Mobility Scooters and Wheelchairs
This section of the website contains information on how to get your wheelchair or mobility scooter into a car, where to get the equipment to do this and links to the rules and laws when using these vehicles.
Some Mobility Centres will undertake an assessment to see whether a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair may be suitable for you and also how to get them into your vehicle. See your local Mobility Centre for details.
Getting your mobility scooter or wheelchair into a car
There are a number of ways you can get a mobility scooter or manual/electric wheelchair into a car. Below are links for further information on:-
Hoists for manual wheelchairs- a guide.
Hoists for electric scooters and wheelchairs- a guide.
Wheelchair and electric scooter ramps- contact sheet
Wheelchair and electric scooter storage equipment, including hoists, rooftop boxes, racks, platforms and trailers which can be mounted on the rear of vehicles- contact sheet
Insuring your electric wheelchair or scooter
It's a good idea to insure you electric wheelchair or scooter if you are going to be using it outdoors. Follow this link for a list of insurance firms
Rules and Laws when using your mobility scooter and powered wheelchair on the road
Highway Code
Visit the Directgov website on the following link for the rules on the use of powered wheelchair and mobility scooters.
Laws
Information for using your powered wheelchair on the road can be found on the Directgov website by clicking on mobility scooters for road use
Registering your Class 3 Vehicle
A Class 3 Vehicle is a powered wheelchair or scooter, for use on roads/highways with a maximum speed of 8 mph and the facility to limit the maximum speed to 4 mph for use when travelling on footways, and with a maximum unladen weight of 150 kilograms.
You must register a class 3 vehicle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)- follow this link for details of how to contact them.
For more information on registering your mobility scooter, you should also visit the Scooter Registration section on the Mobilise website.
Mobility Scooters and Import Tax
Mobilise have a useful fact sheet on Mobility Scooters and Import Tax in their Information Store.
Mobility Scooters and SORN
As well as registering your class 3 mobility scooter with the DVLA, a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) is also required if the vehicle is not in use and being kept off the road. View the fact sheet in the Information Store on the Mobilise website Mobility Scooters and SORN for more details.
Other useful information
Ricability have created a guide Getting a Wheelchair Into a Car which covers many of the options listed above in detail including hoists, rooftop boxes, racks, platforms and trailers which can be mounted on the rear of vehicles
For fact sheets on manual wheelchairs and choosing a mobility scooter or electric wheelchair, visit the Disabled Living Foundation website.
RADAR have also created a useful guide, Get Mobile 2007 that can be used when considering the purchace of a powered wheelchair or mobility scooter.