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Best Car Door Assist Handles: Great for Handicapped and Elderly

When your sense of balance and body strength decline, the simple act of getting into and out of a car becomes more difficult and even dangerous. The best car door assist handle overcomes both the difficulty and the hazard of being able to continue to use a passenger vehicle in old age.

best car door latch grab bar

In this post, we have reviewed six car door latch grab bars, or car canes as they’re also called.

Our Picks for Best Car Door Latch Grab Bars

We recommend Able Life Auto Assist Grab Bar but have looked at other options that are also worth considering.

Best Overall
Able Life Auto Assist Grab Bar, Portable Vehicle...
Budget Option
Able Life Auto Cane, Portable Vehicle Support Handle...
Best Ring Assist Handle
Original Car Cane Multifunctional Auto Assist Vehicle...
Able Life Auto Assist Grab Bar, Portable Vehicle...
Able Life Auto Cane, Portable Vehicle Support Handle...
Original Car Cane Multifunctional Auto Assist Vehicle...
Best Overall
Able Life Auto Assist Grab Bar, Portable Vehicle...
Able Life Auto Assist Grab Bar, Portable Vehicle...
Budget Option
Able Life Auto Cane, Portable Vehicle Support Handle...
Able Life Auto Cane, Portable Vehicle Support Handle...
Best Ring Assist Handle
Original Car Cane Multifunctional Auto Assist Vehicle...
Original Car Cane Multifunctional Auto Assist Vehicle...

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We found all the above models worth recommending, but some have extra features others haven’t or differ in design that may match your personal preference.

Best Car Door Assist Handles Reviewed

A good car door grab bar should make getting in and out of vehicles much easier for elderly people or others with mobility handicaps. 

1. Able Life Auto Assist Grab Bar: Best Overall

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If you don’t care for the bright colors of other car cane handles, then the leather imitation used for the Able Life Auto Assist Grab Bar may be your choice.

This car cane does the job well for seniors and disabled weighing up to 300 pounds. A nice little extra is the hidden key compartment to help avoid misplacing your house keys.

Pros

  • Portable.
  • Good sized grip with grooves.
  • Two-tone brown color.
  • Key compartment.

Cons

  • It’s not very sturdy.

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The Emson Car Cane is a great multifunctional auto assist grab bar that you should take a look at. The portable handle will give you excellent support, guaranteed with a lifetime money-back guarantee.

The non-slip grip has a comfortable shape and can carry up to 350 pounds, but the integrated seatbelt cutter, window breaker, and LED flashlight makes this an all-round safety tool that you can carry with you no matter whose vehicle you travel in.

Pros

  • Compatible with all cars.
  • Fits cars, trucks, and SUV doors.
  • Weighs less than 7 ounces.
  • Made from forged aluminum.
  • Batteries included.

Cons

  • You may have issues with metal and plastic parts coming off the handle.
  • CR123a batteries required are costly to replace.

3. Stander HandyBar: Best Heavy Duty Handle

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Another car door support handle that gives you a comfortable grip. The handle is a little longer than most other units, 9 inches, and is ergonomically shaped.

This handle for car door latch is rated for weights of up to 350 pounds. For safety, a set belt cutter and window breaker to escape from the car are built-in.

Pros

  • Weighs 1 pound.
  • Built-in safety functions to cut seat belt and break window glass.
  • Non-slip grip.
  • Heavy-duty design.
  • Bright red color.

Cons

  • You may have issues with fitting it into their door latches.

4. Able Life Auto Cane: Best Value

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To safely get in and out of a car, you want a strong handicap car door handle with a non-slip grip, just like the Able Life Auto Cane.

The 6-inch handle is small enough to fit into your jacket pocket and only weighs a pound but supports up to 300 pounds. It will fit most vehicles with a U-shaped door latch and inserts at a right angle to the door frame. 

You have a choice of colors to match your personality. What’s yours going to be? Purple, blue, or red?

Pros

  • Portable.
  • Ergonomic.

Cons

  • It is not very stable.

5. Stander Metro Car Handle Plus: Best light-weight option 

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The car door assist handle from Metro is a solid mid-range choice, designed to support up to 300 pounds. The built-in LED lamp is convenient, converting it into a regular torch.

Pros

  • Ergonomic, non-slip handle.
  • 300-pound weight capacity.
  • Built-in LED torch.

Cons

  • It is not very stable.
  • The light is not built to last.

