Just like buying a used car, a used mobility scooter is a great idea if you have a limited budget and don’t want to buy it at the full retail price. Second hand mobility scooters are sold by both mobility shops and private individuals but what should you look out for?
What type of mobility scooter do you need?
This is the starting point in your search for a mobility scooter, whether it is new or second hand. Here are some of the questions that you should answer to help you to decide about the type of scooter you need.
- What sort of journeys will you use it for? Is it just for nipping to the local shop or is it for more long distance travelling? Class 2 mobility scooters can be used on pavements and have a maximum speed of 4mph whereas Class 3 mobility scooters are larger and heavier but can be driven on the roads at speeds up to 8mph.
- Does the scooter need to fold-up so it can be transported in the boot of a car? Then a folding boot scooter may be the answer.
- Where will you store the mobility scooter when not in use?
- How easy is it to use the controls?
- How do you charge the mobility scooter?
- Which features are important to you? Eg a cup holder or mobile phone charger.
- How safe is the mobility scooter?
- What is your weight? Some smaller mobility scooters have a maximum weight of 20 stone (130kg). It is important to buy a scooter that is suitable for your weight – if you are too heavy for the scooter, it will become unstable.
A good place to start is to visit your local mobility shop as they will be able to show you a range of scooters and you can then see which is the best one for you. Also seek advice from an occupational therapist who will be able to give you impartial guidance about different features on mobility scooters.
Buy a scooter that suits your needs, your home and your lifestyle. Don’t be tempted by a bargain scooter which may not be right for you.
What is your budget for a scooter?
Set a realistic budget for buying a used mobility scooter. Remember that this is not just about the cost of buying a scooter at the start. You also need to factor in the cost of servicing and maintenance. For an older model, maintenance costs will be higher than for a brand new model as it has “more miles on the clock”.
If a second hand scooter is very cheap, this may mean that it is very old or has some underlying problem that may be expensive to maintain.
How old are the batteries on the second hand mobility scooter?
This is a really important question to ask. With a second hand electric scooter, it’s very possible that the batteries are old and need replaced. Check how long does it take to charge the batteries and ask if the scooter keep cutting out. It may be that you will have to purchase new batteries which will cost at least £90 each – an extra cost which you may not have budgeted for.
Buying a used mobility scooter from a mobility shop or a private seller?
A mobility shop such as Bann Mobility in Portadown is one of the best places to buy a used mobility scooter. Just like a car dealership, their range of used mobility scooters will have come from customers who have “traded in” an old scooter against a new mobility scooter with a higher specification. Often the shop will know the service history of a used scooter as they sold the scooter to the individual at the outset as well as carrying out regular services on it. So always ask to see the mobility scooter’s full service history before making any decisions.
The scooter will also be serviced before going on sale and brand new batteries will be fitted too. The shop will also stand over the used scooter and provide you with a three or six month guarantee too in case anything goes wrong.
With a private seller, the mobility scooter will probably be cheaper but you need to be very careful as the risk of buying a scooter with mechanical problems is much higher. The reason for selling it may be very genuine as it is simply no longer needed but you need to ask to see the scooter’s paperwork to see its service history. Also ask to see the scooter’s original paperwork including the instruction manual.
Every scooter has an individual vehicle number. Ask the seller for the vehicle number which you can check with the manufacturer to find out exactly the age of the scooter. This should correspond with what the seller has told you. It is also worthwhile finding out if spare parts are still easily available for that particular model.
Always try out the scooter before finalising the purchase so go to see it in person to make sure that it is right for you. If it looks old and tired, stay clear of it as you are likely to be facing expensive servicing bills to keep using it.
Bann Mobility have a range of used mobility scooters in stock from different scooter manufacturers including Pride Mobility, TGA, Drive, Freerider and Kymco. Please call us today on 028 3833 5771 to arrange an appointment to come and we would be delighted to let you take one for a spin.
Other Recent News from Bann Mobility
