Upfront Passenger WAV stands for Upfront Passenger Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. They are vehicles that are specially converted so a wheelchair user can travel comfortably in the front of the vehicle. You may also hear this type of conversion referred to as a ‘ride upfront wav’.
Upfront Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles enable you to travel in the front of the vehicle from the comfort of your wheelchair. You don’t have to worry about transferring to a standard seat and you can enjoy all of the benefits of being about to sit next to the driver.
Most accessible vehicles are designed for the wheelchair user to travel in the rear. Sirus offer two Upfront Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles including our side entry Ford Upfront and our combined Ford Drive/Upfront which can be set up just for a passenger.
If you cannot transfer from your wheelchair to a standard car seat, or if your carer is struggling to assist you, a WAV Upfront Passenger could be the right solution for you. It is also the perfect solution for people who want to be able to comminicate easier and travel side by side.
You will enter and exit using a ramp. As you will always be travelling with a companion, you can opt for a manual ramp with a manual side sliding door (our Ford Upfront which is side entry). Or if you prefer rear entry, opt for our Ford Drive/Upfront which has both an automated or manual tailgate and ramp.
If you opt for the Ford Drive/Upfront, this conversion is designed to enable you to drive as well as travel upfront as a passenger. You can swap places with your companion at any time due to the seat being able to switch into either position.
Yes of course. There is space for two rear passengers in the Ford Drive/Upfront and in the Sirus Ford Upfront there is space for up to five people. In the Sirus VW Upfront there is space for one rear passenger as standard, with the option of fitting up to two tip-up seats, which means you have space for you, plus the driver and three rear passengers.
All Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles start as a standard vehicle (i.e. Ford Grand Tourneo Connect, VW Caddy Life). We then make a number of significant alterations to the vehicle to allow access. For example with a rear access upfront passenger vehicle, we lower the floor from the back right to the front of the vehicle, so there are more man-hours required for this type of conversion compared to a rear WAV.
Most of our customers go for a 4-point manual tie down system which will safely secure your wheelchair into position and is fully crash tested. Alternatively you can consider an automatic wheelchair locking system which will be much easier and quicker for the driver. This option requires a pin to be fitted to the bottom of your wheelchair, so its best to talk this option through with one of our mobility specialists during your demonstration.
If you need an Upfront WAV they are available to buy/self-fund as a private purchase or lease via the Motability Scheme.
The Motability Scheme allows you to swap your higher rate* mobility allowance for a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) that will best suit your needs. If you decide to lease your WAV through the Motability Scheme, it comes complete with insurance, servicing, MOTs, repairs and breakdown cover.
If you can’t afford the Advance Payment on Motability, the Motability Foundation may provide a grant towards the cost. To find out more visit the Motability website.
If you prefer not to use the Motability Scheme, we offer a wide range of Approved Used Upfront Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles for sale. Find out more here.
*Sometimes called “enhanced rate” mobility
At Sirus we have a range of new and Approved Used Upfront Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles for sale. We can bring our demonstration vehicle out to your home for a free test drive with one of our experienced mobility specialists. We can also bring the Approved Used vehicle you are interested in out to your home. Just speak to our sales team based at head office and we can arrange a time and date to suit you.
For further information you can visit:
Motability – Car lease scheme for disabled drivers and passengers.
Motability Grants – financial help towards the cost of your Advance Payment, adaptations and driving lessons.
RiDC – Research Institute for Disabled Consumer.
Brand New Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Brand New Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Brand New Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Brand New Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Brand New Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Approved Used Stock
Approved Used Stock
Approved Used Stock
Approved Used Stock
Approved Used Stock