Having just helped a client purchase a new mobility scooter I was proud to receive my first scooter V5 form to keep safely in our strongroom. I have never seen one of these before!
That got me wondering how many other people have? This exercise has taught me a lot!
I never realised that mobility scooters have their own number plate, which I presume, means you can have a personalised number plate just as you would with a car! How cool is that!! There is no legal requirement however for the number plate to be displayed on the mobility scooter.
Just like a car a mobility scooter should be taxed and insured. If it is registered as a class 3 vehicle (which the seller will tell you when you purchase) you are exempt from road tax.
Insuring a mobility scooter is is recommended. Insurance will provide you with public liability, accidental cover, theft and vandalism, breakdown recovery, after all you insure your car why on earth would you not insure your scooter? It is important. If you have an accident because you have poor eyesight you may have to pay compensation if someone is injured, so make sure you can read a car registration numbers from 40 feet away.
You will be issued with a V5 document when you purchase your new scooter and become the registered owner. This will have to be changed if you sell. If you purchase a second hand scooter make sure you as for the V5 so that you can become the registered owner.
Once I had helped with the purchase of the scooter I thought I ought to look further into the rules. Unbeknown to me there are different types of scooters. Who knew!!
All mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs can legally travel at a maximum of 4mph on footpaths or in pedestrian areas. Normal parking restrictions apply to parking.
If your scooter is a class 3 scooter it can be used on the road. There are specific rules which will determine whether your scooter is class 3.
Class 3 scooters or powered wheelchairs are the only scooters which can drive on the road, and you are only allowed to drive up to 8mph. You cannot drive in bus lanes, cycle lanes or motorways. It seems you can drive on dual carriageways but it is recommended you avoid those with a speed limit of over 50mph!
You have to be up to date and familiar with the highway code as these rules apply to scooter drivers as much as car drivers.
And there's me thinking that purchasing a mobility scooter was easy. This is before I get to the first 10,000 mile service and have to deal with replacement brakes, new tyres and oil changes!!
Just in case you need any further help or advice in relation to mobility scooters because you knew about as much as I did I have put below the government website details where you can find out more.
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