Do you need to pass a driving test for mobility scooters before you can take one on the road? It’s a fairly common question and a hot topic of discussion.
Have a read and let us know what you think!
Is there a driving test for mobility scooters?
In short, there is no legal driving test for mobility scooters. That means that you’re not required to pass a test to drive your scooter.
That being said, there are still things you should know before you set out for a ride. Scooters users are allowed to drive on the road (provided that they have a class 3 scooter — find out more here), but they must obey the Highway Code.
Anyone using a class 1 or class 2 scooter must only drive it on the pavement.
That means that you should have some theoretical knowledge of the road before you start driving your scooter on them. This will help you and other motorists stay safe.
But just like driving a car, you should have good eyesight and cognitive ability to be able to navigate and judge speeds, distances, and spaces accordingly.
Having good eyesight and cognitive ability is imperative to being safe when driving a scooter.
Can you do a mobility scooter test?
Because there’s no legal requirement for you to take a test to drive your mobility scooter, you don’t really need to even test drive one before you buy it. We actually advise against this and think you should always try and test drive a mobility scooter before you invest in it.
Any good scooter supplier or retailer will give you the chance to take a scooter out for a spin before you buy it. We actually let customers test scooters around our car park on various slopes and even a decked ramp and some grass so you can get a feel for different terrains.
We also only recommend scooters that will actually benefit you. We assess your suitability to drive a scooter as well as the suitability of the scooter itself to make sure you’ll be as safe as possible when using it.
Should there be a scooter test?
A few people have argued that there should be a driving test for mobility scooters brought into action to keep scooter users and motorists safe on the road. Of course this will also help scooter users understand the rules of the road and the pavement when they’re out and about.
Whilst there’s no legally required scooter test, but we do believe that you should drive with caution and brush up on your Highway Code before you go on any trips.
Whilst there is no legal requirement for a mobility scooter driving test, we highly recommend that you test drive any scooter before you buy it.
What about mobility scooter insurance?
Although there’s no legal requirement to have insurance on your scooter, we highly recommend you take some out. This will cover you in case of any accidents or mishaps where your scooter may need some repair work.
We offer insurance policies to anyone who buys a scooter from us to make sure that your mobility isn’t compromised should anything happen.
Summary
To sum up, there isn’t any formal driving test for mobility scooters currently in action in the UK, but we always suggest that you test drive a scooter before you buy it. You should also make sure you are up to speed on your Highway Code to make sure that you (and others around you) are safe when you’re on the road.
Graeme has worked alongside the public sector for much of his working life, helping departments improve efficiencies and deliver on projects. In his role at Vivid.Care, Graeme used his experience to tackle some of the most challenging issues in the healthcare sector, from falls through to winter pressures. He was also a guest speaker and a number of different conferences, including at the Falls Prevention Summit in London.
