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: Ambernectar 13 via photopin cc
