KIA MOTABILITY ADAPTATIONS

Over 37,000 Motability customers have adaptations fitted to their cars to help make driving or travelling easier or more comfortable. Underwoods can supply and fit driving adaptations to your Kia to help improve your driving experience, stowage adaptations which allow you to stow your scooter or wheelchair either in the boot of your Motability car or on the roof with electric controlled hoists and access adaptations which help you get in and out of the car.

It is strongly recommended that you work out what type of adaptation you may need before you make your final choice of car, as not all adaptations are suitable for every type of car in the Kia range. Speak to your Underwoods Specialist about which cars are most likely to work for you with your chosen adaptations.

In most cases the original car’s controls and features can still be used, so your nominated drivers can still drive. However, it’s important to bear in mind that most driving controls require an automatic gearbox. Driving controls help with speed control, steering and signalling.

All Motability Adaptations are available at Underwoods Kia in Colchester, Essex. Call our Motability Specialist on 01206 844422

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MOTABILITY ADAPTATION - LIGHTWEIGHT WHEELCHAIR

If you are a wheelchair user planning to renew your car lease, could you benefit from a lightweight wheelchair to use in combination with your car?

This new option from the Motability Scheme is aimed at customers who already use a wheelchair, but who would benefit from having a secondary lightweight wheelchair to use in combination with their car. Supported by the same level of service you’ve come to expect from the Motability Scheme, these new lightweight wheelchairs offer enhanced mobility and great value for money. So, if you’d like to make the most out of trips in your next Scheme car, why not consider a lightweight wheelchair to help increase your mobility when you arrive at your destination? Find out more

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MOTABILITY ADAPTATIONS - TRANSFER PLATES

A transfer plate is fitted to the side of the car seat and provides a smooth surface between the wheelchair and the car seat to help you with the transfer. Once you are in the vehicle and are comfortable, the transfer plate can simply be folded out of the way.

Transfer plates can either be manual or electric, however the electric version cost more.

To use a transfer plate, it is essential that you consider your upper body strength, as you'll need to be able to transfer yourself out of your wheelchair, onto the transfer plate and back again.

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MOTABILITY ADAPTATION - STEERING AID

If you have difficulty holding or turning a standard steering wheel, there are a number of simple solutions that may well help you. For example, a steering wheel ball can be fitted to allow you to have more control when steering the car.

If you have hand controls fitted, a steering ball is often essential, as it enables you to steer the car with one hand, while operating hand controls with the other. Many can be easily attached and removed.

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MOTABILITY ADAPTATION - BOOT HOIST

This is a hoist which stores your wheelchair or scooter in your car boot. Tie-downs are included as part of the hoist package to help secure your scooter or wheelchair into the boot of your car.

Your wheelchair or scooter will affect the type of boot hoist you need and the space required, so you should take your product to the dealership so they can make sure that the cars you are considering will fit the hoist type you need, as well as your scooter or wheelchair. Adding a boot hoist to a car could be an alternative to a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV).

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MOTABILITY ADAPTATION - LEFT FOOT ACCELERATOR

If you have limited mobility in your right leg, and cannot use the standard accelerator comfortably, you may benefit from having a left foot accelerator fitted. This will allow you to control the speed with your left foot, while the original accelerator is safely out of the way. There are a few types of left foot accelerators.

Floor-mounted accelerator - A floor-mounted accelerator is fitted to the left of the brake so that you are able to use your left foot to accelerate. A pedal guard is fitted over the original pedal whilst the new accelerator pedal is being used.

Twin-flip accelerator - A twin-flip accelerator is a second pedal fitted to the left of the brake pedal, enabling you to use your left foot to accelerate. The original pedal folds away. In most cases, this can still be used if your nominated driver does not require adaptations.

MOTABILITY ADAPTATION - SWIVEL SEAT

Underwoods Motability Adaptations Swivel SeatSwivel seats offers a solution for people with limited mobility and in many cases can help with transferring from a wheelchair into a vehicle by swivelling the seat out over the sill of your car, for people confined to a wheelchair, moving to and from a vehicle can be a difficult process.

Our range of swivel seats are designed to ease this process for you, with the swivel seat mounted in the original seat bolt holes of you car which means there is no damage caused to your vehicle and should you wish to sell the car, the original seat can simply be replaced, our more advanced models are electronically controlled and include additional features such as height control.

Some of the options available are; Electrically operated swivel, Leg and Thigh supports, Integral 2,4 or 6 point belts, Adjustable head and neck supports and Lumber support.

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MOTABILITY ADAPTATION - HAND CONTROLS

If you find using standard pedals for braking or acceleration difficult, you may be better off using a hand control such as a push/pull device. This popular adaptation allows you to control the speed of the car with your hands by pushing or pulling a lever to accelerate or brake. There are various hand controls available from most manufacturers, but the basic function is the same across most models. They range from more basic mechanical push/pull systems to electronic or air compression systems. If you think a push/pull device may be right for you, we recommend that you also consider an automatic vehicle.​

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MOTABILITY ADAPTATIONS - ELECTRONIC ACCELERATORS

If you have limited mobility in your legs or find push/pull hand controls take too much effort, an electronic accelerator may help, and there are a few different types available.

Trigger accelerator - With a trigger accelerator you pull with your finger to accelerate, and push away to brake

Over ring accelerator - The over ring accelerator is fitted in front of the steering wheel. You push it down toward the steering wheel to accelerate

Under ring accelerator - The under ring accelerator is fitted behind the steering wheel. You pull it towards the steering wheel to accelerate

Ghost ring accelerator - The ghost ring accelerator is fitted behind the steering wheel. You control the speed by using your fingers in side to side movements

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MOTABILITY ADAPTATIONS - REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES

Remote control devices help make it easier to operate some of your standard car controls, such as the indicators, windscreen wipers and headlights, using a single control panel mounted on the steering wheel. They can also incorporate a steering wheel call so steering and operating basic car functions can be done with one hand.