Car Boot Mobility Scooter

The Scout Light Weight Car Boot Mobility Scooter is one of the many transportable scooters we offer. It is available at an excellent price of £499.00 and comes with 3 months free insurance! This scooter has up to a 10 mile range and can be assembled and disassembled with ease. For further details on this product please visit - http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=13&cat=%C2%A3499+Mobility+Scooters

When will my Scooter arrive? - FAQ

“How long will the delivery take on my new scooter?” is a frequently asked question at Mobility Nation. We aim to contact everyone who orders a scooter online with us within hours to arrange a mutually convenient delivery date. If you order over the telephone however, we can usually dispatch your order the very same day (if the order is placed before 12pm). However, we are closed Sundays and Mondays. For more information, please visit - http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/shopcontent.asp?type=FAQs

Scout Light Weight Car Boot Mobility Scooter

The Scout Light Weight Car Boot Mobility Scooter is one of the many transportable scooters we offer. It is available at an excellent price of £499.00 and comes with 3 months free insurance! This scooter has up to a 10 mile range and can be assembled and dissassembled with ease. For further details on this product please visit - http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=35&cat=CAR+TRANSPORTABLE+SCOOTERS

road legal

Our new Cobra mobility scooter is class 3 road legal and can go up to speeds of 8mph. It has the capacity to hold 28 stone and also has up to 32 mile range. You can purchase this scooter in two different colours including ice white or graphite grey. As a bonus it has 3 months free insurance and a 1 year in home warranty. For more information on this product and other products we sell please visit us at - http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=65 

Care of your scooter!

At Mobility Nation, we know that your scooter is a vital part of your own independence. To keep your scooter working to its best, every scooter comes with a full instruction booklet. However the most common complaint can be solved simply, many people find that when they have not used their scooter for a while, the batteries can no longer hold the same amount of charge as they previously did, this is simply because without regular charging the batteries can not longer hold the charge. For more information on scooter care or the products available, please visit - http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/shopcontent.asp?type=FAQs

Quality mobility scooters at superior prices

Do you need a superior mobility scooter and don’t want to pay superior prices. We import directly from the manufacturers and offer high quality products directly to the public at wholesale prices. One of our most popular mobility scooters is the Envoy 8-8MPH . This scooter has up to a 30 mile range, it is class 3 (road legal) and can travel up to 8MPH, has 1 Month Free Insurance and 1 Year in Home Warranty. This scooter can also come in a variety of colours which include blue, white, red and silver. For further information about our products at Mobility Nation please visit us online.

Check out this customised scooter!

Here at Mobility Nation, we have seen lots of customised scooters, though they usually only involve a sticker or two, check out this ‘Pimped Out’ Scooter!

 

 

 Photo credit: 

 http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2009/06/06/pimped-up-scooter_rLtFd_5965.jpg

To see our range of mobility scooters, please visit our website: http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/

Britain is mobility scooter capital of Europe: 300,000 on our roads and streets as obesity and number of pensioners soar

As they speed down paths and shopping centre aisles, it’s perhaps not surprising that now and again some of us fear being mown down by a mobility scooter.

With good reason, it seems. Britain is the mobility scooter capital of Europe, with more than a quarter of a million on our roads, experts say.

Just five years ago there were just 70,000 mobility scooters being used in the UK, the number is now closer to 300,000, according to the British Healthcare Trades Association. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143307/Britain-mobility-scooter-capital-Europe-300-000-roads.html

Source Ref: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143307/Britain-mobility-scooter-capital-Europe-300-000-roads.html

For information on the products and services we offer at Mobility Nation please visit us online- http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/

Easy Disassemble & Lightweight Mobility Scooters

Our range of lightweight mobility scooters feature increased functionality and ease of use. The scooters are great for easy disassembly and loading into either a car or coach, making them great for those days out with the family or group. Find out more about our lightweight mobility scooters by visiting our website.  

