Shopping for your first mobility scooter is an thrilling step in direction of larger independence and freedom. With numerous choices accessible, it’s helpful to know the different sorts and the authorized necessities.
What are the various kinds of mobility scooter?
Mobility scooters are available three fundamental classes: Class 2, Class 3, and folding/journey scooters. Every sort has its personal distinctive options and advantages:
Class 2 scooters:
Pace: As much as 4 mph.
The place to make use of: Roads and on the pavement.
Greatest for: Quick journeys and indoor use.
Benefits: Light-weight, simple to manoeuvre, and sometimes cheaper.
Drawbacks: You need to not use them on the highway, besides the place there is no such thing as a pavement.
Class 3 scooters:
Pace: As much as 8 mph (with a swap to restrict pace to 4 mph to be used on pavements).
The place to make use of: Roads and pavements.
Greatest for: Longer journeys and out of doors use.
Benefits: Extra highly effective, higher suspension, and extra options similar to headlight and indicators.
Drawbacks: Have to be registered with the DVLA
Folding/Journey scooters:
Pace: Sometimes round 4 mph.
The place to make use of: Pavements, footpaths, and indoor environments.
Greatest for: Individuals who want to hold a scooter by automobile, are brief on area or solely want to make use of a scooter sometimes.
Benefits: Compact, light-weight, and simply transportable.
Drawbacks: Could be much less steady than Class 2 and Class 3 scooters.
Ideas for getting your first scooter
Assess your wants: Think about the place you’ll be utilizing the scooter most (indoors, pavements, roads) and the way far you’ll have to journey.
Attempt before you purchase: Go to a mobility store and check totally different fashions. Consolation and ease of use are essential.
Test the vary: Be certain the scooter’s vary meets your wants.
Think about storage: Take into consideration the place you’ll retailer the scooter and when you want a mannequin that folds or disassembles simply.
Funds: Whereas it’s tempting to go for the most affordable possibility, investing in a great high quality scooter can prevent cash in the long term.
After-sales care: When you purchase new, examine the servicing preparations. For instance, will any mobility scooter store be capable to service and restore your scooter, or will you be tied in to utilizing one explicit firm.
Advantages of insurance coverage
You’d be forgiven for assuming all mobility scooter insurance coverage is similar. Nonetheless, a fast comparability reveals costs and ranges of canopy range wildly between suppliers, so it pays to buy round. Excessive costs usually are not a mirrored image of higher ranges of canopy. Fairly the alternative in reality.
The costs beneath are primarily based on a three-year-old mobility scooter that value £3,500. The place non-obligatory extras had been supplied we tried to get quotes primarily based on an analogous stage of canopy. Costs appropriate as of 20 Could 2024.
Evaluate mobility scooter insurance coverage
Mobility scooter insurance coverage advantages could be deceptive. For instance, you would possibly count on new for previous cowl to imply simply that, Nonetheless, most suppliers will devalue your scooter as soon as it reaches a sure age. Likewise, many don’t embrace dwelling rescue of their breakdown service.
ETA gives a fully-comprehensive coverage with no hidden prices; one upfront worth covers you on any mobility scooter, and a bunch of advantages are included as normal:
Theft and Injury*
Private Accident as much as £20,000
Private legal responsibility as much as £2m
Breakdown Cowl for you and your mobility scooter (together with dwelling rescue)
Substitute scooter rent as much as £250
Hospital Profit as much as £250 (no day by day restrict)
New for previous – nonetheless previous your scooter
Private Results as much as £250
Puncture cowl as much as £100
* You possibly can insure your scooter for £3,500, £5,000. £7,500 and even £10,000. Mobility scooter insurance coverage from the ETA is nice worth at £65 per yr for a scooter or powered wheelchair price as much as £3,500. And you should purchase the identical coverage to cowl two folks on the identical deal with for a complete worth of solely £90 per yr – a 30 per cent saving.
Discover out extra about ETA mobility scooter insurance coverage right here or when you desire to speak to one in every of our pleasant advisers, name 0333 000 1234.
The moral selection
The ETA was established in 1990 as an moral supplier of inexperienced, dependable journey providers. Over 30 years on, we proceed to supply cycle insurance coverage , breakdown cowl and mobility scooter insurance coverage whereas placing concern for the setting on the coronary heart of all we do.
The Good Procuring Information judges us to be the UK’s most moral supplier.
