Mobility scooters

In the days when my late wife and I used to roam around on scooter (her) and bicycle (me) she would sail up hills that I could hardly walk up. The only problem we ever had was when she decided to use a small scooter to go round Beamish Museum, which is well spread out and the paths are hilly. It conked out on a long steep hill. The thermal cut-out had tripped. I found later that the cut-out fitted was of an incorrect value. I replaced it and there were no further problems.

Bill

Yes, the shops seem to mark up 100%.

Bill

It's even more prevalent with disability items though. If you are buying batteries for a disability scooter, you can buy them VAT free - a big saving ... except that somehow, the VAT free ones from disability suppliers (physical shops or online) are more expensive than the VATted ones from normal suppliers!

Good to know. I've always been a walker, and am having difficulty accepting my current limitations. A scooter may help me maintain my sanity!

You can, of course, request them VAT exempt from any supplier if they are for a disabled person.

Most won't supply VAT free. Some of the more expensive companies will (with documentary proof of disability), others simply state that HMRC advise that they can only supply VAT free if they fit the batteries.

I'd have thought any NPS**-12 battery was a standard item, not specific for disabled use?

"VAT relief does not apply to the separate supply of general use items such as standard batteries, even if these were bought to be used within an item which is eligible for VAT relief such as a mobility scooter. But if the batteries were solely designed to operate within the eligible item, they would be eligible for relief such as batteries designed solely to be used with electric wheelchairs or mobility scooters."

Yes but the smaller ones don't really have the capacity for a lot of shopping, which tempts people to hang bags in silly places. You can buy quite large carriers that fit on the back of the seat.

Less bearing friction. Better battery economy over rough surfaces. Pneumatic tyres are best, but get them filled with foam so they will run flat.

In fact the larger scooters will do 8mph (9.5 really) but there's a switch that limits them to 4mph. On the pavement you have to have it set to 4mph.

Scooters that will do 8mph have to pay road fund (at £0!) and you get a reminder from DVLA to apply for it. They are MOT exempt but it's wise to have insurance, in case some silly bugger runs in front of you, or you reverse through a shop window, or whatever.

Bill

Another little point. The charging socket is always a three pin XLR. The third pin in the plug on the charger is connected to one of the other pins inside the plug, and that prevents the machine from running if there's a charger plugged in. Airlines etc insist that an immobilising plug is inserted. The disability shops sell these 'Airsafe' plugs for £18, but it's just a normal XLR (£0.70) with two pins connected together.

Bill

Some suppliers will sell them VAT free, if you can prove that a person in the household is disabled, such as by sending a copy of a PIP award letter. Some will only do so if they fit the batteries.

they can carry plenty, but yeah, not as easily as a car.

a roofrack would be good.

Just be aware most people can't legally use the larger 8mph machines.

Plan your walking route meticulously so that you don't get stopped by obstacles. If you do find the route impassable, just shrug and go back. If in doubt about a path or lane don't go down it. The big scooters weigh about 3 hundredweight so if you get it stuck in mud you or your helper might not be able to get it out.

Bill

Before buying from any source ask if they operate the VAT-free scheme for disability equipment. IME most large battery firms do.

Regarding mark-ups, one of the big disability firms near here charge £160 for an £80 battery. That's just an example; something that I came across the other day.

Bill

But a few will refuse. Can't be arsed to fill the form in.

Bill

Yes I've heard that as well.

Bill

The government website says that anyone who has difficulty walking can use a mobility scooter and draws no distinction between a class 2 and a class 3 for that, other than a minimum age limit of 14 for a class 3.

On 09/06/2022 01:27, Animal wrote: ...

Most people can't legally use any mobility scooter on a public highway.

There is a basic requirement to have a physical defect or disability.

The only exceptions are a person taking it to or from a place where maintenance or repair is to be or has been carried out on it, a manufacturer for the purposes of testing or demonstrating it, a person offering to sell it, for the purposes of demonstration only, or by a person giving practical training in its use.

Class 3 are also limited to a person age 14 or over. Apart from that, there is no distinction between the use of Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 invalid carriages.

The Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988

I know there are some places I am unlikely to ever see again, but increased mobility should make everyday life less frustrating. I will definitely try to avoid mud!

But that physical defect could simply be, as in my case, although I don't used a scooter, wear and tear to my knees that means that while I can walk fine, it soon starts to get uncomfortably painful (osteo-arthritis).

If I were to spend a few hours visiting a museum for instance, I'd either have to use a scooter or dose up on painkillers first.

Anyone that suffers any pain, limiting their walking, is clearly eligible. At the slow speed of these scooters, nobody without a physical problem would want to use one anyway.