Electric scooter

Mobility scooter sizes and what they mean

Mobility means so much to people, and especially to customers with the Motability Scheme. Being able to get around independently gives you an enormous amount of freedom; if you feel comfortable operating a bicycle-style steering column, then a mobility scooter is an excellent way to enhance your mobility. We categorise our mobility scooters by size: small, medium, and large.

In this article, we’re going to explain the differences between the scooter categories and sizes so that you can learn more about them and have a better idea about which type will best fit into your lifestyle.

Small scooters

As the name suggests, small scooters are the smallest scooters you can obtain. They are the lightest scooters you can lease, and many of them fold up or are dismantlable — this is useful for those who would like to be able to get their mobility scooter into a car. However, make sure you check that either you or a carer are physically capable of lifting it into and out of your vehicle first.

A further upside to this category of scooter is that some small scooters can be used indoors due to their size and weight. This is useful if you need help getting around the shops or the doctors. However, no scooter of this type is allowed to be used on the road, and there are further considerations to take into account.

Because these scooters are small, they have limited space for batteries and, as such, they usually have a maximum of 10-miles of range before needing to be recharged. This is a good range for limited or indoor use, but not so good for travelling outdoors. They are also made from lighter parts and a lighter frame, so the maximum weight capacity is lower – usually around 135kg or 21-stone.

To sum up, the small scooters are great for shorter trips and are lightweight and easy to transport, but they aren’t suitable for longer journeys out.

Medium scooters

At around 100cm high and 60cm long, medium scooters are a more substantial machine and therefore aren’t easy to use indoors unless there’s a lot of space. They also weigh more, often coming in at over 70kg. Larger batteries mean that there’s an increased range – the medium scooters can often go double the distance of the small scooters at 20-miles. Because of their increased strength of construction, they can also carry more weight than a smaller scooter, around 135kg to 150kg, which is 21 to 25-stone.

To conclude, these scooters are great if you plan on using them outdoors more often than not as they tend to have an increased range. However, the extra weight and larger turning circles mean that they are going to be harder to use in indoor locations and are more awkward to transport.

Large scooters

Many large scooters are defined as ‘Class 3’ by the government Department for Transport, Class 3 scooters are road legal. Class 3 scooters need to be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), but this is something that your Motability Scheme dealer will arrange for you. They are capable of up to 8mph on the road and 4mph on the pavement. They also feature lights and indicators to help you drive safely on the road.

Larger scooters gain size and weight over the medium scooters, so they are capable of carrying additional weight and possess a more extensive range – up to 250kg or 30 stone and up to 30-miles in range.

Because of their size, they can’t be used indoors and require a safe and secure place to be stored. If you need to use your scooter outdoors and want good range, comfort, and the ability to use on rough or “off-road” surfaces, then the large scooter category will have the model for you.

Scooter search

If you’re thinking about joining the Motability Scheme, check out our range of scooters here.


Related articles

Test drive: Large scooters put through their paces

A guide to travelling by scooter and powered wheelchair

The Motability Scheme’s top tips for using public transport with a wheelchair or scooter

From the Motability Scheme


Categories


Related articles


Popular articles

Top