Car transportable mobility scooters

Mobility Nation offer quality products direct to the public at wholesale prices cutting out the middlemen. Why pay premium prices from your local mobility scooter shop when Mobility Nation have great and cheaper prices. We have a range of Car transportable mobility scooters available, the first being the Explorer 4 - 4 Wheel Mobility Scooter and the second being the Scout Light Weight Car Boot Mobility Scooter. For further information about our Car transportable mobility scooters please visit our website or call us on 02476 713 913.

Mobility scooters

Why pay premium prices for a mobility scooter from your local mobility scooter shop, when we import direct from manufacturers and sell them straight to you. This ensures high quality for a reasonable price. We cut out the middle man so you don’t have to worry about each link in the business adding on extra money so you get the best prices.
To view our full range of mobility scooters visit us at: http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/default.asp

Car Transportable Mobility Scooters

Here at Mobility Nation we sell a range of mobility scooters, some of which are designed with car transportability in mind. This includes the Explorer 4 - 4 Wheel Mobility Scooter which features an 18 mile range and a seat slide adjustment and includes 1 month free insurance! Our car transportable scooters are perfect for those family holidays or a day trip away. Find out more by visiting our website.  

Car Transportable Mobility Scooters

This short video shows how you can easily take apart and load your Explorer 4 car transportable scooter into your boot, making it perfect for travel. It is one of the many portable mobility scooters we offer at Mobility Nation. Find out more about our mobility scooters by visiting us online.

Can my scooter climb kerbs?

A) When negotiating kerbs the maximum kerb height that any of our products can safely climb is 2", and then only when tackled head on (ie: squarely). If you attempt to climb kerbs at an angle, the front of the scooter will tend to be pushed away from the direction of travel resulting in a potential tipping action. The golden rule is to always seek out drop kerbs. For more details visit us online.

 

Q) I have an MPV / estate car, can I transport my Class 3 scooter in it?

A) We sell 7ft long folding aluminium ramps that are specially designed for loading Class 3 scooters into vehicles. You will need to remove or fold flat the rear seats in your car & be reasonably able bodied to remove the captain’s chair from the scooter. The tiller (Steering column) will then need to be folded down before the scooter is loaded into the vehicle. 

Q) How do I ride the scooter?

A) Our scooters are very simple to ride, and all operate under the same principles, squeeze the right hand side of the forward and reverse lever top go forwards, and the left hand side to go backwards. Our scooters have a proportional throttles – that means that the harder you squeeze the lever, the faster that it will go up to the speed set by the speed control knob. Class 3 scooters have an additional high / low speed switch. When being ridden on pavements Class 3 scooters must be set to the slow speed setting for safety reasons. To brake, simply release the lever and the scooter will slow to a controlled stop with by the automatic braking system.

Q) Should I buy a 3 or 4 wheel scooter?

A) The main advantage of a 3 wheel scooter is that they can be more manoeuvrable in close spaces such as shops as they generally have a tighter turning circle. The main disadvantage is that they are less stable than 4 wheel scooters, especially on adverse cambers and gradients. So much so, that we no longer sell 3 wheel scooters.

Should I buy a 3 or 4 wheel scooter?

The main advantage of a 3 wheel scooter is that they can be more manoeuvrable in close spaces such as shops as they generally have a tighter turning circle. The main disadvantage is that they are less stable than 4 wheel scooters, especially on adverse cambers and gradients. So much so, that we no longer sell 3 wheel scooters.

http://mobilitynation.co.uk/

Your Class 3 scooters come with a “Captain’s Chair” - what is a captain’s chair?

A) A captain’s chair is one that is fully adjustable, ours comes with seat rotation, recline, fore & aft adjustment, seat height adjustment, the angle of each arm rest can be altered, the arm rest widths can be adjusted for different body widths, even the head rest is adjustable for different rider heights! For more information on our mobility scooters, visit us online.

Mobility Scooters

Here at Mobility Nation, we sell a range of specialist mobility scooters with different price points and features to suit your budget and specification. With our mobility scooters reaching a maximum speed of 8mph, our scooters feature the latest development innovations in performance and design. To find out more about our mobility scooters please visit our website or call us on 02476 713 913.