6. Stander CarCaddie: Best Caddie Strap

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As an alternative to a regular door cane, consider the Stander Car Caddie. The non-slip car bar grip is a sturdy sling that buckles around the top of the door window frame, which will fit most cars, trucks, and vans.

The adjustable length allows the handle to be fitted to suit. The weight capacity of the belt is 250 pounds, but do ensure the window frame is strong enough.

Pros

  • Light-weight.
  • Adjustable.
  • Firm rubber grip.
  • Some users prefer being able to pull themselves upwards out of the car seat or out of a wheelchair.

Cons

  • Not fixed, so may not work well under some circumstances.
  • Some doors have to be held open by an assistant to avoid accidents.

7. Emson 9814 Limited Edition Round Car Cane: Best Ring Assist Handle

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The ring-shaped form of the Emson car door assist handle offers a distinctive alternative to the regular tube shapes of other brands.

The curved, rounded, and non-slip handle, 5 x 7 inches, provides a better grip for weaker hands, for example, arthritis sufferers.

Pros

  • Alternative form factor with rounded, non-slip grip.
  • Built-in flashlight with long-life LED bulb (up to 100,000 hours).
  • Supports up to 350 pounds.

Cons

  • The ring shape results in a grip extending from the door frame more than other models.

Why Should You Get a Car Cane?

Many older people lose physical strength and agility with advancing age. If that impacts on their ability or willingness to use regular vehicles to travel to social events, medical appointments, shopping trips, or family visits, the impact on their lives and mental well-being is drastic.

A few dollars spent on a car door assist handle can be a life-changer. 

Another very important reason that impacts your purchase decision is the need to make getting in and out of a car safe.

Tripping up and falling onto hard pavements can lead to significant injuries or even hospitalization, something to avoid at all costs.

How to Choose the Best Car Grab Handles?

Car handles are designed to aid elderly seniors and the disabled to get in and out of a car safely. So what are the factors that determine your choice for the best car door assist handle for you?

Comfort

Comfort is, of course, the first consideration. All the recommended models have ergonomically designed non-slip rubber handles.

The grips are large enough to allow for a good handhold and use ribbing and grooves to prevent your fingers from sliding.

We included two alternatives. The round ring of the Emson Limited Edition may work better for those with a weaker grip. The rounded shape can mold better into the palm.

Some people may prefer to place their hand into the ring where their weight will hold it in place.

A different design is employed by the Stander CarCaddie, which offers a raised grip better suited to pulling oneself out of a sitting position, provided it’s fitted to prevent the car door from closing back onto the older person or people with disabilities.

Adjustability

Adjustability is not possible with a car door assist handle but is one of the features that distinguished the car caddie. The strap should be positioned close toward the door frame so that the person can easily pull themselves into a standing position.

By adjusting the buckle, the length can be adjusted to give the best leverage angle for the person’s arm.

Durability

Durability is important for a part that will get thrown into the footwell, dropped on the ground, or chucked into the glove box compartment. The quality will depend on the construction materials used and the quality of the assembly.

Often finding out about experiences from other users can give a good indication of how durable a product is.

Weight Support

Weight support capacity is arguably one of the most vital features and critical for safety. For a larger person, it’s essential to check the design limitations.

While a person may not put their full burden on the handle in normal use, a slip may well bring all the weight to bear on the car cane when it would be disastrous to have it break.

Will a Car Door Assist Handle Work With My Vehicle?

Most car canes will fit most door latches of cars manufactured after 1992. But do make sure your vehicle has a regular U-shaped door striker latch that’s attached with two bolts or screws to the door frame.

If the car has a door striker bolt, then this solution won’t work for you, but you can always try the Stander CarCaddie.

Comfort and Safety

A car handle can restore dignity and confidence for older people who encounter difficulties entering and exiting a vehicle.

Avoiding the need for assistance can do wonders for restoring a measure of much-needed independence. 

We can recommend any of the short-listed car door grab bars above that appeal to you, but we most liked the Able Life Auto Assist Grab Bar with The Original Emson Car Cane as runner up, combining support, durability, and functionality.

As an alternative, we suggest you look at the Stander CarCaddie, which allows you to pull yourself up from a sitting position.

And if you discover that one design doesn’t work for you, do take advantage of the 30-day return policy to trade it for another model. What matters, in the end, is your comfort and safety.

Cherry is the editor-in-chief of Mobility With Love. She obtained a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and a master's degree in Adapted Physical Activity. Her expertise includes biomechanics, biochemistry, nutrition, disability studies, and so on.

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