U.S., such as BraunAbility, VMI, ATC Mobility, or Freedom Motors. These companies do things to a car that you wouldn’t believe:

• The Strip Down: They gut the entire interior, ripping everything out to modify the core.
• The Big Cut: They literally cut the frame of the vehicle and lower the floor. This is a major structural conversion.
• The Re-route: While the floor is lowered, they rework all the internals underneath—the exhaust manifold, fuel systems, and batteries—and then reinforce the frame so it stays safe.

By the time it reaches a mobility dealership like MobilityWorks, you aren’t just looking at the price of the car. The conversion process alone can cost between $30,000 and $60,000. When you add that to the cost of the vehicle itself, you’re looking at a total price tag that can easily hit $100,000 to $150,000.

Why “Just Buy Used” Isn’t Always an Option

A common question we get is, “Why don’t you just get a used one?” It’s a fair question, but for a wheelchair user who is also the driver, it’s not that simple.

Many conversions are custom-fitted to the specific needs of the driver. Furthermore, many of us use electronic hand controls, which can cost between $5,000 and $25,000. These systems require modern vehicle computers to run; older used vans simply don’t have the “brains” to support that technology.

Individual needs vary wildly, too. Personally, I’m currently saving and fundraising for an ATC Mobility Silverado. Why a truck? Because I do adaptive rowing, adaptive skiing, and adaptive mountain bike riding. A standard van isn’t going to get me where I need to go for those sports. For many of us, the vehicle is the key that makes our lifestyle possible.

The “Public Transit” Myth

Then there’s the big one: “Why not just use public transportation?”

The short answer? It’s no one’s place to tell a wheelchair user how to get around. The long answer? Public transit and paratransit can be incredibly difficult to manage. It often takes significantly longer to get to a destination and can be very uncomfortable. Having a specialized vehicle makes life—and independence—possible. At the end of the day, you don’t know someone’s situation, so there is no place for judgment.

The Funding Gap: Why We Fundraise

Here is the hardest reality: Medicaid and state-run agencies generally do not cover the cost of the vehicle. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, we have DARS (Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services), but they usually only cover the modifications or conversions—and even then, they often find excuses to get out of it.

This is why you see so many wheelchair users fundraising. We are forced to crowdfund for the basic transportation that others take for granted.

How You Can Help

Wheelchair users deserve the same right to drive as everyone else. If you want to help, start by advocating. Reach out to your state delegates and representatives. Ask them to put forth bills that require Medicaid to cover personalized wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Everyone deserves the freedom of the open road. Let’s make sure everyone can actually afford to get there.

— Justin Boatner