Mobility scooters

Mobility Scooters (or mobility vehicles) are a fantastic way of getting out and about for people who have mobility issues. There are lots of different type of scooter available to choose from in the UK. They fall into 2 different types of group of mobility scooter

• Class 2 – with a top speed of 4mph and are either 3 or 4 wheeled. Class 2 scooters do not need to be registered.
• Class 3 – with four wheels with a top speed of 8mph. You must register your class 3 scooter and be over 14 years of age.

A Mobility Scooter is not classed as a road vehicle therefore there is no legal requirement currently to:

• Insure the vehicle, although this is recommended
• Pay road tax
• Ensure competence, e.g. health assessment, eye test. However, you should be able to read a car’s registration number from a distance of 12.3 metres (40 feet).
• Take a driving test or undergo training

A class 3 scooter must have several features in order for it to be road worthy. You can read about them on Gov.uk.

Using Mobility Scooters Safely

When out and about using a mobility scooter you usually drive alongside others on pavements and in public spaces. It is useful to be aware of mobility scooter good practice and precautions that you should take to protect your safety and the safety of others.

Driving on the road

Only class 3 scooters may be driven on roads.

The maximum speed is 8mph, and you can’t drive on bus lanes, cycle lanes or motorways. You should also avoid using dual carriageways with a speed limit of over 50mph.

You must use an amber flashing light for visibility if you use a class 3 scooter on a dual carriageway, and you must adhere to the highway code.

Driving on the pavement

You can drive any mobility scooter on the pavement, however only at a maximum of 4mph.

You aren’t allowed to use cycle lanes, and all normal parking restrictions apply to mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.

Choosing a mobility scooter

• Disability North can provide information and advice on purchasing or hiring equipment.
• Newcastle Shopmobility is a scheme where you can hire a mobility scooter as you need it.
• RiDC (Research Institute for Disabled Consumers) has an online mobility scooter database which can tell you which scooters can go on public transport.

Last updated: May 27, 2020