FLF Accessible taxi
Wheelchair-accessible taxi: wheelchair transport in Uusimaa and Häme
Accessible Sprinter, Crafter and Caddy Maxi taxis with a wheelchair space, a lift or ramp and a driver who assists you in and out of the vehicle.
A wheelchair-accessible taxi is one you can enter seated in your wheelchair, with the chair secured for the journey. You need one if you cannot transfer to an ordinary car seat or if you use a powered wheelchair that cannot be folded into a boot. We drive accessible rides for private individuals, relatives, care homes and care facilities in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Lahti, Hämeenlinna, Hyvinkää, Riihimäki and Heinola.
All our minivans are accessible: the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter and the smaller Volkswagen Caddy Maxi. Each has a wheelchair space that meets Traficom's requirements, a lift or ramp, wheelchair restraints and a seat belt. Our drivers are our own employees and trained to assist: they help you in and out, secure the wheelchair and take an escort along.
For a ride booked directly from FLF the price depends on distance, time and any waiting, and contract customers get fixed prices on regular rides. Journeys reimbursed by Kela and disability transport granted by the wellbeing services county are booked through their own booking numbers, where our vehicles also operate as a contract partner. Below we explain the difference and where each kind of ride is booked.
0.75 × 1.10 m
minimum wheelchair space
1.40–1.45 m
interior height
8
cities in our service area
100 %
of our minivans accessible
Fleet and accessibility requirements
An accessible taxi must meet Traficom's requirements. This is how our vehicles meet them.
- A wheelchair space of at least 0.75 × 1.10 metres, so even a wider wheelchair fits and can be turned into position.
- Interior height of 1.40 to 1.45 metres, so the passenger sits upright in the wheelchair for the whole journey.
- A lift or ramp at the rear door. The lift is especially suited to powered wheelchairs, which are not pushed up a ramp.
- Proper wheelchair restraints plus a passenger seat belt, fitted by the driver before setting off.
- Powered wheelchairs fit in the Sprinter and Crafter; give us the chair's dimensions and weight when booking so we reserve the right vehicle.
Assistance during the ride
In and out of the vehicle
The driver comes to the door, assists you in via lift or ramp, secures the wheelchair and helps you out and inside at the agreed place on arrival.
Escort welcome
An escort, relative or personal assistant travels in the same vehicle. Tell us how many people are coming so there are enough seats.
Mobility aids
A walker, cane, oxygen cylinder or other aids come along. A folding wheelchair fits in the luggage compartment if the passenger transfers to a seat.
An unhurried pace
Accessible rides are given time. The driver does not rush transfers, and pick-up is scheduled so there is no stress about arriving.
Who an accessible taxi is for
- Private individuals who use a wheelchair and need a ride to the doctor, the shops, a hobby or a visit.
- Relatives booking a ride for a loved one who want the driver to assist door to door.
- Care homes and care facilities whose residents need regular or occasional transport.
- Wellbeing services counties and municipalities, in whose transport services our vehicles operate as a contract partner.
- Companies and organisations running accessible events who want every participant to be able to attend.
Accessible taxi, Kela taxi and disability transport: the difference
These three have different bookers, different payers and different booking channels, even though the vehicle and driver may be the same. An accessible taxi booked directly from FLF is a ride you order yourself, under an agreement or through the local booking channels, and pay for yourself or through your company. It suits every journey that is not reimbursed: visits, hobbies, celebrations, commuting and events.
A Kela taxi is a journey to healthcare reimbursed by Kela, the Social Insurance Institution, for example to hospital or rehabilitation. It is always booked through the regional Kela booking number, never directly from a taxi company, and the passenger pays a deductible. Kela's dispatch assigns the ride to a contract partner's vehicle; FLF's accessible vehicles operate in these dispatch systems. From the start of 2027 Kela's providers change by region, but the booking method stays the same: you call your region's Kela number.
Disability transport under the Disability Services Act (VPL) and Social Welfare Act (SHL) is granted by the wellbeing services county. In Päijät-Häme these rides are booked through the Lahden Aluetaksi dispatch at least an hour before the journey, and an escort travels free of charge. In Kanta-Häme the transport service is run by Oma Häme. FLF does not dispatch these rides itself but operates them through the dispatch as a contract partner. If you are unsure which category your journey falls under, ask the wellbeing services county or Kela first, and book everything else directly from us.
Contract rides for care homes and care facilities
Regular transport
To day activities, rehabilitation or group visits on agreed days. The same driver who knows the residents and the home's routines.
Individual rides on invoice
Doctor's appointments, dental visits and outings are booked through the home's own channel and invoiced monthly, itemised by resident.
Group outings
Several residents in one Sprinter or Crafter: a wheelchair space plus seats for escorts. Larger groups in two vehicles.
