Mobility Scooter Buying Guide

Before we discuss the best scooter for you its important you know a bit about the law, Legislation separates scooters and powered wheelchairs into these categories:

Class 2 vehicles and Class 3 vehicles.

Class 2

Class 2 vehicles, which are sometimes referred to as “pavement vehicles”, are designed for use on the footway, which is defined as: “a portion of a carriageway that is set aside for use only by pedestrians”. They are not allowed on roads other than to cross them and are limited to a maximum speed of 4mph.

Class 3

A Class 3 vehicle is constructed or adapted so that it is capable of exceeding 4mph but cannot exceed 8mph. Class 3 vehicles are not permitted to exceed 4 mph on footways. Class 3 vehicles tend to be larger than Class 2 vehicles. There is a switch to change between the 4mph and 8mph speed settings. They are not allowed on motorways, cycle lanes or bus lanes, but are required by law to have lights, indicators, a horn, a rear-view mirror and rear reflectors.

Drivers of either class of vehicle must be disabled and aged 14 or over, but do not have to hold a driving license.

Scooters are a very popular and its safe to say they are the most common mobility we aids we see around today.

There are many different types, some have three wheels others have four and are generally speaking steered using a handle bar.

Most of the controls for the scooters are situated in the form the handlebars and you can usually operate speed, reverse functions horns and lights from the user friendly controls.

Scooters are usually battery powered and can be recharged of an evening Dependant on as and when you need them. The range is massive so knowing what will suit you best can be a bit discouraging luckily here at B&M Supplies we know exactly how to match a scooter or powered wheel chair to your needs

 Let’s look at our options................

Powered Wheelchairs

Powered wheel chairs have between four and six wheels and are very similar to the traditional wheelchair design however the steering and speed is nearly always from a small joystick. The included battery will power two of the wheels and any more wheels are usually there to add stability on surfaces with different levels. The joystick can be set to different sensitivity levels enabling the chair to be very user friendly. Powered wheelchairs range from very basic models with very little difference to a traditional wheelchair with motors added, to more advanced models with various modifications, such as kerb climbers, height adjustable seats and reclining seats.

Mobility Scooters

Scooters come in may shapes and sizes depending on the customer need, for example some of the smaller models can be dismantled and transported within a car like the Splendid Cameo3 and Cameo 4 right through to larger 8pm scooters (Sovereign 3, Sovereign 4 and the extra classy Cadiz) which can go a lot further on a battery charge and lets not forgetting the luxurious Shoprider Treveso with its water proof enclosure and sleek design.

B&M Supplies can also supply a vast array of accessories such as water proof covers stick holders etc and give a tailor made solution to any situation.

Many of the scooters around today are foldaway and can be dismantled into several large components for storage and transport, Scooter seats can range from basic to substantial and can be adjusted to the right height, Many of the seats can be swivelled round and have arm rests that can be swung out of the way to allow for easy access in and out of the chair.

Running a Scooter or Powered Wheel chair

Recharging the batteries will use electricity, but this is unlikely to be a significant cost. Especially as value for money and fuel prices are on everybody's mind these days. You may save money by having a meter that charges less off peak or by charging the batteries during the cheap period. A simple timer can be used to switch on the charger at the right time. Following instructions can also prolong the life of batteries.

Always observe the safety advice given by the manufacturers as charging batteries may be dangerous if not done properly.

Maintenance and Repairs

its always difficult to estimate how long equipment will last as it does depend on how you look after it, how much you use it and how regular you service it

At B&M Supplies we can supply parts for all our scooter range as well parts for various other makes and models. Our dedicated Service engineer can asses any problems either on site to save on the inconvenience of travelling or by bringing the equipment to our offices at Compton rd in Southport.

Once we have recognized there is an issue we will be able to repair or replace any parts if required, , feel free to contact us today 01704 553 773.

Here’s some things to think about before your purchase:

Where you will mainly use your scooter whether it’s outside or just general day to day use at home

In this situation think about the size of the scooter you need a lot of the smaller scooters like the Capri may be of more benefit to you as apposed to something large like the Sovereign 4.

How far will the scooter be travelling?

The scooters on this site all include the manufactures specs so you can see how far these scooters will travel for however using the scooter by having a lot of stops and restarts can often drain the battery quicker than a straight run would.

Will the Scooter need to be transported easily?

The Cameo range is the perfect solution for this sort of problem, you can break down the unit into 5 separate piece that can be easily lifted and transported without any fuss, once at your destination simply reassembled with minimal effort and off you go. all this without loosing the range or speed of the scooter

How much leg room is needed?

As mentioned earlier a lot of scooters come in 3 wheeled or 4 wheeled variations for this reason and you can be confident that you wont have to compromise on stability as the 3 wheeled scooters are designed to be just as stable as there 4 wheeled counter parts.

Where will you keep the equipment when not in use?

This could dictate the size of the scooter depending on where you are most likely to store the unit.

Do you have easy access to a power point for charging when in storage?

Most of the midrange scooters give you the option of being able to detach the battery so that you can take it inside to charge but a lot of the larger scooters may need to be plugged directly into the charger.

If there are steps, will I you be able to get the equipment up and down these easily?

Again it my be worth considering a light weight scooter in this situation.

Think about the size of your doorways or gates at home it may be worth measuring such areas just to make sure that your scooter/Wheel chair will fit through

All the specs are available here for each of our scooters and power chairs however if your still unsure and need further measurements feel free to give us a call.

B&M Supplies
67a Compton rd
Southport
PR8 4EG
01704 553 773

At our North West Mobility store and Care Centre in Southport we do have a special testing area that is safe and designed to give buyers a chance to test some of the equipment available to see which scooter or wheelchair is best for you.