Can you drive a second hand ambulance?

Ambulances are legal to drive on the roads, as long as the driver doesn’t break normal road traffic laws. Before it is auctioned off, the vehicle will be stripped of all its livery that would identify it as an ambulance. This includes blue flashing lights and the siren.

Are ambulances reliable?

The main issue of reliability for ambulances is keeping them moving down the road. These vehicles will typically have a lot more road miles than other apparatus, especially if hospital transports are involved. There can be a lot of wear and tear from just driving to emergencies and then on to emergency rooms.

Are used ambulances a good buy?

Used ambulances are surprisingly affordable considering the quality of their build. They’ve often been well maintained during their life of service, and they are normally decommissioned and sold at auction after a moderate amount of time and/or miles.

What is a Category 1 ambulance call?

Category 1. An immediate response to a life threatening condition, such as cardiac or respiratory arrest. 15 minutes. Category 2. A serious condition, such as stroke or chest pain, which may require rapid assessment and/or urgent transport.

Why buy a former ambulance?

Well, many people actually buy former ambulances… and it isn’t to go around faking being an emergency vehicle (highly illegal by the way). My reason was simple. I have always wanted to do a road trip across Canada and the United States.

How long do ambulances last?

They are sturdy machines… Have been maintained usually every 5,000km… and they still have enough life in them to last fairly long (here in Canada the general rule is they get rid of ambulances after 10 years of service). And so the search was on!

Do ambulances use any special navigation systems?

Do ambulances use any special navigation systems? The answer depends on what you mean by “special”. Most ambulances and EMS crews now have the same GPS that everyone else has. Some have more complex equipment for central tracking. ie the dispatch center tracks where all the ambulances are.

Are all ambulance auctions created equal?

All ambulances are not created equal! You’ll find that some auction websites will actually give you a lot more information than others. For example, the bcauction.ca website usually gives you everything wrong (at least that they know about). Be weary of websites that don’t say anything.