Swivel Seats
A swivel car seat, which rotates within the vehicle, may help you in and out of the car if you have difficulty swivelling on the car seat. It may also assist a helper by giving them more space to position you within the car seat and assist in manoeuvring your legs etc. There are different types of swivel seats. These include: • Electrically or manually operated swivel seats • Swivel seats that rise and lower for use within higher silled vehicles |
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Seat that rotates at an angle of 90 degrees outside the vehicle. |
Seat that rotates at an angle of 180 degrees outside and alongside the vehicle. |
Points to consider
• The number of levers and the position of the levers required to operate the seat. Make sure you or your assistant is able to reach or operate these levers while manoeuvring the seat.
• The amount of leg room. Some swivel seats may restrict the amount of leg room between the seat and the car door post making it difficult to lift the legs into the vehicle. Other swivel seats may slide further back within the car to provide additional leg room.
• It requires physical effort to manoeuvre the manually operated swivel seat, particularly with the additional weight of the person in the seat.
• If transferring from a wheelchair using a transfer board, the swivel seat should rotate at the same level as the wheelchair seat. In a higher silled vehicle, a swivel seat that lowers and rises could be stopped at the appropriate height.
• If requiring a swivel seat for the driver in a 4 door car, check with the swivel seat manufacturer if this is possible in that particular vehicle.
• A swivel seat that comes out and alongside the vehicle (180 degrees) may be preferable if a transfer from wheelchair to car seat is required.
• If your car seat is fitted with airbags, this safety feature will be removed when fitting a swivel seat. Check with the swivel seat manufacturers.
• Depending on the design of the vehicle, the person in the seat may need to be aware and able to ‘lower' their head when manoeuvring under the door frame.
• Fitting of a swivel seat may involve drilling through the car floor. This could affect the warranty or resale value of the car.
• Original car seat belts can be used.
• If changing your car, check with the swivel seat supplier that the new vehicle is suitable for refitting the present swivel seat.
Where to get them
Below are firms that manufacture swivel seats, information on local agents and prices can be obtained from the firms or contact your local Mobility Centre or see details of your local adaptation fitter/supplier.
Autoadapt UK Ltd |
Elap Engineering Ltd |
Does not make Swivel Seats but manufactures a device called the Transfer Beam. To use this device a person needs to be able to take some weight through the legs when standing. Brotherwood Automobility Ltd |
Autochair Ltd |
March 2010
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