Mobility Scooter Help and Advice

We've put together some mobility scooter related questions and answers based on the feedback we've received from our customers. If you're also looking for mobility scooter insurance please see the link in the right navigation.

Is insurance needed for mobility scooters?

Although it is not a legal requirement for mobility scooters to be insured, it is something that you should definitely consider. Although mobility scooters are very useful machines, they can easily break down, get vandalised, or get stolen by thieves. This is especially daunting for a mobility scooter user, who is not likely to be very mobile once their mobility scooter has been damaged or taken away.

As a result, many users purchase mobility scooter insurance to provide them with peace of mind in the event that their machine is stolen, damaged, or breaks down and leaves them stranded. Many insurance companies have recovery vehicles (similar to the ones used in car breakdown schemes) with technicians who can come and help you out if there is a problem with your scooter.

Of course, mobility scooters can also be rather expensive investments, usually costing thousands of pounds for the user. It is also a good idea to insure them for this reason – you are safeguarding one of your most expensive and crucial investments.

Is mobility scooter insurance compulsory?

Mobility scooter insurance is not a compulsory legal requirement, although the government strongly advises mobility scooter drivers to insure their scooter. This is especially true for Class 3 scooters which can legally drive on the road and have top speeds of 8mph.

At the very least, it is recommended that you purchase third-party insurance for your mobility scooter. This will cover your costs in the event that you accidentally injure a pedestrian with your scooter. For example, if you run over a pedestrian’s foot on the pavement, you will not have to pay if you are insured with third-party mobility scooter insurance.

You should also consider whether you could afford to repair/replace your scooter by yourself if it was to become damaged, stolen, or vandalised. Not only could this cripple you financially, but it could affect your ability to be independent and get around from place to place without assistance from your scooter.

How much does it cost to charge a mobility scooter?

Mobility scooters are very, very cheap to run. Estimates vary for exactly how much it costs to charge a mobility scooter overnight, but it should be somewhere around 10 pence. This means that it costs around £3.00 per month to charge your mobility scooter overnight, although the electricity costs may be slightly higher depending on your energy provider and the area you live in.

Still, although estimations vary between 7-18 pence per night, mobility scooters are still incredibly cheap to run. Assuming that it costs you 18 pence per night to charge your scooter, that still works out at around £5.40 per month to fully charge your electric mobility scooter overnight. This helps to keep your running costs down, especially when you’re trying to save money on your travel expenses.

Are two seater mobility scooters legal?

Two-seater mobility scooters are manufactured, but they are not technically defined as invalid carriages under the laws of the UK. For this reason, two seater mobility scooters can only be used for travel within private land and buildings. For example, you could use a two seater scooter to travel around a hospital, a holiday park, a medical facility, a nursing home, or something similar. However, you cannot use them on UK roads or pavements.

Please also note that you should not give lifts to passengers on your mobility scooter if you plan to drive it on UK roads and pavements. This includes giving lifts to small children – it is illegal and compromises the safety on yourself and the child to do so. If you get involved in an accident while there are passengers on your mobility scooter, you are likely to be found at fault.

Should I leave my mobility scooter on charge all the time?

It takes around 12 hours to charge most mobility scooters, which is why it is recommended that you leave them on overnight. Generally speaking, you can leave your mobility scooter on charge for extended periods of time, as the charger will internally switch itself off once the scooter battery is fully charged. If you leave the mobility scooter charging for a very long time, such as a couple of weeks, then the charger will just keep the battery topped up as the energy naturally diminishes with time.

Of course, if you’re looking to save money on your electric bills, then you should try to unplug the charger once the battery is fully charged. When the green light illuminates on the battery, then it is 90-95% charged, so this should give you a pretty good indication of when to stop charging. Once you have finished charging your battery, it is recommended that you unplug the charger and remove the plug socket from the wall (or turn it off at the mains). This is because some chargers can deplete the battery if you leave them plugged on while no electricity is flowing.

Does the Motability scheme lease mobility scooters?

With the Motability scheme you can lease a mobility scooter with your benfits. You are eligible for the motability scheme if you receive any of the following benefits -

  • Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance
  • Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of PIP
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment
  • War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement

You can use your benefits to hire either a powered wheelchair or a mobility scooter.