Q) What’s the square hole for at the back of the scooter?

A) This is a universal accessory socket that is fitted to the back of all of our scooters. This socket caters for a variety of different accessories such as pull along trolleys, Oxygen bottle holders, crutch holders, lockable rear storage compartments etc…

Visit us online for further information.

Where do I put my walking stick?

A lot of our customers use either one or two walking sticks & need a place to store them when riding their scooter. There are several solutions to this: 1) Foldable walking sticks are available that fold up and are stored in either the basket at the front or the Bag at the behind the seat. 2) All our carry Bags also include detachable walking stick holders on each side. The stick is then stored vertically or 3) a Velcro stick holder can be fitted to the each armrest to store the stick horizontally. Crutches are generally more awkward to carry as they are top heavy.

http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/

What accessories are available for my scooter?

The most popular selling accessories are the Puncture Prevention Sealant for the tyres, the carry Bag for the back of the seat, the ride-on zip-up Cape in case of an unexpected shower of rain & the elasticated scooter cover. The larger Class 3 scooters also have the option of a fully enclosed canopy. These come with a specially designed metal frame with a PVC canopy covering. These are designed to keep the wind and rain out in the winter and have roll back sides and zip up windows. These canopies are not generally available for the smaller car transportable (Boot) scooters as they may get blown over in a strong gust of wind. Visit us online to find out more.

Q) Can I bring my Scooter on an Airplane with me?

A) Most airlines will allow people to bring mobility scooters on the plane free of charge provided that they have enough advanced notice. Each airline’s policy varies, but most allocate a certain amount of space for scooters. Our scooters come with sealed, maintenance-free, airplane friendly batteries. Another advantage of being able to bring your scooter abroad is avoiding hire charges. Some hire companies abroad can charge as much as £80 a week to hire a scooter. Compare the cost of buying a small scooter to hiring one locally for a fortnight & it doesn’t take long to pay for itself!

Mobility Scooter Batteries

There are two main types of mobility scooter battery:

AGM: This stands for Absorbed Glass Mat. These are the most popular type of battery as they are the most cost effective. These batteries offer a high rate of discharge current for their size. So for the same performance, the package size can be smaller than Gel types.

Gel: Gel batteries are more expensive than AGM, but offer the ability to fully recover from a deep discharge (completely flat) condition. They also last longer than AGM, but that needs to be balanced against the higher initial cost.

Capacity: Battery capacity is measured in Ampere Hours or AH. For example, if a battery has a capacity of 12AH, that means that the battery can supply 12 Amps (a measure of current) for one hour. Nearly all mobility scooter batteries are 12 Volt and nearly all mobility scooters have 24 Volt electrical systems. Therefore most scooters have two batteries (connected in series) providing the 24 Volt supply. The smallest batteries used in mobility scooters start at 10AH ranging all the way up to over 100AH for the largest scooters. As you would expect - the bigger the capacity your battery has, the further that you will be able to travel on your scooter.

Brand New Capacity: When you first receive batteries that are brand new, they will only have be able to provide approximately 80% of their specified capacity. So a 10AH battery will only be able provide 8 Amps for an Hour when it is brand new. Full capacity is reached after 4 or 5 charge and discharge cycles.

Charging: Batteries like to be charged regularly. Every time that you use your scooter, put it on charge overnight. Once the charger has turned green, disconnect the charger from your battery. Don’t leave your charger continually charging your battery once the light has turned green as most chargers pulse charge from that point on. If you leave it continually plugged in you risk cooking your batteries. As a minimum, charge your batteries at least once a fortnight whether you have used your scooter or not. One of the worst things that people do to mobility scooters is to leave it for the whole of the winter period without charging. All batteries will “sulphate” up and they will lose all of their capacity to hold charge.

