Mobility scooters are single-seat vehicles that are designed to aid the mobility impaired. They may be gas-run, electrical or battery operated. These vehicles are designed in much the same manner as motorized scooters. They may have three or four wheels and can be maneuvered with a tiller or handlebar similar to one found in bicycles. Generally they have cushioned luxury seats and flat bases for footrests.

Several makes and brands of mobility scooters are available on the market. Mobility scooters can be designed for both internal as well as external traveling. Most scooters can be totally dismantled and stored when not in use. In higher versions, the chairs are mounted on swiveling rods to facilitate more mobility. There may also be provisions to recline the chair and use it for a quick nap. There are many added features provided by different manufacturers, but an omnipresent feature is the carrier, which is often attached below the handlebar.

The battery-operated mobility scooters are the most famous. They can be run on two 12-volt cyclic batteries, which may provide a running time of 8-10 hours, i.e. about 20 to 30 miles. Recent scooters have charging sockets on both sides of the base so that the rider can get the scooter charged even while remaining seated on it. Most mobility scooters are within the speed range of 4 mph to 8 mph. Those with lower speeds are more suited to the pavements and for indoor use, while those with higher speeds can be driven on the roads. They are lightweight and highly flexible.

Mobility scooters are much-appreciated motion aids for people with mobility problems. Even elderly people who find it difficult to walk or stand use such scooters. People who have reservations about using wheelchairs are now using mobility scooters. Sometimes mobility scooters are prescribed by physicians to people having mobility defects. People with problems such as paralysis or degeneration of nerve tissues are prescribed mobility scooters.

Mobility scooters are priced within the range of $550 to $1,200, depending on their features. This makes them very much cheap compared to wheelchairs, and that is one more reason explaining their tremendous popularity. Having a prescription for a mobility scooter is highly beneficial to the buyer, as most medical policies would then cover the entire cost of the scooter. Even otherwise, mobility scooters are VAT-exempted for mobility impaired persons.