A carer or escort on board
The home's own carer can travel along without special arrangements. Tell us the headcount when booking.
Accessible taxi by city
In Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa accessible taxis are reasonably available, but at peak times and weekends a ride is still best booked in advance. We regularly drive to hospitals, rehabilitation centres and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, where the driver assists you as far as the terminal. Our Helsinki office is in Malmi on Ormuspellontie.
In Lahti accessible vehicles depart from the Asentajankatu office, and typical destinations are Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, the Matkakeskus travel centre and Sibelius Hall. In Hämeenlinna and Hyvinkää we drive to hospitals, care homes and railway stations, and from Hyvinkää the airport is only 35 to 45 minutes away.
In Heinola and Riihimäki fewer accessible vehicles are available than in the larger cities, so it pays to book as early as possible. From Heinola we drive to Lahti, Vierumäki and the airport, about 1 hour 45 minutes away, and from Riihimäki to Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna and the capital region. For care homes in these towns a contract guarantees a vehicle even when no accessible taxi would otherwise be free.
How to book an accessible ride
- 01
Check who pays
A Kela-reimbursed journey is booked through the regional Kela number and disability transport through the county's dispatch. Everything else is booked directly from us or through the booking channels.
- 02
Tell us about mobility aids
Manual or powered wheelchair, its dimensions and weight, other aids, whether an escort is coming and whether you need assistance all the way inside.
- 03
Agree time and addresses
Pick-up address, destination and time. Tell us if there is a fixed appointment at the destination so we allow enough travel time.
- 04
The driver comes to your door
The driver assists you in, secures the wheelchair and helps you out on arrival. Pay by card, cash or, as a contract customer, by invoice.
Pricing
A directly booked accessible taxi is priced by distance, time and waiting. Contract customers get fixed prices for regular rides, invoiced monthly.
Single ride
An accessible ride priced by the journey, with the price given in advance for pre-bookings.
Contract price
Fixed route prices for care homes and care facilities with monthly invoicing itemised by resident.
Kela and disability transport
Reimbursed journeys are priced under the commissioning body's agreement; the passenger pays a deductible or travels free.
Ask about an accessible ride
Tell us the route, mobility aids and time and you will usually have a price the same working day. For care homes we calculate a contract price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wheelchair-accessible taxi cost?
For a ride booked directly from us, the price depends on distance, time of day and any waiting, and for pre-bookings it is given in advance. On a Kela-reimbursed journey you pay only the deductible, and county disability transport is either free or carries a deductible according to the county's decision. Request a quote if your journey is not covered by reimbursement.
Does Kela reimburse an accessible taxi?
Kela reimburses a healthcare-related journey when the healthcare provider has confirmed the need for an accessible vehicle and the journey is booked through the regional Kela booking number. A ride booked directly from a taxi company is not reimbursed. The passenger pays a deductible, and the dispatch assigns the ride to a contract partner's vehicle. FLF's accessible vehicles operate in these dispatch systems.
How early should I book an accessible taxi?
A directly booked accessible ride is best ordered the day before, and in Heinola and Riihimäki preferably a few days earlier, because fewer accessible vehicles are available there. Disability transport is booked through the dispatch at least an hour before the journey. For a hospital appointment, allow generous travel time so transfers happen calmly.
Will a powered wheelchair fit?
Yes. The Sprinter and Crafter have a lift that raises a powered wheelchair into the vehicle without pushing, and the wheelchair space is at least 0.75 × 1.10 metres. Give us the chair's dimensions and weight when booking, as a very wide or heavy chair affects the choice of vehicle. The Caddy Maxi is better suited to manual wheelchairs.
Can an escort come along?
Yes. An escort, relative or personal assistant travels in the same vehicle, and there are seats for more than one. On a directly booked ride an escort does not increase the price, because the price is based on the journey. On disability transport an escort travels free under the dispatch's terms. Tell us the number of escorts when booking so the vehicle is the right size.
Is an invataksi the same as an accessible taxi?
In practice, yes. Invataksi is the older, colloquial Finnish term; esteetön taksi, accessible taxi, is the current official term used by Traficom. Both mean a vehicle you can enter seated in a wheelchair via a lift or ramp, with the wheelchair secured for the journey. All our minivans meet the accessible taxi requirements.
Do you operate in Heinola and Riihimäki?
Yes. Heinola is part of our Päijät-Häme area and Riihimäki part of our Kanta-Häme area, and in both towns we drive local as well as longer accessible rides. Because fewer accessible vehicles are available in these towns, book as early as you can. For care homes we recommend a contract that secures vehicle availability.
Book an accessible ride or request a contract quote
Tell us the route, mobility aids and time. Private customers get the price in advance; for care homes we calculate a contract price, usually the same working day.