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Mobility scooters, ramps and help at home

Most people come to mobility equipment when something changes. The rules and the help on offer come from different people. Here are the main ones, with links to the official pages.

Which class a scooter is in

In Great Britain, the government sorts mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs into classes. A scooter with a top speed of 4 mph or less is usually class 2. One with a top speed of 8 mph is usually class 3. A vehicle is not in a class if it can go faster than 8 mph, is wider than 0.85 metres, or weighs more than 150 kg (200 kg with equipment such as medical equipment attached). The seller or maker can usually tell you the class.

Where each class may go

In Great Britain, class 2 and class 3 may use pavements and other pedestrian areas, at 4 mph at most. They may also use cycle tracks, which are kept apart from the road by a barrier or a gap. No class may use a cycle lane painted on the road.

Class 3 may also go on the road, but not in bus lanes or on motorways. A vehicle that is not in a class may only go on the road.

Registration and eyesight in Great Britain

In Great Britain, class 3 vehicles must be registered with DVLA. So must vehicles that are not in a class, and their drivers need a valid driving licence.

A class 2 or class 3 driver should be able to read a car's number plate from 12.3 metres. For a vehicle that is not in a class, the distance is 20 metres.

Northern Ireland

Rules 36 to 46 of the Highway Code on nidirect set out the classes for Northern Ireland. Class 2 vehicles have an upper speed limit of 4 mph and are for footways and footpaths. Class 3 vehicles have an upper limit of 8 mph and may go on the road as well. On a footway, both must keep to 4 mph. Neither may be used on a motorway. Those rules do not cover registration or eyesight, so check with nidirect.

Ramps for a step

Approved Document M, volume 2, sets the rule for permanent ramps in non-domestic buildings in England. Its Table 1 gives these limits for each flight:

No flight may rise more than 500 mm. Portable ramps are often steeper than this, so ask an assessor which gradient you can manage.

VAT relief on equipment

HMRC sets the conditions for VAT relief across the UK in VAT Notice 701/7. The person must be "chronically sick or disabled" in HMRC's sense. The goods must be on HMRC's list of eligible goods. They must be for that person's personal or domestic use.

HMRC also sets a reduced rate of VAT on some aids, such as grab rails, ramps and stairlifts, when a supplier fits them in the home of someone aged 60 or over. The supplier will ask you to sign a declaration; only you can say whether it is true.

Who can assess you

In England, for a wheelchair, a GP, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or hospital staff can refer you to your local NHS wheelchair service. The NHS says mobility scooters are not generally available on the NHS.

In England and Wales, you can ask your council's social services for a needs assessment. In England, the NHS says this assessment is free and anyone can ask for one.

Disabled Facilities Grants

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a Disabled Facilities Grant helps pay for changes to a disabled person's home. In England and Wales, you apply through your local council. GOV.UK says you might not get a grant if work starts before the council approves it.

In Northern Ireland, the grant comes from the Housing Executive, and your local Health and Social Services Trust starts the process. Disabled Facilities Grants are not available in Scotland. The Scottish Government has a page on equipment and adaptations.

Useful links

We read each of these pages on 19 October 2026.