MoveMobility vs. Dealerships for Wheelchair Vans: Which is Right for You?

When you’re looking for a wheelchair van, it feels like you’re standing at a crossroads. On one hand, you have your local auto dealership. On the other hand, you have a specialized manufacturer like MoveMobility. It’s a big decision because you aren’t just buying a set of wheels. You’re choosing a partner to help you deliver dignity and independence to the people you serve.

Choosing the wrong path can lead to a gap in your service. Maybe it’s a van that breaks down when a patient needs to get to a life-saving appointment, or a layout that makes a passenger feel like cargo instead of a human being. We want to help you close that gap.

In this guide, we’ll look at how manufacturers like us compare to dealerships so you can see which one fits your organization’s heart and soul.

Download the wheelchair van buyer’s guide!

Wheelchair vans from MoveMobility vs. dealerships: what are the differences?

When it’s time to choose between MoveMobility vs. dealerships, it usually comes down to three big things: how much the seller knows, how much you can change the van to fit your needs, and what happens when you need a hand later on.

It’s about making sure your passengers feel safe and respected every time they head out. Let’s dig into the details to see which path helps you close the gap for your community.

Does the seller really understand your mission?

There’s a big difference between selling a car and building a tool that changes lives. It’s like the difference between a general doctor and a specialist who knows exactly how to help you feel better.

Seller expertise with MoveMobility

At MoveMobility, we’re the ones who design, build, and send out every vehicle. Everything starts and ends right here with us. We don’t sell SUVs or sports cars; we only focus on accessible vehicles. That’s it.

Because it’s our only job, our experts know which van models are tough enough to handle Canadian winters and years of heavy use. We choose the strongest foundations, so your team can focus on the people you’re helping, not worrying if the van will start.

Seller expertise with a local dealership

Dealerships are great at selling cars to the general public, but they don’t usually build what they sell. They’re middle-men. A local dealer might have a couple of accessible vans on the lot, but they might not understand the tiny details that make a trip comfortable or difficult for someone in a wheelchair.

If a dealership sells you a used van, it’s hard to know its full history. You might not know if it was in an accident or if the previous owner took care of the ramp. That’s a scary “gap” to have when you’re responsible for someone’s safety.

Every organization is different. Some help seniors who use walkers, while others help young people in power chairs. A “one size fits all” van usually ends up fitting nobody quite right.

Customization in a MoveMobility wheelchair van

When you work with us, you’re in control of the design. You get to pick the features that give your passengers the most dignity.

You can choose:

The size of the van: Whether you need a nimble minivan or a big full size van.
The way people get in: You can pick a rear entry or a side entry depending on where you’ll be picking people up.
The equipment that helps them in: You get to decide between a manual ramp, a powered ramp, or a lift.

This means the van fits the lives of your passengers, instead of you trying to fit your passengers’ lives into the van.

Customization in a dealership wheelchair van

Dealerships usually have “what you see is what you get” options. They might find you a used van that already has a lift installed. But what if your clients use walkers and are terrified of being lifted three feet into the air? A lift might feel cold and mechanical, whereas a ramp allows them to walk in with their own strength. Without customization, you might lose that chance to empower them.

MoveMobility vs. dealerships: how is pricing different?

Pricing can be tricky. Some dealerships may show you a low price that only covers the chassis, which is essentially the van before the accessibility conversions are added. You might also run into hidden fees that pop up right when you’re ready to sign.

At MoveMobility, our minivans range from about $110,000 to $135,000, and our full size vans range from about $145,000 to $259,000. Learn more about what factors influence our prices here.

*These price ranges are estimated average amounts and are subject to change without notice.

MoveMobility vs. dealerships: What does the service look like?

A dealership offers service, but they won’t know how to service the accessible conversion part of the van. If you buy a van and send it away for conversion, and that van ends up needing repairs, you will have to contact the company that converted the van.

MoveMobility offers lifelong service before, during, and after the buying process. We offer services like maintenance and repairs for ramps and lifts.

Even if you don’t buy a wheelchair van from us, our services still apply to anyone in Canada with a wheelchair van. Learn more about the service from MoveMobility here.

Who is MoveMobility right for?

MoveMobility may be right for:

Organizations that need a customized van

Organizations in need of more than one wheelchair van

Organizations who want to work with a mobility-specific company

Who is a dealership right for?

A dealership may be right for personal users or organizations who don’t need specific customizations on their vans.

Your next steps for choosing between MoveMobility and a dealership

You came to this article to learn if buying a wheelchair van from MoveMobility or a dealership local to you is better for your organization.

Now, you know the differences between the two in terms of the seller’s expertise, the customization of the van, and the service you can get after buying the van.

If you still aren’t sure which option is right for you, talk to a MoveMobility expert now.

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