Any advice re travel mobility scooters please?

Buying them new is very expensive the folding scooters are light but not very robust the small wheels would be OK on pavements but not gravel or grass.

Many places you visit have scooters for hire, make sure he will get the benefit from such a large cost.

I have looked at these for myself but none of them are light enough for me to put in the car, as I have a bad back. So you would need to think of the weight and the kind of car used as the sill of the boot could be a problem. I think hiring one where you go would be more of a starting point. Then you can find out which would be suitable if at all. I have a large disability scooter which I use here and it is good, but can still jolt on drains or rough ground. I would find the small ones painful to use outside, although they are fine in places like shopping malls. In fact I have had one to go round a shopping mall, so that might be a place to start, where you can find out if they are suitable for the person.

Thank you.
I don't think he'd be using it when alone so the lifting into the boot might not be an issue - but worth considering. Thank you.

DH had one which could be lifted into the boot in five sections but even so, two of them were very heavy and latterly we couldn’t manage them between us. He thought about a lighter folding one, but they are not very robust on any but the smoothest surfaces.
In the early days it meant he could enjoy days out to NT places, big antique fairs etc. Such places often have scooters to hire but not many, so I expect you have to book.

I noted NS was thinking of buying one for a third party - a young person - not for herself.

I think second hand could be the way forward, then if it’s not the success hoped for and isn’t much used, not as much money spent?
However, I really think the intended recipient should be consulted and taken to ‘test drive’ before any purchase is made. I’m sure NS isn’t buying one as a surprise?
My DD2 is disabled and I wouldn’t even get her a wheelchair cushion without running it all by her and getting her choice of what’s on offer.

It's exactly this kind if thing he's missing out on Cabbie and he has a young family. They do sometimes want to do things on the spur of the moment.

We have a family member, 41, who uses one because of M.E.
It comes apart to put it in the car boot.
Having the scooter has been a game changer.

We took it with us when we flew to the Canary Islands last summer.
The airline needed to know certain details eg make, model and battery type.
One thing I learned is that they can only carry three battery-powered items per flight, ie mobility scooter or electric wheelchair, so a degree of forward planning and booking is required.
We used the ambulift to get onto the plane so climbing the steps wasn't a problem.
You have to phone the airline to book any assistance required in advance and tell them the degree of help that will be necessary. I've done this many times with Jet2 and they've always been extremely helpful.

As regards hiring a scooter, I did this for Dad one day. He enjoyed it so we decided to buy one for him.

We went to the mobility centre in our local Dobbies garden centre. A friend had hers from there and recommended them.
We discussed Dad's requirements and he tried a couple of different ones in the store.
We took them outside and tried them in the boot of my car.
We decided on the Marlin "comfi rider" as a middle of the range between the very lightweight, small-wheeled ones and the bigger road-worthy ones.
The staff were extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
We bought new, it was £2,500.
They did have some used scooters as well.

Thank you I've looked the Marlin one up.
Does it go into something to send on a flight? A box/bag etc.
Do you have to adjust the seat and handle etc every time ?

I have seen people getting very lightweight, folding ones out of their car boots.

I saw a video of one that folds itself up into a suitcase size which seemed pretty clever.
I wondered if anyone had used one of these.
I suppose the smaller they are the more wobbly over curbs etc.

It was folded with a remote control but apparently had a button on it too.

NotSpaghetti

Thank you I've looked the Marlin one up.
Does it go into something to send on a flight? A box/bag etc.
Do you have to adjust the seat and handle etc every time ?

I did look for some sort of travel bag but couldn't find one.
I presume it was just parked in the hold on the plane, it's braked so wouldn't have been sliding about. We didn't actually see it at that point.
There was no damage to it at all.

Flying out from East Midlands we had to disconnect and remove the battery, then the airport staff found a cardboard (!) box to put it in.
Flying back from Arrecife the staff were happy that the battery was secure in situ and left it installed.
We allowed extra time at both airports as it was a separate member of staff who had to come and check everything over.

The seat just lifts off and clips back on.
One feature we like about the Marlin is that the seat swivels for ease of access. The arm rests lift up as well.
The steering handle folds down, there's a small wheel to loosen and tighten it.
The battery compartment at the back will detach to reduce the overall length if necessary, I don't need to do that.
I can lift the front wheels onto the edge of my car boot, then lift the back wheels and swivel it round into place. There's a handle either end.
The shop assistant demonstrated all this to us, then I had a go myself.

Obviously every car is different, which is why I would recommend going to look at different scooters with the car and person who would be with the scooter user present. You need to be sure it will be a workable combination.

I suppose the smaller they are the more wobbly over curbs etc.

The lighter weight scooter Dad tried definitely seemed less stable!

I like the look of the one's that fold with a remote control.
I couldn't bend to dismantle the other sort .

Thank you all.
No rush but feel it would be nice to have for them for the summer.

Some of them involve his personal weight. I do not know if they are the very lightweight ones.

Google your local Disability shop and see what they have to offer. I believe some are for indoors only.

This sounds horrendous, but where I live, one could be knocked out of it, the item stolen and sold.

I'm pretty sure if you claim PIP you can get them through the motobility scheme

I’d hire one first before buying . With my fil we hired one at a shopping mall , however he struggled to drive it . He had no spatial awareness and kept running into things .

My Dad bought a mobility scooter when he became too breathless to walk far. It worked well enough initially then his needs changed. He was adamant, he’d have been wiser to hire one so it could be easily changed as his needs changed. That may not be the case for your younger relation notspaghetti but would perhaps be a good option to ‘try it and see’.

Thank you all.
Very much appreciated.
He is very slight but obviously that could in fact make them even more 'tippy'.

Has anyone used the self-folding type?