Things to consider
when buying a mobility scooter, consider Ease of getting on and off
If you have difficulty leg movements, also consider that you will need plenty
of room to get on and off the scooter in comfort. To help with this, some scooters
will be fitted with a seat that swivels round at least 90°. Comfort for longer trips
If you are going to use your product regularly, or for longer trips,
think about how far it can travel on a fully charged battery and also
how comfortable the seat is. If there are steep hills that you
regularly need to travel up, you may need extra power, especially once
you are carrying shopping.
Carrying it in your car
Many scooters can be dismantled into parts or folded for easy
transportation but it is worthwhile trying this out to make sure you,
or anyone that travels regularly with you, knows how to do this and are
able to lift the parts into and out of your car. Some powered
wheelchairs cannot be dismantled or transported safely in a car.
Large
Class 3 scooters are classified as road legal by the Department of
Transport, meaning they require road tax (provided free of charge by
the DVLA). They can travel up to 8mph on the road (4mph limit for
pavements), and are suitable for longer distances and rougher surfaces.
As they are larger, they need more storage room and are much heavier –
therefore cannot be transported in a standard car. However they are also sturdier and generally have larger seats and can carry more weight.
Summary:
• Can be used on roads*
• Maximum speed of 8mph (4mph limit on pavements)
• Generally have a greater battery range, meaning they can travel further between charging
• Complete with lights, indicators and horn
• Generally larger and require more storage space
• Not easily transportable
*You are legally allowed to use Class 3 scooters on all roads, as
long as they are taxed, including dual carriageways (but not motorways)
but be careful as traffic can be travelling up to 70mph.
