DVLA, The Law, And Mobility Scooter Insurance?
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE LAW, CHECK THE FOLLOWING INFO DIRECTLY WITH DVLA/CURRENT LEGISLATION, AND STAY UP-TO-DATE, THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL WEBSITE, IT'S JUST A BLOG
Check the latest mobility scooter law here
Check the law on 'Powered Transporters' here
Also see Ask The Police
I'm not against the law changing to allow mobility scooters to moderately exceed the current limit of 8mph on the road for Class 3, some are safely capable, with modification, of safely doing more than 8mph. On the road there are situations where faster than 8mph would be safer, I know, I regularly ride my Class 3 mobility scooter on roads, and I'm a car driver. However what I think is not relevant, the law says many things about mobility scooters and one is that they must not be capable of more than 8mph. That being the case it is a criminal offence to be in a public place, road or elsewhere, with one capable of more than 8mph, and any insurance is likely to be invalid because of the small print.
Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs intended for road use must be registered with the DVLA (free) and conform to certain conditions. Check whether a vehicle is registered as an ‘invalid carriage’ by asking the seller when you buy it, it is your responsibility to see that it is registered in your name and confirmed with the DVLA each year. A few companies sell 'mobility scooters' capable of speeds in excess of 8mph, these are not mobility scooters and most insurers insist on the maximum speed of 8mph and any insurance bought will be invalid anyway if the machine is found to be capable of speeds in excess of 8mph. An insurer may offer insurance classifying the item as a 'Powered Transporter', like an electric scooter. One such insurer, to quote, says "Public Liability cover for accidents - If you’re deemed liable for accidentally injuring someone or damaging property whilst using your e-scooter, we’ll cover the costs of any claims made against you." but then lower down, less prominently, "Please note: It is currently against the law in the UK to ride e-scooters on public land including parks, pavements, footpaths, and roads. You will only be covered by this policy when using your e-scooter on private land with the landowner’s permission.". You decide whether you think that is ethical.
Whilst insurance is not, at the time of writing, a legal requirement for mobility scooters prosecutions for damages for injury to persons and property are unlimited and can run into many thousands of pounds, your home may be at risk! So I suggest complying with the law as it stands, not as one might wish it to be, and have valid insurance. I wish that companies would stop selling scooters that common sense says will be used where they are illegal to be used and with no valid insurance, however it's not illegal for them to do so but it is ill advised to, they may still be held liable, see here.
Check the latest but as at 19 July 2024 the law reads:
To drive on the road, your vehicle must be a powered wheelchair or mobility scooter in ‘class 3’ or not in a class It must have:
a maximum speed of at least 8mph
an efficient braking system
a clear view of the road and traffic ahead
front and rear lights and reflectors
direction indicators that can be used as a hazard warning signal
a rear view mirror
an audible horn
Not In A Class
Your vehicle is not in a class if:
it can go more than 8mph
it’s wider than 0.85 metres
it weighs more than 150kg (or 200kg if you need any equipment attached to it - for example, medical equipment)
If your mobility scooter or powered wheelchair is not in class, you can only use it on the road.
You cannot use it on:
pavements or any other pedestrian areas
cycle tracks or cycle lanes
You need to:
get a valid driving licence to drive one
register your vehicle with DVLA
You may also need to insure your vehicle.
If you cause an accident while driving a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair that’s not in a class, you can be given the same penalty as if you were driving a car. You can go to prison, get a driving ban or get an unlimited fine.
My Adventures
Can A Condom Gain 50kg For Class 3 Mobility Scooters?
If you've known me long enough then you'll know that I'm fairly hot on making sure that Class 3 mobility scooters, ones classified for road and pavement use, are actually Class 3, not that I don't want more speed just that I want to know that my insurance is valid, and stupidly big machines aren't sold as being allowed to go on the pavement. As we know some machines are sold that don't match the law, so at best are "Not In Class" so under more restrictions can only be used on the road, with the relevant insurance. Well I was concerned that I might have fallen into the very trap that I've been bleeting on about for years.
A month ago I bought a Mini Crosser M2 secondhand and was awaiting the log book. I still am waiting for it and decided I was going to have to try to register it myself, but first I wanted to check the weight to be sure that it's under the 150kg permissable. So this morning I took it to my local weighbridge. 180kg!!
Going home I thought "Oh blow!", or something similar, "I'm going to have to register it 'Not In Class', with all the restrictions that that imposes. So I rang Elite Mobility's boss, they still sell them and used to be the sole supplier, I've found him helpful in the past, but I thought that it could be a difficult conversation. "You've got the Ergo 2 seat on it haven't you?" he asked, "Yes" I said, "You're OK" he said, it's rated as a medical device, so the weight allowance for the scooter is 200kg, because of its ability to take medical devices, such as oxygen tanks, amputated leg rests, hemiplegia armrests, etc. That's good I thought.
But liking braces for my belts I looked up what our government calls a medical device, it may surprise you. "A medical device is a healthcare product or piece of equipment that a person uses for a medical purpose. It is not a medicine or drug.". No surprises there I thought, but wait. In the list of government examples are:
blood glucose meters
blood pressure monitors
contact lenses and solutions
pregnancy test and other self-test kits
wheelchairs
and, wait for it..
condoms
so long as they're bought "for personal use".
So, seemingly, if a policeman stops you and asks why you are riding a heavy mobility scooter with a packet of condoms strapped to the back you can point him to the relevant law..
https://www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-rules/classes
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medical-devices-information-for-users-and-patients