Testing: If you suspect that you are losing range from your scooter after a few years, it may be that your batteries are on their way out. Most mobility scooter shops have a battery tester that they can check your batteries performance with. This works by “loading” the batteries at three times their stated AH capacity for a short period of time (approx 20 seconds). The voltage at the end of the test is measured and if it is below a certain value (temperature dependant) then they are deemed to have failed.

http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=32&cat=Mobility+Scooter+Batteries

Mobility Scooters - Do I need insurance?

It is not a legal requirement to have insurance for a mobility scooter, but from a common sense point of view it is highly advisable, especially for the more powerful Class 3 scooters that we supply. The most important thing about insurance is to have third party liability cover, you see nowadays, if you were to catch someone’s ankle as you were driving, the first instinct that a lot of people have is to call a “Blame Claim” lawyer.

It is you as the rider of the scooter that is personally liable for any damages. If you research this subject on the internet, you will find lots of horror stories about people losing their homes over this. Therefore, at Mobility Nation we feel that insurance is so important that we give three months free with every mobility scooter we sell.

If you have any questions regarding this topic, please give us a call on 02476 713 913. We will be more than happy to help.

Insurance for Mobility Scooters:

Why get insurance? 

Insurance is not a legal requirement for mobility scooters in the
UK, but nowadays it has never been more important to cover yourself when riding
your mobility scooter by obtaining an insurance policy. If you were to have an
accident on your scooter whereby you injured a member of the public, the first thing
that most people tend to do is contact a “Blame Claim” lawyer to process a claim for
compensation on their behalf. A whole industry has sprung up based around these
claims which you may have seen with the myriad of TV and radio advertisements.
Scooter Insurance Companies: There are a wide range of insurance policies
available to protect against these claims on the market today. Two of the main
providers of mobility scooter insurance in the UK are Fish Insurance and Premiercare
(run by Mark Bates Insurance Ltd).

Risks Covered: Policies are available covering a wide range of risks such as
Accidental Damage, Theft, Recovery, Key loss, Personal Effects and Injury, but the
most important risk to cover is public liability. Policies start at around £79 for basic
cover and vary upwards according to the risks that you wish to cover.

Exclusions: Be aware of common exclusion clauses that some of these policies have.
Payouts in the event of theft may not be covered if the scooter is not physically
secured to street furniture (lamp posts, railings etc…). Breakdown recovery may not
be available in the event of punctures or flat batteries. Your partner or friend may not
be covered if they have an accident whilst riding your scooter. If in doubt, you would
do well to check your policy, or to clarify it directly with your insurance company.
Not all countries are covered by scooter insurance policies so if you are planning to
take your scooter abroad with you, check the small print first.

Recovery Methods: Breakdown cover can be provided in two main ways 1) One of
the National Automotive Breakdown schemes may come and recover you in the event
of a breakdown (such as the AA or the RAC) or 2) You may be recovered by taxi and
have to reclaim the fare from your insurance company. If in doubt, ask.

Discount schemes: One of the ways of reducing the cost of these policies is to ask the
insurance company if they offer a “Free” period of insurance. For example, if you buy
a scooter from a dealer, a lot of dealers offer a free period of insurance (such as 1
moth or 3 months free) so that you are covered from the minute you buy the scooter.
Others may offer such deals as “Buy 12 months, get cover for 15”.

Public Liability: Whatever policy you decide to go for, always ensure that it covers
you for Public liability. Remember that you are personally liable for any accidents or
injury that occurs whilst riding your scooter. This is even more important when riding
the larger Class 3 scooters as they have more mass and speed and can potentially
cause more injury.

If you have any more questions regarding insurance for mobility scooters, please feel free to contact us on 02476 713 913 or visit us at http://www.mobilitynation.co.uk/shopcustcontact.asp

Benefits of buying a new versus second hand Mobility Scooters

Do I really need a mobility scooter?

For most people buying a mobility scooter can seem like a daunting prospect especially if it’s their first scooter. A sensible question to ask yourself before you start your search is “Do I really need a scooter?” Nowadays there are lots of ways to retain your mobility without having to resort to the expense of buying and maintaining a mobility scooter. Most modern town centres have Shop Mobility schemes in place and as long you provide enough notice there are generally scooters available to loan for free. Likewise, most supermarkets have a limited number of scooters for use whilst shopping, and you would be hard pressed to find a tourist resort that would not rent out a scooter for the duration of your holiday – for a fee of course.

