Mobility Scooter FAQs

A Class 2 Mobility Scooter has a maximum speed of 4 mph. These scooters are suitable for pavement use only. Some Large Class 2 Scooters have a good range and large wheels, others can be compact and perfect for transportation.

A Class 3 Mobility Scooter has a maximum speed of up to 8 mph. These Scooters can be used on the road and may have a registration plate. Class 3 Scooters normally have large batteries for extended range, with large wheels for stability and use on rough surfaces.

If you’ve not had experience of Mobility Scooters before it’s important to get good advice from an experienced Mobility Dealer. A local Mobility Shop will give you the opportunity to compare models that may be suited to your needs. Good advice on selecting a scooter will consider, your height and weight, expected main use, range you need to achieve, storage and charging requirements, any mobility limitations you may have and whether the mobility scooter needs to be transportable.

All mobility scooters have a maximum user weight. This varies for different makes and models. A common user weight for mobility equipment will be 18 stone and its not uncommon for mid-size scooters to take 23 stone.

Charging a mobility scooter regularly is very important to achieve maximum range and maximise battery life. Overnight charging is recommended. Every Mobility Scooter is supplied with a charger specific to the batteries it has fitted. It is not expensive to charge a scooter. The chargers plug into the mains and output 24 volts, rated at 2amps to 8amps.

The range you can achieve with a Mobility Scooter is directly related to the capacity of the batteries fitted. Typically, 12amp batteries can give up to 10 miles range. A Scooter with 35amp batteries could typically do up to 20 miles. You need to bear in mind the range that manufacturers quote is a bit like the mpg that car manufacturers quote. The actual range will depend on many factors, like user weight, tyre pressure, surface conditions, gradients and air temperature.

You do not need to have a licence to drive a mobility scooter.

There is no road tax due on Mobility Scooters. There is no legal requirement to take out insurance for a mobility scooter, but we strongly recommend it. In addition to general cover for accidental damage or theft, Mobility Insurance would include public liability cover in case of injury caused to a third party.

Class 3 Mobility Scooters do need to be registered with the DVLA. A good dealer will help you with this.

All new mobility scooters come with a minimum of 12 months warranty. The warranty covers replacement parts in the event of faulty materials or manufacture. It does not cover accidental or malicious damage. You should also bear in mind that if you buy a scooter online you will normally be responsible for the cost of returning it to the supplier if a fault needs to be investigated. A local Mobility Shop is generally better placed to provide the best aftersales service.

We do sometimes have ex display or pre-owned mobility scooters for sale. We do have customers who like to change their scooters every few years, so we often know the background of the used scooters we sell.  We always take into account that any used scooter we sell will have batteries tested/replaced as well as undergoing a full service and be sold with a warranty. With Ebay and Facebook Marketplace there is no comeback.

We can offer part exchange for good quality scooters if customers buy a new scooter.  If you sell a scooter privately rather than part exchange you may achieve a better price.

If you have a qualifying medical condition and the Mobility Scooter is purchased by an individual for private use, it can be purchased VAT-exempt. You have to complete a simple VAT declaration on your order form.

The blue badge must be applied for separately.

There is a finance scheme called Motability. Subject to conditions you may be able to use state benefits towards the cost of a scooter on the Motability Scheme.

A visit to your local Essington Mobility Shop is the best way to learn more about mobility scooters. Our staff have lots of experience helping customers choose the right scooter, and will ensure you have a clear understanding of what’s important in selecting the right scooter.

Like most things, regular servicing gives you the best chance of trouble-free use. The frequency of servicing will depend on use, though annual servicing is a good idea.

We have a workshop in Leamore, Walsall where most of our service work is carried out. We can service and repair the makes of scooter we sell. Our own customers get priority but we do try to help anybody who has a problem.

Known as Boot Scooters, the most popular scooters these days are transportable. They come apart easily and quickly. The components are designed to be light enough to be manageable. It's important to assess your lifting capabilities and storage space before you buy a transportable scooter. It's part of the assessment process a reputable Mobility Shop will carry out.

It may be the case that a mobility scooter can be added to your home insurance. However, it is unlikely that the cover for public liability will apply to incidents away from the home.

The NHS Wheelchair Service does not currently issue Mobility Scooters.

Many people take transportable Boots Scooters on holiday and on the bus. The type of batteries used are lead acid AGM or Gel which are safe for aircraft transport. Check with your holiday/flight provider before travelling.

Breakdown and recovery is covered by the Specialist Mobility Insurance Policy that we can offer. The policy covers accidental and malicious damage, theft and public liability as well as recovery and breakdown.