How to Choose a Mobility Scooter

Here’s the scenario: You’ve been meaning to get a mobility scooter for a while. You know it will make a world of difference in your life allowing you to move independently about your community when you choose.

The number of options available is giving you a headache and who can you trust?

Does this scenario sound too familiar?

Deciding which mobility scooter is right for you is challenging. At Mobility Centre, we understand. So here is a how-to guide to steer you in the right direction.

If you keep these seven important points in mind, you will be one step closer to living independently.

Personalised Advice

If all this is confusing, don’t be alarmed. At Mobility Centre we are your trusted mobility scooter experts. You can browse our full range of mobility scooters, or you can request an appointment with your local Mobility Centre to discuss your mobility scooter needs or pop into one of our stores.

1. How will you use your scooter?

This question should hopefully be the easiest one for you to answer. Will you use your scooter occasionally when you’re too tired to walk? Will you use it daily to go to the shops or to walk the dog? Or will you use it regularly to replace your car? There are mobility scooters made for each of these purposes.

2. What’s your build?

Luckily for you, mobility scooters were made with different builds in mind. You can take comfort in the fact that your mobility scooter suits your body well. Consider both your height and weight when looking at mobility scooters because of weight restrictions.

3. How far will you ride per trip?

Some mobility scooters can travel a whopping 55km per charge on flat terrain! But not everyone wants to go 55km every time they drive.

Think about it this way: Mobility scooters that travel further require longer battery charge times. If you only want to use your mobility scooter occasionally to travel locally, it’d be a waste of time to use such a high capacity scooter.

4. What terrain will you use your scooter on?

Have you heard the saying “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey”? In this instance, that’s particularly true! Are you a mountaineer at heart who will ride their scooter on loose gravel and bush paths? Or are you a homebody who will only ride on footpaths and the occasional road?

Different strokes for different folks! And we have a choice of scooters for each scenario.

5. What’s your carry on?

It’s important to consider what you will carry with you when using your scooter. Whether you just carry your walking stick or your walking frame, weekly groceries and dog makes a difference.

6. What options and features matter?

There are many options and features available to you. It’s up to you to decide which ones are important to you. Some of these features include colour, size, safety, number of wheels, comfort, speed, manoeuvrability and distance.

7. Which accessories would you find useful?

Accessories aren’t just to make your scooter personalised – there are some incredibly functional accessories you may never have heard of before! Some useful accessories include a backpack, walker-carrying bracket, drink holder, flag, walking stick holder, seat belt and a locking front carrier box.

Now that you know how to choose a mobility scooter, let’s put it into action.

If you're still not sure, check out our other useful Guides to help you find the mobility scooter that's right for you.