What sort of scooter do I want?

Once you have decided that a scooter really is for you, the next step is to narrow down the type of scooter that you need. Important considerations are whether you need a small compact mobility scooter that splits apart to go in the boot of car (known as Boot Scooters) or a scooter that is capable or being ridden on the road (known as class 3 scooters). Class 3 scooters have a maximum speed of up to 8MPH but can only travel at up to 4MPH on pavements under UK law.

Other key points to consider are whether the scooter is capable of carrying your weight and whether or not the scooter will be capable of the range that you expect to travel.

If a boot scooter is required, ensure that you have the opportunity to test that it will fit into the actual boot that will transport it.

Lastly, a lot of people decide that a mobility scooter is required because of declining health. Ensure that your health has not deteriorated to such a degree that may hinder the safe operation of your scooter.

Benefits of buying a new scooter compared to a second hand one:

Now that you have decided upon the type of scooter that will be most suitable for you, the next step is to decide whether to buy from a dealer or to take a chance on the second hand market. New prices from a dealer generally start at around £300 for a very basic model ranging anything up to £8000 for a top of the range road legal scooter. There are many advantages to buying from a dealer -

Trade In: If you already have a scooter that you need to sell, it is hard to beat the convenience of being able to Trade In your old scooter against the price of a new one. Often though, the price that a dealer may offer you in part exchange will be less than could be achieved by selling yourself privately. Some unscrupulous dealers have been known to create a very high purchase price for the new scooter so that they can offer a generous part exchange trade in price so that customer thinks they are getting a good deal when in reality, the price was too high in the first place. Ensure that the dealer that you visit actually displays prices to avoid any “confusion”!

Range: Most dealers have a range of models to choose from, enabling you to find out the model that is most suitable for you. Once again, it is very convenient to be able to compare different models back to back in the store. Don’t be pressurised into buying straight away – take your time & compare the price and service that different dealers offer.

Negotiate: If two dealers sell the same scooter, ask if one is prepared to beat the other on price. If you ask in a friendly non-confrontational way, then most dealers will be prepared to negotiate in order to keep your valuable custom. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Guarantee: One of the main advantages of buying new from a dealer is the piece of mind that dealer back up offers. As a minimum you can expect a 12 month parts and labour warranty, but further options may be available like service plans & warranty / insurance schemes.

Check on line: Of course, there are other ways of buying a new scooter apart from through a dealer. If you are able to identify the exact make and model of scooter that you are after, please do check on line to see if there are significant savings to be made. A good starting point would be to look on Ebay or Amazon or even to search on Google within your local area (eg: “Mobility scooters for sale in Birmingham”). Online prices will often beat buying from your local scooter shop because they do not have the overheads of a high street location.

Reliability: Buying a new scooter means that you will be the first owner and can reasonably expect 3 to 5 years reliable service from your machine, provided that it is serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you buy a second hand model, how can you be sure that the previous owner hasn’t abused it?

Benefits of buying a used scooter compared to a second hand one:

Price: The main benefit of buying second hand versus new is the difference in price. A mint condition 6 month old scooter would typically sell for half to two thirds of the price of a new one. People’s circumstances change as life moves on – there could be a death in the family – health deteriorates – health improves. All of these events can lead to a mobility scooter becoming surplus to requirements allowing for a genuine bargain to be had.

Resale value: If you are smart in your choice of used mobility scooter, it may be possible to use it for a while & resell it for the same as or more than you paid for it. You will certainly lose a lot less financially if you buy and sell a second hand scooter compared to a brand new one.

Cost effective: Some customers may only need the use of a mobility scooter for a short period of time, for example while they are recovering from an operation or embarking on a long vacation abroad. Once again buying and selling a used scooter should prove to be the most cost effective solution overall – especially when compared to renting a scooter abroad.

