Acquiring a used wheel chair would not be the same as getting a used car. Firstly, the need for a wheelchair would be more immediate if the doctor or therapist prescribes it. There simply is no other replacement or alternative available. Regardless of how urgent an acquisition is, you must approach the purchase with enough knowledge so as to make the best informed decisions so the wheelchair would provide its intended use instead of presenting itself as a problem.

The cost of a new wheelchair might not be very practical for people who will not be confined to a wheelchair for life. It would be quite comfortable for the user to get a customized wheelchair but when it comes down to spending, it will not be very practical in some cases.

New wheelchairs can range from $400 to well above $2,000, depending on the brand, make, and model. Wheelchairs that are electrically powered would cost about ten times more.

The wheelchair type that is most commonly used is the manual one. It is not equipped with motors. It has to be propelled by the user. In cases where the user would not be able to propel with one’s arms, this type would not be advisable. Some wheelchairs would have handles for the attendant and the wheels would be smaller for easier transport. These are mostly used in hospitals to transport patients to and from their rooms.

Motorized wheelchairs are equipped with motors and batteries. These automatic wheelchairs need no manual propelling from the user. These are very easy to handle as these are steered with a directional joystick installed conveniently on an armrest. The location would depend on which hand is dominantly used by the user.

The rigid models are the simplest in design. These are useful and collapsible. These can easily be transported in a vehicle for the traveling user. These cost less but the design and materials used would make the price vary.

Folding wheelchairs take up less space than rigid models when collapsed. These are more portable and convenient for the traveling user.

There are other designs and wheelchair models especially the sports wheelchairs. The functionality installed would vary depending on the needs of the user.

Click here for Buying Used Wheel Chairs or get more information on used wheel chairs here.

If you won’t be confined to a wheelchair for life anyway, buying a new one would be impractical for your budget. Foregoing certain comforts would be worth the amount you’d be saving. In this case, get a second hand wheel chair is one anyway. Do be aware that second hand wheelchairs do not come with warranties as companies will not honor the warranties of wheelchairs that have been resold. The electric wheelchairs are really expensive. If the second hand one you bought breaks down, that would be a lot of money down the drain for you.

You would be better off getting the manual wheelchair. You would not have to worry about blowing a lot of money to replace any broken down electrical parts. Just make sure that you try the wheelchair out for you to see if you can live with it even for a short time. The leg rests are adjustable anyway. You also want to get a wheelchair with sturdy seats and does not show any signs of a problem that might grow later on. You need to consider this especially when you could be a little on the heavy side. You want a wheelchair that has the capacity to accommodate you and take you places so you also have to inspect the wheels. You will want a wheelchair that could be propelled easily and have little resistance.

You can find a lot of used wheel chairs in conventional publications and surprise, surprise, you can see a lot of them online, too. Just keep shopping around so you can find the best deal and the most suitable wheelchair for you. It also helps how much these things are so you can make a wiser purchase because you know the going price of wheelchairs these days.

It’s better to buy the manual wheelchairs, especially when they are pre-owned. You may want to skip specialty wheelchairs such as sports ones because these are more customized compared to other types of wheelchair. You can skip buying a used electric scooter because you will never know how long it will last and when it will possibly break down. You do not want to see your cash wasted on a broken electric wheelchair. If you really want scooters, buying brand new ones are advisable. But, if you can live with the manual one, by all means get one. See if your insurance can cover it for you.