UK law is quite simple in answering this question: you don’t have to insure a mobility scooter, not even the bigger Class 3 models that zip along at eight miles an hour and need DVLA registration. No tax disc, no MOT, no third‑party cover in the way car drivers must carry. If you stop reading here, you could roll off entirely above board.
Real‑world stakes
But the law is only half the story. Picture a busy pavement on market day. Your front wheel nudges a stall’s folding leg, the whole display topples, and two dozen free‑range eggs decorate a stranger’s suede shoes. Or worse, you misjudge a kerb and knock an elderly gent to the ground.
He’s bruised, his glasses are smashed, and suddenly you’re staring at a compensation claim that makes your eyes water. Without insurance, every penny could come from your pocket.
Theft
Then there’s theft. Scooters aren’t light, yet a determined crook with a van can spirit one away in under a minute; police footage proves it.
Replacing a £2,500 machine from somewhere like Assurance Mobility at short notice is enough to stall anyone’s independence. Comprehensive insurance, by contrast, hands you a claims number and a hire scooter while yours is sorted.
Breakdowns in the drizzle
Imagine the battery conks out halfway between the pharmacy and home, dark clouds gathering overhead. Some policies now include roadside recovery – yes, for scooters. A flatbed turns up, whisks you (and your shopping) back inside before the heavens open. It’s not the most exciting, but neither is shivering in the rain while you phone every relative you know.
What it costs
Here’s the bit most first‑time buyers get wrong: insurance is cheap. For a pavement‑only model you’re looking at roughly forty to sixty quid a year – less than a weekly cappuccino habit. Road‑legal scooters come in closer to a hundred, sometimes more like 200. Pay annually, keep the scooter in a locked shed, maybe add an alarmed padlock, and premiums sink even lower.
How to pick a policy without a migraine
Skip the impulse buy at the checkout; those bundled offers often carry a convenience surcharge. Hop online, search “mobility scooter insurance”, and you’ll unearth half a dozen specialist firms in under ten minutes.
Look for three things: third‑party liability (non‑negotiable), theft and accidental damage (strongly advised), and breakdown cover (a lifesaver if you travel solo). Read the exclusions – some insurers won’t pay if you leave the scooter charging in a communal hallway or carry your grandchild on the footplate.
So, do you need it? Legally, no. Sensibly? Put it this way: you bought the scooter to regain freedom, not to gamble it. For the price of a Sunday roast for two, you can sidestep repair bills, legal letters, and that awful sinking feeling when a thief finds an opportunity.
Even just for the added peace of mind you’ll have while out and about, we reckon it’s worth it. Look at the options, get some professional advice, and do what makes you feel the most comfortable.