Tips on buying a used mobility scooter:

Where to buy used: Most mobility scooter dealers will stock a range of used mobility scooters that have been taken on part exchange against new models. Buying a used scooter from a dealer has the advantage of backup and servicing availability but customers will pay a premium for this. For a more cost effective way to buy used, you could try looking in your local newspaper, on notice boards in supermarkets & newsagents also online at Ebay, Gumtree & Preloved. Bargains can be had if sellers are not net savvy and have to resort to notice boards!

Check the price: Just because a scooter is being sold as used does not mean that it is a bargain. Check what the new price is with local dealers and on line (as above) and make sure that the difference in price makes buying used worthwhile.

What to look for when buying a used mobility scooter:

General condition: Obvious as it sounds, check the general condition of the bodywork, does it look as if it has been abused or has it been cosseted in cotton wool by a loving owner? Are there any tears in the seat?

Tyres: Check the condition of the tyres, do they have much tread left? The front two tyres are generally the ones that suffer the most with regard to wear as they steer the scooter. Just like a car, if the tracking is out it can cause premature wear on tyres.

Wheel bearings: Check for play in the wheel bearings by tipping the scooter slightly on it’s side and moving the bottom of each wheel. If there is any sideways movement then that could be an indicator of worn wheel bearings.

Scooter Frame: Whilst the scooter is tipped, have a quick look at the underside. This area can suffer from corrosion and changing the framework can be prohibitively expensive.

Test Ride: Don’t be afraid to ask the seller of it is ok to take it for a quick spin. You wouldn’t buy a car without driving it would you? Things to look out for are how it handles bumps and corners. Are there any excessive vibrations, squeaks or rattles?

Batteries: One of the most expensive parts on any mobility scooter is the batteries. In order to test the batteries, they have to be “worked” which means putting them under load. The best way to do this is to head for a steep hill or slope when out on the test drive. When riding up the slope check that the battery condition meter doesn’t drop excessively. Some voltage drop is normal, but no more than approximately 20 percent. Be wary of customers that say the scooter has “hardly been used”. Does “hardly been used” mean “hardly been charged”? One of the worst things that people can do to a mobility scooter is to leave it without charging the batteries. All scooter batteries like to be charged regularly, if not then batteries “Sulphate up” and lose all of their capacity to hold charge.

Accessories: Check that that the sale includes the Charger and Manual and ask if there are any receipts available for things like servicing or parts. You never know, those expensive batteries may have only just been replaced and may still be in warranty. Is there is any warranty left on the scooter from the manufacturer or dealer? If so, ask if it is transferable.

Parts availability: If the scooter that you are looking at is a particularly old model, check that parts are still available for it. There is nothing worse than finding later on that the scooter has an annoying fault that can be rectified by changing a cheap component only to find that it is no longer available to buy.

Haggle: Ask the seller why they are selling the scooter. Be wary of sellers that say that they are selling on behalf of someone else. If you do find any areas of concern, remember to take that into account before deciding whether or not to make an offer. Once you have made the decision that you want the scooter, remember to haggle politely. A good question to ask is “How flexible are you with the asking price?” This question strikes the right balance and prepares the seller for negotiation. Never pay the full asking price. A good starting point for haggling would be 75 to 80 percent of the asking price. If the asking price is close to a large round number (such as £429 or £520) it is reasonable to assume that the seller would be prepared to drop that amount so ensure that your first offer is lower than that amount. You can always increase your offer, but it is extremely to reduce your offer once you have agreed the sale. Enjoy the haggling process. A lot of people find this a very uncomfortable part of buying, but if you relax with it you stand more of a chance of enjoying yourself & having a fruitful outcome. What’s the worst that can happen? You simply buy elsewhere!

