When you make the decision to purchase a Mobility Scooter making the right choice can be quite daunting. There are so many on the market but how to do decide which one is right for you?
Hopefully this easy guide will help you make that choice.
Scooters are broken down into 4 categories:
Folding Mobility Scooters
A Folding Scooter is best for putting in the car and doing short trips (e.g. to the shopping centre) and are then put back in the car to go home.
They are not meant for long trips on uneven terrain. We get a lot of customers coming into the shop saying they want a folding scooter, but when you ask what they want to use it for its not always suitable.
Another misconception is that they are light in weight. Most are not. The first thing we ask customers to do before we even have them sit on the scooter, is to see if they can pick it up.
The lightest mobility scooter in our range is the Drive Manual Fold+. It weighs 19.8kg (44lb).
Manual Folding Scooters: These are scooters that must be opened by the user manually
Auto Folding Scooters: Folded automatically by a fob. The Auto Folding Mobility Scooters are heavier than the Manual Folding Scooters due to the extra weight of the Auto Folding elements.
Top Speed: 4mph
Travel Mobility Scooters
A Travel Scooter has an average range of around 8-12miles, depending on the size of the batteries.
Also known as a Boot Scooter, they come apart in approximately 4-5 pieces and the components can be placed in the boot of a car . The heaviest component is either the battery pack, or the rear of the scooter.
One of the benefits of a Travel Scooter is that the total weight is then split between the different components. Some Travel Scooters come with suspension.
There are a lot of different Travel Scooters on the market, so how do you decide the right one for you?
Here are a couple of things to consider when looking for a Travel Scooter:
Do you want a scooter with suspension? - if the answer is yes, then this will narrow your search slightly.
What is your height and weight? - this may seem a little personal, but a mobility shop may ask you this question. This is to ensure that we suggest the right scooter for your needs. All scooters have a User Weight Limit. If a user is heavier then this limit, then it means that the Scooter could be carrying too much weight and that will cause complications down the line. Height is important because scooters have different lengths, so some may not have the right amount of leg room.
If you need to go on the bus with a scooter, then you will need to make sure that they are under 1 metre in length.
One of our bestselling Travel Mobility Scooter is the TGA - Zest, it has a user weight capacity of 21stone and it has suspension.
Top Speed: 4mph
Pavement Mobility Scooters
The middle range scooter, bigger than a Travel Scooters but smaller than a Road Legal Scooter.
If you feel like a travel scooter isn't going to give you the distance you need, and you don't necessarily need the scooter to go into the boot of a car, then this may be what you need.
They are a bigger, sturdier machine, and as previously stated the batteries will give you more mileage (approx. 16-20miles). It will be able to handle different terrains.
The range of pavement scooters is smaller than Folding and Travel Scooters, so if you decide this will be the scooter for you, then it will just be a case of having a look round and finding the scooter that you feel most comfortable on.
A very popular Pavement Scooter is the Shoprider - Sovereign 4. They have also recently launched a new version of this machine called the Shoprider - Sovereign Plus
Top Speed: 4mph
Road Legal Mobility Scooters (8mph)
The biggest scooters in the range. They are called Road Legal Scooters, because you can ride them in the road. You can also ride them on the pavement, but you will need to reduce your speed while around pedestrians.
If you are looking to do long journeys on all different types of terrain, then you are probably best matched to a bigger scooter. They are durable, they have big wheels and most have suspension. They will also have a Captain Seat for comfort.
The average range you will get from a Road Legal Scooter is approximately 16-30 miles, all depending on the size of the batteries. When looking for a at any scooter, always ask what size batteries they have and how much mileage you will get out of the scooter.
What questions should I ask when looking at a Mobility Scooter?
What size batteries are in the scooter and what is the average range? - this is important because if the batteries are too small and they won't give you the range you are looking for. It’s also always good to know what the cost of replacing the batteries will be. They don't last forever and at some point, they will need to be replaced and you don't want a shock when you find out they are too expensive.
What warranty do I get with the Scooter? - This is not set by a mobility shop; some shops may offer and extended warranty, but this warranty period is normally set by the supplier. Our warranties for new scooters are 1-2 years depending on the supplier. You will be able to check this under the Warranty & Insurance section on our scooter product pages.
Our pre-owned scooters have a warranty of 3-6 months.
Do I buy from a mobility shop or online? - We are not just saying this because we are a mobility shop, but it is heavily advised you always sit, and test drive a mobility scooter before you buy it. There are a lot of internet only based mobility shops that are selling cheap scooters, that have no branding on them. If something goes wrong with the scooter there is a chance that a mobility shop won't be able to help you because they cannot get the parts that are needed to fix the scooter. Buying from a shop means you have someone to go back to if anything goes wrong. All major suppliers conduct full safety checks before the scooters are allowed to be sold.
If you have been out and done your research and test drove a scooter that you really like, then feel free to shop around online for the best deal. Just be sure to make sure they have an aftercare service.
Does this scooter suit my needs? - Firstly, make a list of what you want to use the scooter for. How far you want to travel? Does it need to go into the boot of a car.? What is my weight? What speed do I want to travel at? These are the things you need to consider. If you are still a little confused, then speak to a professional and they will be able to talk you through your options.
If you need any further help, then a member of our team would be happy to help.
Based in Sidcup, Kent we have over 20 years’ experience in the mobility industry and travel to within a 30miles of our Sidcup based shop for Mobility Scooter and Powered wheelchairs (powerchairs) demonstrations.
We hope this guide has helped you in your journey to choosing a mobility scooter.
If you would like to check out the scooters that we have available then click here to be redirected.
Look our for the 'Demo Available' tagged to see which ones we have in our store.
What mobility scooter will you be choosing?
Scooter and Mobilitymart
223 Blackfen Road
Sidcup
Kent
DA15 8PR
Tel.: 0208 294 5601
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