• Age: who is the wheelchair for, child, adult?
• Body type: wheelchairs have weight capacities and seat widths vary
• Places you’ll go: indoors, outdoors, both?
• Type of chair: self-propel, transit, powerchair*
• Condition: are you able to self-propel? 
• Short term/long term: will you need the wheelchair for a few months or for the foreseeable future?
• Activities: what kind of things will you be doing in your wheelchair? 
• How often: how much time will you spend in your wheelchair? More than eight hours a day or once a week (etc)?
• Transfer: how will you move from your wheelchair to other seats? Will you need assistance from a carer, a hoist, are you able?
• Transport: will you be using public transport, wheelchair assisted vehicle?
• Place to place: how will you transport your wheelchair? Do you need a ramp in your vehicle, a hoist, can you/someone else lift it?
• Distance: how far do you want to travel in your wheelchair? If you go for a powerchair, what is the mileage on a fully charged battery? Can you self-propel far?
• Storage: do you have somewhere to store your chair? Are parts easily removable?
• Home: are your doors wide enough for your chair? Do you have stairs? Is there a step to get in/outside? 
• Surrounding area: what are the surfaces like? Is there gravel, steps?
• Accessories: cushions, stick holder, storage bag, gloves, weather protection, blanket
• Insurance: you don’t want your wheelchair to breakdown or have a fault – insurance is vital
• Measured: get measured for your chair by a professional, preferably an Occupational Therapist
• Where: will you buy your chair privately, have a wheelchair assessment from the NHS, go through Motability, rent?

– Self-propel has large back wheels, is usually light-weight and pushed by the user but can have handles to be pushed by someone else. You can also get power-assisted wheels.
– Transit wheelchair has small rear wheels and is pushed by someone else. It’s ideal for someone who is unable to self-propel and will always be using the chair when with another person.