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A Guide To Choosing the Best Mobility Scooter for You

Today’s seniors are active, emboldened individuals with one eye on the horizon and a mind filled with dreams and goals yet unmet. The only hindrance to a full-throttle advance on their future is a lack of energy or mobility. The right mobility scooter can eliminate those physical limitations and help seniors kick-start their journey. But with hundreds of mobility scooters saturating the market, choosing the right one can be a daunting task.

If you’re looking for a mobility scooter for yourself or a loved one, this guide can help you establish your particular mobility requirements and decide the features you need most in a scooter. Then, you can compare mobility scooter brands and incorporate personal preferences so you can make an informed choice quickly and effectively.

Establish Your Need for a Mobility Scooter

Before you get too far into your search, you need to reaffirm your reasons for wanting a mobility scooter. The following questions may help:

  • Where am I going to use this mobility scooter the most?
  • How often do I plan to use the scooter?
  • How will I benefit the most from this scooter?
  • How do I plan to pay for the mobility scooter?

Answer each question as thoroughly as possible. Knowing where, how and how often you plan to use the mobility scooter will help you to narrow down what type of scooter would best suit your needs. For example, your first major decision is whether to purchase a three-wheel or four-wheel scooter.

Three-Wheel Scooters

Three-wheel scooters are usually smaller and easier to maneuver in enclosed spaces than four-wheel versions due to their tighter turning radius. They are also lightweight and have more legroom. Although three-wheel scooters can manage grass, sand and other rough surfaces, they excel on flat, smooth surfaces.

Four-Wheel Scooters

Four-wheel scooters offer riders maximum stability and power for an all-terrain experience. They’re usually heavier and more difficult to transport, although newer models can be disassembled and transported that way. The four-wheel configuration makes it harder for these scooters to make tight turns, so they can be cumbersome in small areas.

Determine the Most Important Features You Need

There are dozens of mobility scooters on the market, with a dozen different styles, sizes and brand names. But they all have the same basic components: a frame, battery, motor and control system. In order for you to choose the perfect scooter for your needs, decide what features you need the most in a mobility scooter.

Frame Details

Most manufacturers consider the portability needs of their consumers in the frame design, so the majority of mobility scooters have a foldable or multi-piece frame. If you do a lot of traveling or spend a lot of time out and about, you’ll need a mobility scooter with a lightweight frame that you can easily disassemble or fold and place in your vehicle.

Battery Size 

The battery size of a scooter helps determine how far the scooter can travel before it needs to be charged and the top speed it can travel. The battery and the motor work together to keep the scooter going. Larger batteries have higher amp-hour capabilities, which increases the distance the scooter can travel before it must be charged.

Motor Size

The motor draws energy from the battery and propels the mobility scooter forward. The size of the motor determines the scooter’s top travel speed and its ability to traverse inclines, as well as how much weight it can handle. Most smaller mobility scooters have motors that can push 200-350 watts, while heavy-duty scooters can have motors that can push as much as 700 watts.

Control System

The control system of a mobility scooter includes the tires, brakes, steering and front and rear suspension. These components vary widely among brands or even different models of the same brand, and not all components come standard. For example, not all mobility scooters have a suspension system since it’s only necessary when traveling over rugged terrain.

Personalize Choices and Compare Mobility Scooters

Once you’ve listed the reasons you need a mobility scooter and specified the features that are important to you, it’s time to find a scooter that offers those features and also meets your personal expectations about cost, comfort and compatibility.

Cost

Make sure that you choose a mobility scooter that is within your price range. If you expect Medicare or private insurance to help cover the cost, let your insurance representative know what scooters you’re looking at and inquire about your deductible. Keep in mind that Medicare only pays for the most basic mobility scooter that meets your medical needs, so if you want a scooter with all the bells and whistles, you will have to pay for those extras.

Comfort

This is probably the most important criteria when choosing a mobility scooter because it will do you no good to purchase a scooter you aren’t comfortable driving. Ask yourself these questions:

  • Is the seat wide enough?
  • Does the seat have enough padding?
  • Can the tiller or seating area be adjusted?
  • Is there enough legroom?
  • Can I picture myself driving this scooter for long stretches of time?

Compatibility

A mobility scooter might be compatible with your needs but incompatible for you due to your current living situation or some kind of physical limitation. For example, you might not be able to pick the mobility scooter you really need because your home is too small to accommodate it. Or maybe the scooter you want has a seat that doesn’t have the back support you need.

Ultimately, be clear and honest about what kind of mobility scooter is optimal for your present living situation, your lifestyle and your physical needs. Doing so will ensure you choose the best mobility scooter for you.