Mobility Scooter Buying Guide
Want to buy a mobility scooter but not sure where to begin? Truthfully speaking, the market is flooded with a range of options. Read this brief mobility scooter buying guide before you head to your nearest dealer in Newcastle, North East.
Types of Mobility Scooters in Newcastle
Highway regulations talk about three distinct categories of ‘invalid carriages’:
- Class 1 – Manual wheelchairs
- Class 2 – Powered wheelchairs for use on pavements
- Class 3 – Powered wheelchairs for use on highways
Class 2 Scooters
Class 2 scooters are pavement scooters. Offering a maximum speed of 4mph, Class 2 scooters can be used on footpaths and pavements. You can use zebra and pedestrian crossings to cross a road but you cannot use a Class 2 scooter to travel along the road, except in instances when there is no pavement.
Class 2 mobility scooters are smaller and compact when compared to Class 3 scooters. This means you won’t need a lot of space to store a Class 2 mobility scooter. A lot of Class 2 scooters are classified as portable as they can be easily dismantled for transportation.
Portable mobility scooters are ideal if you are looking to use them on occasional long days out but are not looking to use them every day for long journeys.
Class 3 Scooters
Class 3 mobility scooters are road legal. Hence, a scooter must have some specific features to be classified as Class 3. These include horn, headlights, indicators and rear lights, emergency hand brakes and a rear-view mirror.
Class 3 mobility scooters offer a speed of up to 8mph and they typically come with a switch that allows you to limit the speed to 4mph when using the pavement.
These scooters typically boast a higher maximum weight limit and larger distance range. They are also more durable and larger in size compared to Class 2 mobility scooters.
Because a Class 3 scooter is not designed for use as a motor vehicle, it does not attract a road tax and nor does it require an MOT. Insurance is not mandatory either.
Opt for this scooter only if you have ample space to store a large scooter. If you expect to put on weight or are on the heavier side, a Class 3 scooter is a better option.
Buy Quality Mobility Scooters in New Castle, North East
Your search for the best mobility scooters in the North East ends at Mobility Direct North. We are operating as usually but with complete safety measures in light of the pandemic. Get in touch with us today to know more.