A remarkably common question that we get asked is whether you need a license to ride a mobility scooter on the road or the pavement.
The simple, short answer to this is no; if you have a class 2 or class 3 mobility scooter or powered wheelchair that meets all of the required weight and size limitations, you do not need a license to ride it as long as you have a need for one.
This makes class 3 road-legal mobility scooters particularly unusual as far as road-going vehicles go, as it is one of the only road-legal vehicles that need to be registered with the DVLA but does not require a license to be used on the road.
The only other vehicle that does not need a license to ride on the road is an electric bike (officially an electrically assisted pedal cycle).
It is important to understand why mobility scooters are a relative anomaly, especially since this was not always the way for long-distance mobility aids.
Did You Ever Need A Driving License For A Mobility Scooter?
The legal statute that established the modern standards for mobility scooters became law in 1988. Before then, it was somewhat more complex, given that the equivalent for a mobility scooter was most likely to be an actual car.
The Invacar was an early official ancestor of the mobility scooter. Whilst earlier vehicles and mobility aids existed, such as Stephan Farffler’s self-propelled tricycle and the bath chairs, the Invacar was the first vehicle to be used in the same place as the mobility scooter as a way for people with physical disabilities to travel further distances.
Unlike modern mobility scooters, Invacars were taxed, registered and required a driving license like a car, and were typically provided to people who already had a driving license.
The Invacar was directly replaced by the Motability scheme, but this led to some confusion regarding the legality of a new generation of smaller, slower mobility scooters.
By the time mobility scooters were widely used, the law was in place, and the issue was a relatively moot point.
Do You Need To Learn To Operate A Mobility Scooter?
Legally, you are not required to take any training before you use one, but any seller, distributor or manufacturer of mobility scooters will strongly recommend that you learn how to operate them, either on the road or on the pavement.
A mobility scooter on the road is treated as a car in many instances according to the Highway Code. You need to know to travel in the direction of traffic, follow the same rules for using indicators, lights at night and your horn when you need to, as well as understand your right of way as a mobility scooter rider.
This is especially important if a mobility scooter is your first vehicle and you do not have a driving license.
Similarly, whilst a class 2 mobility scooter is largely treated as a pedestrian in the eyes of the law, you need to learn to safely cross roads with one, and learn to navigate busy crowds safely.
Are There Any Requirements When Operating A Mobility Scooter?
Other than having a need to operate one, the two main requirements for class 3 mobility scooters (as opposed to class 2 scooters that only ride on pavements and paths) are that your mobility scooter is registered with the DVLA and that you are 14 years or over.
The registration will typically be undertaken by your dealer on your behalf, or if you are using a previously used mobility scooter, it is likely to have already been undertaken by the previous owner, although it is always better to check.
You do not need to insure your mobility scooter, although it is strongly recommended.
When Do You Need A Driving License To Operate A Mobility Scooter?
Generally, the only case when you will need to have a driving license to use a mobility scooter is if it is not considered to be in a class. This is typically the case for modified or overladen mobility scooters.
If it can travel faster than 8mph, then it is, as far as the law is concerned, a vehicle and is treated as such. This is also the case if it is wider than the legal maximum of 0.85m or the maximum weight of 150kg (200kg if required medical equipment is attached).
As these are vehicles and not mobility scooters, they also cannot be used on pavements or cycle tracks. They can only be used on the road and must be insured and the vehicle approved for use by the DVLA.
