Should You Repair, Rent or Buy a New Wheelchair?

This post is written by the team at Vertex Mobility to answer some commonly asked questions. Hopefully, it helps you to make your decision!

Should you repair your wheelchair and how much would it cost?

One of the most common questions we receive from customers is whether it would be worth it to repair their wheelchair. Typically, wheelchair repairs cost between $100 to $200 per wheelchair, depending on the type of damage you need fixed. 

You can find the full info on our page: Wheelchair Repair in Singapore.

It’s also worth noting that many retailers in Singapore do not offer wheelchair repair, and it would be best to factor in transport and time costs. 

Our advice to customers is usually to avoid repairing your wheelchair, unless it’s for very minor repairs, as repairs would easily cost upwards of $100. However, in some very rare circumstances, it could be worth it to repair your wheelchair. That’s if your wheelchair is a highly specialized one that has a high price point, then repairing the wheelchair is definitely cheaper than getting a new one. 

If your wheelchair doesn’t cost more than $300, then getting a new one would most certainly be the right choice. Our wheelchairs at Vertex cost less than $120, so you can consider one of them. 

Renting a Wheelchair – Factors to consider

Renting a wheelchair for a temporary injury can be very common. However, it’s not always the best option to rent a wheelchair, even if the injuries are temporary. For example, renting a wheelchair for more than 2-3 weeks can cost upwards of $100, which might make it more sensible for you to buy a new wheelchair. 

One of the main costs of renting a wheelchair comes fro transporting the wheelchair to and from your home. Remember that returning the wheelchair can be a huge hassle as well, and wheelchair rental companies typically charge a fee for them to take back the wheelchair. 

Hidden costs of renting a wheelchair

There’re also hidden costs to renting a wheelchair that many do not know about. A rented wheelchair is typically used, so it’s condition might not be the best. This makes it more likely to break down when you’re using it. If you’re going to be doing lots of moving about and travelling on the wheelchair, then perhaps wheelchair rental might not be such a great idea, as a single breakdown would be tremendously troublesome. 

Another thing to take note of is that many wheelchair companies might have a penalty if you spoil the wheelchair while rented. Make sure to be extra careful and ask for the terms and conditions before committing to a rental. Just like in the vehicle rental industry, unscrupulous vendors do exist and we should be alert to prevent getting cheated.

The choice to get a new wheelchair

Many customers would actually prefer to get a new wheelchair, with hygiene being one of the most common considerations. When you get a new wheelchair, you can be sure that it has been properly taken care of, and the cleanliness of the wheelchair would not be concerning. 

We hope we’ve helped you to make a decision on whether to rent, repair or buy a new wheelchair, and please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you want to ask us anything at all. Our team is more than willing to help you out!