Don’t forget these important little extras:

Insurance: Once you have bought your scooter, do consider insurance. Nowadays if you have an accident where you bump into someone the first thing that they tend to do is pick up the phone and call a “Blame Claim” lawyer. You are personally liable for any accident or damage that you cause whilst riding your scooter. The important part of the insurance is “Public Liability Insurance” This covers you in the event of a claim such as this and policies start from as little as £79. This is especially important if you buy one of the road legal Class 3 scooters as they are larger and more powerful so the damage that they can cause is significantly more.

Puncture Prevention Sealant: If your scooter has pneumatic tyres, do consider investing in a sealant system. This is added into the tyres and can protect against punctures in objects up to 6mm in diameter.

Tax Disc: If you buy a Class 3 scooter don’t forget that you need to apply for a free tax disc from the DVLA. The full process of how to do this is detailed in form INF211 available on line or from all main post offices.

Mobile phone: Do carry a mobile phone with you at all times when you ride your mobility scooter, especially when riding it for the first time. If you do have cause to breakdown whilst out and about at least you will have a convenient means of calling someone to assist you or calling for a black cab to get you and your scooter home.

photo credit: enabledbydesign via photopin cc
photo credit: Ambernectar 13 via photopin cc

Mobility Scooters - Do your prices include VAT?

Most or the mobility scooters we supply are exempt from VAT. However, a form is provided for this, so in most cases the price you see is the price you pay. You just need to fill in and sign the enclosed form and return it to us in the reply paid envelope stating the reason that you need a mobility scooter (something like arthritis, COPD etc…).

Find out more by visiting our website.

What weight will my mobility scooter carry?

The weight that your mobility scooter will carry is actually part of the specification of your scooter. However, please bear in mind that the closer that you are to the maximum rider weight, the harder your scooter has to work to propel you along, especially when going uphill. This may have a detrimental impact on the life of your mobility scooter. The scooters we supply here at Mobility Nation include, car transportable mobility scooters, lightweight mobility scooters and more. Visit us online for further information. 

Mobility Scooters - What to look for when choosing one...

Introduction: There are many different types and designs of mobility scooter available on the market today & for the uninitiated it can be a minefield to navigate or even to know where to start. So exactly how does one go about picking the perfect mobility scooter for their needs?

The first thing to be aware of is that there is no such thing as the perfect mobility scooter. Any purchase will always be a compromise - want a lightweight scooter but need massive range? Batteries are heavy. Need a captain’s chair but must fit in a small car boot? Captain’s chairs take up a lot of space leaving little left for the body of the scooter.

Key questions: The two most important things to clarify before you start your quest to identify your ideal machine are: “What do I need it for?” & “What do I want it to do?”

Constraints: The answer to the first question will identify the constraints of the specification eg: the scooter MUST be able to do the following…

• It must break down into pieces to fit into the boot of my car. This will mean a “Boot” scooter is required. Or
• For walking my dogs – this will need a fairly powerful scooter with good ground clearance. Or
• Some customers may have been disqualified from driving due to deteriorating eyesight or poor health so they may need a Road legal mobility scooter (called Class 3).

Criteria: Once you have identified what the scooter must be capable of doing, you can then move onto identifying what you would LIKE the scooter to be capable of (the scooter’s criteria). This section is where the compromise becomes apparent:

• I would like it to have good range. Or
• I would prefer it to be as lightweight as possible. Or
• I would like to be able to do my weekly shopping with it.

Scooter Classifications: There are 2 main legal classifications of mobility scooter -

Class 2 mobility scooters are can weigh no more than 113Kgs and travel up to 4MPH. They are to be used on footpaths and pavements only.

Class 3 mobility scooters can weigh up to 150Kgs and can travel up to 8MPH. When being ridden on pavements they must be restricted to 4MPH maximum for safety reasons. They are road legal also which means that they come with a lights front & back, indicators and a small horn / buzzer. Whilst they are legal to ride on the road, caution should be exercised as cars and lorries whizzing past at 50MPH can be very unnerving!

3 wheel versus 4 wheel: The most popular scooters come with 4 wheels, but 3 wheel versions are available. The advantage of the 3 wheel scooters are that they are sometimes more manoeuvrable for riding in tight spaces like shopping aisles etc but the downside is that they are more prone to tipping over, especially on adverse cambers.

