You do not need a licence to drive a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, but you may have to register it. Only certain types can be driven on the road . The law calls these types of vehicles ‘invalid carriages’. Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs come in 2 categories: ‘class 2 invalid carriages’ - these cannot be used on the road (except where there is not a pavement) and have a maximum speed of 4mph ‘class 3 invalid carriages’ - these can be used on the road, and have a maximum speed of 4mph off the road, and 8mph on the road You do not need to register a class 2 invalid carriage. You must register class 3 invalid carriages . You must be 14 or over to drive a class 3 invalid carriage.

Rules for class 3 invalid carriages

The law calls mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs that can be used on the road ‘class 3 invalid carriages’. They must have the following features: a maximum unladen weight of 150kg a maximum width of 0.85 metres a device to limit its speed to 4mph a maximum speed of 8mph an efficient braking system front and rear lights and reflectors direction indicators able to operate as a hazard warning signal an audible horn a rear view mirror an amber flashing light if it’s used on a dual carriageway You could be stopped by the police if your class 3 invalid carriage does not have these features.

You can only drive on the road in a class 3 invalid carriage. The maximum speed is 8mph. You cannot drive on bus lanes, ‘cycle only’ lanes or motorways. Avoid using dual carriageways with a speed limit of over 50mph. You must use an amber flashing light for visibility if you use a class 3 invalid carriage on a dual carriageway. Road rules You must follow the Highway Code if you drive your mobility scooter on the road.

Driving on footpaths and parking

All mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs can legally travel at a maximum of 4mph on footpaths or in pedestrian areas. You cannot drive any type of mobility scooter or powered wheelchair on cycle paths marked ‘cycle only’. Parking All normal parking restrictions apply to mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs. Your vehicle should not be left on a footpath or pedestrian area on its own if it gets in the way of other pedestrians, including wheelchair users and people with prams or pushchairs.

Eyesight requirements

There is no legal eyesight requirement to drive mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs, but you should be able to read a car’s registration number from a distance of 12.3 metres (40 feet). You must check that you can still do this regularly. You might have to pay compensation if you have an accident and poor eyesight was part of the cause.

You can only drive a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair if you: have trouble walking because of an injury, physical disability or medical condition are demonstrating the vehicle before it’s sold are training a disabled user are taking the vehicle to or from maintenance or repair

Vehicle tax, registration and insurance

You do not have to pay vehicle tax for any mobility scooter or powered wheelchair if it’s registered as a ‘class 3 invalid carriage’. Check whether a vehicle is registered as an ‘invalid carriage’ by asking the seller when you buy it. Change the owner’s details when you buy a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair When you buy a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, the seller will make you the ‘registered keeper’. This means the vehicle will be in your name. You’ll get a new vehicle log book (V5C) in the post within 4 weeks of the sale. If you do not get a new vehicle log book 4 weeks after the sale, fill in an ‘Application for a vehicle registration certificate’ (V62) and send it to DVLA . Change your name or address If you need to change your name or address, fill in section 6 of your vehicle log book and send it to DVLA . If your mobility scooter or powered wheelchair is not a registered vehicle Most scooters and wheelchairs will already be registered by the dealer or manufacturer before you buy them. If your vehicle is not registered, register it by filling in: form V55/4 for new vehicles form V55/5 for used vehicles Insurance You do not need insurance for a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, although it’s recommended.

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs: the rules

Overview

You do not need a licence to drive a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, but you may have to register it. Only certain types can be driven on the road. The law calls these types of vehicles ‘invalid carriages’.

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs come in 2 categories:

‘class 2 invalid carriages’ - these cannot be used on the road (except where there is not a pavement) and have a maximum speed of 4mph
‘class 3 invalid carriages’ - these can be used on the road, and have a maximum speed of 4mph off the road, and 8mph on the road

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs: the rules

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