What does it cost to rent a wheelchair, in Toronto?
When you rent a wheelchair, there are multiple factors that impact how much it will cost. In Toronto, the average cost of a wheelchair rental is from $55 – $65 CAD per week. This rate can vary though, depending on who you contact and the circumstances behind the rental. In this article, we will be discussing the various factors that impact how much your wheelchair rental can cost in the great city of Toronto. We will also spend some time expanding on exactly how each factor ends up affecting the price, and how significant the impact is on the price.
Of course, if you need help making a choice between renting a wheelchair and owning a wheelchair, let us know. We can help you make that choice, and provide you with any other information you need to make a choice about mobility equipment.
Factors that affect wheelchair rental price in Toronto
The factors that affect how much your wheelchair rental will cost in Toronto are:
- Type of wheelchair
- Time of year
- Special events
- Length of your rental
- Special wheelchair rental add-ons
- Quality of service
Each of these factors can impact the price of your wheelchair. The impact of these factors are also typically felt market wide, in the sense that if one wheelchair rental vendor is affected by a certain factor, then others serving the same market will typically be affected as well. We will discuss each factor in detail below, so you can have a good overall idea of all the things that affect how much you might need to pay for a wheelchair rental, especially in a dynamic city like Toronto.
We’ll rank each factor on a scale of 1 – 10; the higher the score, the more likely it is that the factor will directly impact the cost of your wheelchair rental. Being aware of these factors means that you will be able to make more informed decisions when renting a wheelchair. Some factors (such as when you need it), may not be in your control. However others are in your control; after this you’ll know the difference!
Type of wheelchair
Effect on wheelchair rental price: 9/10 (High)
There are four main wheelchair types that are available for rent across the city of Toronto. How much you will pay for a wheelchair will firstly depend on which type you want to rent. The four main types are:
- Transport wheelchair
- Manual wheelchair
- Tilt wheelchair
- Electric wheelchair
Technically speaking, the cost of renting a wheelchair will be lowest for a transport chair, moving up gradually, with the electric wheelchair being the highest/ most expensive on the list. If you don’t need the extra features and functionality of say, a tilt wheelchair, it would be wise to rent a manual chair, or a transport chair, so that you do not end up spending the extra cost. In addition, keep in mind that for some vendors, as the rental cost increases, the security deposit requirements may increase as well.
Overall, while this factor affects how much you pay for a wheelchair rental, it is also the factor you have some of the least control over, as the wheelchair you rent depends directly on your needs. You may have a bit of flexibility with regard to choosing between a transport wheelchair, or a manual wheelchair, for example, as they have similar range of function, to a degree. However, the need for a tilt wheelchair or an electric wheelchair is much more specific and pressing, and as a result, you have less flexibility to save money by choosing alternates or a substitute.
Time of year
Effect on wheelchair rental price: 6/10 (Average)
The demand for rental wheelchairs in Toronto is influenced greatly by the time of year. In the summer, demand for rental wheelchairs is much greater, due to more people wanting to be outside enjoying the warmth. This means that rental stock depletes faster, and rental providers may increase their prices to account for the new levels of demand.
Conversely, in the winter, you may be able to to get a wheelchair rental for less than it costs to rent one in the height of the summer. Wheelchair rental providers of course still have to incur many of the same costs, so don’t expect the prices to fall too much during the winter. You will possibly find that some providers will offer special incentives occasionally during the peak of the winter months. Overall, the reduced demand factors into the price somewhat, though there is still a base price that most wheelchair rental providers will stay at or above, in order to remain in business.
Overall, the effect of “time of year” on wheelchair rental prices may not be as pronounced as the other factors. However, it is important to keep it in mind, as it does matter, especially in a city like Toronto, where most people want to maximize the summer months. If you want a wheelchair in the summer time, consider the impact of summer demand, and reserve early to be guaranteed better pricing.
Special events
Effect on wheelchair rental price: 7/10 (Medium)
Each year (particularly in the summer, yay!) there are typically multiple special events in the city. Festivals, carnivals, and much more are available each year in Toronto. If you want to rent a wheelchair on the weekend of or the day of particularly large event, you may find that wheelchair rentals are scarce, or that prices have increased, due to the large amount of demand for wheelchairs from event attendees.
