Most of what turns up online about this is written for American or Australian buyers. This is the UK version, from a showroom where people come in and try both.
What is the difference between a transit and a self-propelled wheelchair?
A self-propelled wheelchair has large rear wheels — usually around 24 inches — with a hand rim on each. The person sitting in it grips those rims and pushes themselves along, and somebody else can still push from behind when needed. A transit wheelchair has four small wheels and no hand rims at all, so it can only ever be pushed by an attendant.
| Self-propelled | Transit | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear wheels | Large, with hand rims | Small, no rims |
| Who moves it | The user, or an attendant | An attendant only |
| Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
| Width | Wider — the rims add to it | Narrower |
| In a car boot | Bulkier, wheels often come off | Easier |
| Independence | Yes | No |
| Best for | Someone with arm and shoulder strength | Someone always accompanied |
Which one do I need?
Start with one question: will the person in the chair ever want to move without asking somebody? If the answer is yes, and they have the arm and shoulder strength to do it, buy self-propelled. Independence is not a small thing, and a transit chair takes it away completely.
If there will genuinely always be somebody pushing — a chair kept in the boot for hospital appointments and days out, say — a transit chair is lighter, narrower and easier to live with. That is a sound reason to choose one. Choosing it because it was fifty pounds cheaper is not, and it is the decision people most often come back and regret.
Can you push a self-propelled wheelchair?
Yes. A self-propelled chair has push handles at the back like any other, so an attendant can push it exactly as they would a transit chair. It is the more flexible of the two — which is why, when people are genuinely unsure, we usually point them that way.
Will it fit through my doors and into my car?
The two measurements that matter are the overall width of the chair, including the hand rims, and the folded size. A self-propelled chair is wider and bulkier, though the rear wheels on most models come off with a quick-release button, which makes a real difference in a boot. Measure your narrowest doorway and your boot opening before you decide — those two numbers rule out more chairs than anything else.
What about weight?
Ask who will be lifting it, and how often. A chair that is manageable once is a different proposition twice a day in a car park in the rain. Lightweight aluminium chairs cost more and are worth it if somebody is lifting daily. Check the user weight limit too — every chair has one, and bariatric models exist for anyone above it.
Come and sit in one, and get whoever will be pushing to push it round the showroom. Five minutes of that answers more than an afternoon of reading.
Can I get a wheelchair through the NHS?
You may be able to. NHS wheelchair services assess people with a long-term need, and a Personal Wheelchair Budget can sometimes be put towards a chair from an independent supplier rather than a standard issue one. Ask your GP or your local wheelchair service — it is worth the phone call before you buy privately.
Try both
We keep transit and self-propelled chairs in the showroom at Stewartby, with free parking at the door and step-free access throughout. Ring 01234 267393, or just come in — there is no appointment needed and nobody will push you towards the dearer one.
