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Mobility Scooter Classes - Class 2 and 3 Explained - Plus Budget and Weight Considerations

October 20, 2017 -
CareCo Mobility Scooter

Are you presently in the market for your first CareCo mobility scooter? We realise it’s a big decision to make, that’s why we’ve compiled this easy to understand guide without using all the technical terms that you might find in a typical buying advice guide. Just simple explanations and descriptions of features rather than jargon to help you make an informed decision.

The Right Class of CareCo Mobility Scooter

You will find that a CareCo mobility scooter is under one of two classes. These are Class 2, which are limited to pavement use with a maximum speed limit of 4mph and Class 3, which are suitable for use on the road with a maximum speed of 8mph. Class 3 vehicles may also be used on pavement, but the speed must be limited to 4mph. These vehicles have inbuilt speed limiters. Don’t purchase a road vehicle unless you truly need one. Usually this is if you live in a rural location or regularly need to go on the roads. Roadworthy mobility scooters are more expensive, heavier, and generally more substantial.

CareCo Mobility Scooter

Travel and Pavement Models

There are two subtypes of CareCo mobility scooter that come under Class 2: Travel models either fold up or come apart into several pieces for storing in the back of a car. Some are light enough or compact enough to go in with your luggage if you want to take it abroad on holiday. These are lightweight and easy to carry and designed for somebody who likes to take the car out and about and use a mobility scooter when they’ve reached their destination. Similarly, you may see a CareCo mobility scooter described as a pavement scooter. These are generally less portable, but you will find most have features that allow you easier transition over rugged terrain, larger wheels with more grip, increased range, and improved suspension. But what about class 1? Well, class 1 refers to self-powered vehicles, which are mostly self-propelled wheelchairs.

Consider Budget

A CareCo mobility scooter will adhere to safety checks and tests as set down by law. They will all pass basic safety checks for most uses. In many areas of life, the outward cost is an indication of quality. Where mobility scooters and other mobility supplies are concerned, cheaper models will tend to have fewer features. We recommend choosing a scooter that fits only what you need it for, especially as a first mobility scooter, as you may take some time to adjust to the control settings. A budget model will have fewer features and that may be all you need. We recommend visiting a CareCo store to try out some of our mobility scooters to see which will suit your budget, lifestyle, and mobility needs.

Vehicle Weight and Weight Limits

Heavier doesn’t necessarily mean better and although you should probably opt for something more substantial if you’ll be using your vehicle on the road, a heavier vehicle is not suitable for everybody. A heavy vehicle designed for use only on pavements – particularly travel models - may prove overly cumbersome for their purpose. However, if you don’t intend to frequently pack and unpack the scooter additional weight may not be a concern. Your physical build should be a taken into account when choosing a CareCo mobility scooter as this will influence which vehicles will be comfortable to use. You should take note of the weight limit of the scooter, particularly if you need one for bariatric purposes. Once again, we recommend that you visit one of our showrooms to find a model that will be right for you.

Simon Shackson
Simon Shackson

I have been Showroom Manager of the Canterbury mobility shop since opening in April 2018. I have been in Retail for 22 years and I have seen a vast amount of changes through a sector that I am immensely passionate about. My son is disabled and lives with many conditions and I have experienced some of the stresses and worries that many of our customers deal with on a daily basis. This has given me first hand experience of what parents and carers need.

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