July 31, 2025 | Natalie Webber

How to choose a mobility scooter

If you’ve decided you need to buy a mobility scooter, you’re probably now wondering how you go about choosing the best mobility scooter for you.

This won’t be an exhaustive guide for every scenario but, if I do a good job, it should be a comprehensive introduction that will guide your mobility scooter research!

Jump straight to:

4 Steps to Choose the Best Mobility Scooter for You

1. Your Physical Needs

The purpose of a mobility scooter is to improve your mobility and increase your independence, so it must be suitable for your physical needs. Factors to consider include the maximum user weight, leg room, seating comfort and accessibility of the controls.

2. Transport

Deciding whether you need a portable mobility scooter you can put in the car boot or take on public transports, such as trains, buses or planes, is the best place to start.

🚘 Do you need a boot scooter for car transport?

This is a very common requirement for day trips, holidays and everyday outings. In this scenario, you can choose between a dismantlable or folding mobility scooter – the two styles of car transportable mobility scooters. The weight to lift the mobility scooter will probably be a big factor for you.


AeroCarbon Folding Mobility Scooter	ST1 Dismantlable Mobility Scooter

✈️ Do you need to fly with your mobility scooter?

Your mobility scooter will need to have airline-friendly lithium-ion batteries, and it’s best if it’s folding or dismantlable too.

Recommended Reading: Can you take a mobility scooter on a plane?

🏡 Will you just be travelling on your mobility scooter from home?

In this scenario, you won’t necessarily need a portable mobility scooter, and a pavement scooter or road-legal scooter might be the better option depending on your journeys. Just make sure that any mobility scooter you consider has enough battery range for the trips you need to make.


Leo Pavement Scooter	Orion Metro Road Scooter

3. Terrain

Next, consider the environment(s) you’ll need to drive your mobility scooter in.

🛣️ Do you need to drive your mobility scooter on roads?

If yes, you’ll need a Class 3 road-legal mobility scooter, such as the Orion Metro.

🏬 Do you want to drive your mobility scooter around shops or public venues?

If accessing indoor environments is important to you, consider the dimensions, manoeuvrability and turning circle when choosing a mobility scooter – you’ll need a compact mobility scooter, such as the Astrolite or AeroCarbon.

🌳 Are you looking to go all-terrain?

If you live in a particularly hilly area, or looking for adventure in the great outdoors, a mobility scooter with a powerful motor, good suspension and/or all-terrain wheels may be a requirement for you.

4. Your Budget

While it’s not the only factor, price plays a big part of any purchasing decision we make, and mobility scooters are no exception! The typical price range for mobility scooters is between £600 and £3000. Perhaps as important as the price itself is the value the mobility scooter offers you. Will it give you a bigger boost to your freedom and independence than it will cost you?

FAQs about Choosing the Best Mobility Scooter

1. How can I tell if a mobility scooter is a good buy?

💷 Price: Generally, you can expect to pay more for a better quality mobility scooter – provided you are purchasing from an ethical firm.

🛍️ Brand: Buying a mobility scooter from a well-established and renowned brand doesn’t guarantee a good purchase, it’s definitely a safer option. Brands such as Invacare and Drive mobility scooters are proven to be reliable over many decades.

🛡️ Warranty: Generally, you can expect longer warranties offered for better quality products. Just make sure that there’s no hidden small print and the warranty is exactly as advertised. Sometimes, warranty lengths vary for the different components of a mobility scooter.

2. How do I look for the best mobility scooter features?

Advertising slogans aside, choosing mobility scooter features should really come down to three things: comfort, safety and functionality. Popular features that improve these factors include adjustable seating and controls and suspension. Looking at the optional upgrades and accessories is also well worth it, because they can increase the functionality of your mobility scooter so you can ultimately get more out of it.

3. Where should I buy my mobility scooter from?

Naturally, when people ask us for our opinion on the best mobility scooter company, we will not fail to say Felgains! So, we’d love you to shop our mobility scooter range. However, we understand many customers want to shop around, and we want you to be fully informed. So, here’s a quick checklist for you to help you choose a good mobility scooter supplier:

Can you try before you buy?
Do they offer proper aftercare?
Are they members of the BHTA or other consumer organisations?
Are the majority of their customer reviews positive?
Do you feel you can trust them?

What next?

With this advice, you should be better equipped to choose a mobility scooter that’s best for your needs and discern what’s a good buy. As ever, our expert advisors are only a phone call away, so do get in touch to discuss your needs in more detail.