Yearly special events that many people rent a wheelchair for include the:
- Canadian National Exhibition
- Taste of the Danforth
- Toronto Caribbean Carnival
- Taste of India Festival,
- The Toronto Craft Beer Festival,
- Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
If you are considering attending a large festival or special event, please consider looking for a wheelchair rental as far as possible in advance. You will likely save yourself plenty of time and money. Pro tip: Before you rent a wheelchair, check and see if they event you are going to has any wheelchairs available, either for free or for rent. While it doesn’t happen as much as it used to, some events and venues keep a limited amount of wheelchairs available for use by attendees. Of course, for maximum comfort and convenience, you can always bring your own!
Length of the rental
Effect on wheelchair rental price: 9/10 (High)
It goes without saying: the longer you want to rent a wheelchair for, the more it is likely to cost. However, there is a bit more to it than that. Most wheelchair rental pricing systems start with a base rate, then they increase as you add weeks or months to your rental. The best deals come when you rent for two weeks or more. Expect to pay more, relatively speaking, if you just want to rent for one day, for example. The reason we gave this factor a “9/10” instead of “10/10” (in terms of its effect on the rental price) is that once you get past two weeks, the impact of the length of the rental on price diminishes. For example, there is typically only a $10 difference between a 3 week rental and a 4 week rental, for some lower end equipment. The longer you rent for, the less this factor matters.
Special wheelchair rental add-ons
Effect on wheelchair rental price: 10/10 (High)
Sometimes, just the wheelchair alone is not enough. You might be a person that needs a bit of extra supports to make the wheelchair feel “just right” while you are using it. These special add-ons could include things like:
- Wheelchair seat cushions: These can make the wheelchair seat more comfortable, especially for users that have limited ability to shift their own weight
- Raising or elevating leg rests: Wheelchair users with a foot injury, or those that need to keep their leg elevated as part of the recovery process, will require a leg rest that moves up and down, instead of the standard swinging leg rests which are more widely available
- Gloves: If you are using a manual wheelchair, you may use the hand rims on the side of the wheels to self-propel. Sometimes it can handy to have a pair of gloves handy. It can help keep your hands clean, and the right gloves can have a grippy texture that makes it easier to have a firm grasp of the wheelchair hand rims as you move yourself in the wheelchair.
- Cupholders: These specially designed cupholders attach to your mobility equipment, to make it easier to carry a drink with you, on the go.
- Side bags or rear bags: Make space to bring more items with you when you use a wheelchair; these bags will attach to the side or the rear of your wheelchair, giving you access to zippered pockets and other areas to keep your stuff.
- Anti-tip bars: These bars attach discreetly to the back of the wheelchair, to ensure that the wheelchair user does not fall backwards if the front wheels get too high off the ground for any reason.
If you need any of these types of add-ons, it will directly impact the price, though ideally not by too much.Most vendors charge between $15 – $30 CAD for these types of add-ons. For rentals that are, say, one month or longer, your wheelchair rental vendor may be more include to include these at a lower cost.
Quality of service
Effect on wheelchair rental price: 8/10 (High)
Wheelchair rental vendors all have different policies, which in turn influences the level of service you get. For example, wheelchair maintenance should be kept up regularly; brakes, wheels, fabric, and more components of the wheelchair can deteriorate if careful and frequent attention is not paid to them. While you probably don’t want to spend a ton of money on your wheelchair rental, you also probably want to avoid going wth the cheapest vendors. Everything has a cost, and often, a vendor may cut corners in order to minimize spending. A high quality of service includes things like quick delivery, flexible extensions, current model cleaned and disinfected wheelchairs, pleasant customer service, and service direct to your door. Focus on vendors that can provide this quality of service. Cheaper vendors exist, but sometimes lower cost may be a sign that they cut corners on things that you might consider important as a renter. Better to be safe, than to be sorry!
Conclusion
While there are many things that ultimately determine the wheelchair rental price, the factors listed above will have the greatest impact. Overall, we recommend finding a vendor that is customer service centric, letting price be less of a driver for making your decision. There are multiple factors that impact the price you should expect to pay; decide which ones you are willing to compromise on, and which ones are dealbreakers. Equipped with this information, you can make an informed decision on your wheelchair rental options. Keep timing, quality, speed, and your location in mind, and you’ll be able to find the best balance between pricing and your other unique needs.
