People all over the United States, Canada, and the rest of the World have been using mobility scooters since the mid 60's. They are personal mobility vehicles that can be used as a walking aid for those that have difficulty moving and walking. There are several different kinds, so it is important to find one that is perfect for your needs.

TRAVEL SCOOTERS: These types of scooters are, as implied by their name, intended to be easily transportable. They are light weight and usually provide only the features that are necessary to provide safe and reliable service. Their range and speed are generally a little less than a heavy duty scooter or a non-travel scooter, but they can be completely disassembled quickly into several easy to handle pieces. Typically the heaviest piece will be the battery compartment, which weighs around 25 - 30 pounds. You can easily place a travel scooter in the trunk of your car or other tight quarters. These types of scooters are great for travel over asphalt, concrete, and tightly packed ground, but are not as well suited to the outdoors.

HEAVY DUTY SCOOTERS: These types of scooters provide a very valuable service. They are designed to be rugged and sturdy. They have a higher ground clearance, larger tires, and are frequently 4-wheel drive. This makes them perfect for the outdoors and they can be used to travel over most types of outdoor terrain. In addition to being great for the outdoors they also usually support much more weight than travel scooters and non-travel scooters and they also have much better balance. They are however usually not as well suited for use in tight quarters, so they might not be the best choice if you intend to use your mobility scooter indoors or in other areas with very limited turning space. A heavy duty scooter can also not be transported as easily, so you will likely need to invest in a vehicle lift or vehicle ramp if you intend to use it away from the home. They travel at speeds in excess of 10 miles per hour and have very substantial per charge range, some well over 40 miles per charge. They also are packed with special features such as improved seats and lighting packages.

NON-TRAVEL SCOOTERS: A non-travel scooter is the middle ground between a heavy duty scooter and a travel scooter. They support more weight, have larger ranges, and more features than a travel scooter, but can not be used over the same rough terrain than a heavy duty scooter. Transportation is easiest with a vehicle lift, but most can be disassembled. The individual pieces of a non-travel scooter will not be as easy to handle though, and the heaviest piece will probably be at least 50 pounds.

There are two other types of scooters which are available in all three categories.

3-WHEELED SCOOTERS: These types of scooters have two rear wheels and one up front. They have excellent maneuverability and are great for indoor use. In most cases though, due to the way the weight is distributed, they have decreased balance and stability. They are not as well suited for larger individuals or those who intend to use their scooter outdoors over rougher terrain. There are a few heavy duty scooters that use only 3-wheels, but these feature reinforced frames and improved suspension, which counters these inadequacies.

4-WHEELED SCOOTERS: These types of scooters have improved balance and stability, which makes them much better suited at outdoor travel and supporting more weight. This is because the weight is evenly distributed between the front and the back of the device. This stability comes at the cost of maneuverability though, and a 4-wheeled scooter will have an increased turning radius.