Buying a Pre-Owned Mobility Scooter

People who have problems with walking have found that a mobility scooter can be an enormous help. A medical mobility scooter can return the ability to freely move around but can be a costly acquisition. A possible alternative to stay within your budget may be to buy a second-hand scooter which will cost a lot less.

As a number insurance companies will cover much of the cost of a scooter, find out from your insurance company if this is the case. For people that need a mobility scooter, this is the optimal path to take if possible. However if there is no help from your insurance company, you can economize by buying a pre-owned mobility scooter. Buying a pre-owned mobility scooter is a reasonably safe option. Even though they may have been modified for the previous rider they can easily be modified to your requirements, and mobility scooters are built to last for many years. However, before you choose one keep in mind the following points.

When buying a used mobility scooter the primary consideration is the battery. You will want to try the power source, so you’ll need to have the present owner charge it up. A new battery can be bought but the battery must be charged to try out the scooter to make sure it is suitable. Next, check out the tires. Of course, you can replace the tires, but you’ll need reasonably good tires to use in the meantime. For inside use and for paved walkways, it is recommended that you use small, untreaded tires. For using on terrain that is rougher, the preferable tire will be bigger and treaded. Next consider the seat; it must be comfy and practical. Once again, seats can be upgraded if need be, but you don’t want to wait to use the scooter until you fit a new one. Things to think about when considering the seat are whether you prefer a plastic material or cloth covered seat. Vinyl is much easier to clean but can make you sweaty and uncomfortable when the weather is hot. A cloth seat is more comfortable but not so easy to clean. Be aware though that for extended periods, any seat may become uncomfortable.

All mobility scooters allow you to replace or upgrade the majority of the parts and accessories. So you can adjust the scooter in line with your particular needs. The seat, battery, tires and battery charger are some of the various parts that are interchangeable on a mobility scooter.

It would be a good idea to discuss the mobility scooter with the owner. In this way you will discover how the scooter has been used and if there are problems you’ll need to know about. Remember that you can upgrade many of the parts of the used mobility scooter you purchase!

For more information on medical mobility scooters and some good deals visit Cheap Mobility Scooters.

photo credit: MonkeySimon