Types of boot scooters: There are 3 main types of boot scooter -

One piece body: The main body of the scooter comes in one piece but the seat and battery are removable. This is simple to assemble but the one piece body can be heavy and cumbersome to load into the car. If you have two people to help when loading then this can be a way to manage it. These split into 3 pieces.

Two piece body: The main body of the scooter can be split apart into the front half and the back half. These are easy to manage and lift, but can be fiddly to assemble depending on the mechanism design. The seat and batteries are removable so these split into 4 pieces.

Ultralight: This type of boot scooter folds up like a child’s push buggy. Some designs are quite ingenious with folded dimensions that fit inside a small suitcase. The main disadvantage is that when folded they can still be quite heavy as they still remain in one piece including the seat and battery. Also, the batteries tend to be quite small so will yield minimal range. They can be quite expensive also.

Scooter storage: Where will you be storing your scooter? A basic option is to buy a standard PVC cover. There are some clever options for scooter storage that have recently come on the market. One of them is a scooter shelter that the rider can ride into & pull over the top of the scooter locking it securely afterwards. There is no substitute though for keeping your scooter in a secure warm environment. Remember though, at the end of the day, they are electronic devices - would you store your TV there?

Charging: Don’t forget that your scooter will need to be charged regularly. This isn’t really a problem with boot scooters because the batteries can be removed for charging in a convenient location. However, if you opt for a larger scooter, you will need access to a charging point wherever the scooter is stored.

Battery capacity versus range: Battery capacity is measured in units called Amp / Hours. Simplistically speaking this means the amount of current (measured in Amps) that the battery can supply continually for one hour. Therefore the more Amp / Hours (AH) the battery has, the further your scooter will be able to travel. The heavier your scooter is, the more current will be needed to propel it on it’s way. As a rule of thumb, if a Mobility Scooter manufacturer quotes a range of for example 20 Miles in ideal conditions, you should  assume a realistically usable range of two thirds that. This  will take into account variables like terrain, tyre pressures, rider weight etc… The bigger the batteries are, the heavier the scooter will be.

Battery rating scam: Scooters typically employ 24 volt systems, which means that they have two 12 volt batteries connected in series to give a 24 volt supply. Two 12AH batteries connected in series is still a 12AH battery capacity (because it provides 12AH at 24 Volts). Be wary of some unscrupulous vendors that describe their scooters as having double the AH rating than they actually have. Ensure you compare like-with-like when looking at specifications.

Seating comfort: Most boot scooters come with a fairly basic seat design. This will typically include seat rotation, seat height adjustment and arm-rest adjustment only. Larger scooters such as Class 3 scooters usually come with what is known as “Captain’s Chairs”. These incorporate a wider range of adjustments such as seat slide, seat recline, head rest adjustment etc… Whilst these are great for obtaining the perfect riding position, they can add significant weight to a scooter and the customer would need to be reasonably able bodied to remove it if the scooter had to be transported in a car.

Try before you buy! Before parting with your hard earned cash, make sure that you test ride a range of scooters first. Nothing beats actually trying the scooter first, it is the only way to be sure that the seat is going to be comfortable and that you have adequate leg room.

Weather protection: One final thing to consider when choosing a scooter is the sort of protection you require from the wind and rain. When riding a boot scooter, your options are fairly limited & most people opt for a raincoat or ride on Zip-Up Cape. These cover both the rider and the scooter in the event of an unexpected shower. The rider can zip themselves up and pull a hood over their head. Not ideal but better than getting soaked! Larger scooters are generally available with the option of a fully fitted canopy that incorporate a sturdy metal frame. Riders can zip up the sides so they will be cocooned away from the worst of the elements. Most designs allow the rider to partially unzip the sides so things like Zebra crossing buttons can be pressed without having to leave the shelter of their canopy.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of things to consider when choosing a mobility scooter, but we hope that it has provided some structure and food for thought. Good luck, the benefits of independent living that a scooter can bring are amazing!