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Registration of mobility scooters

The subject of registering scooters with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)  received a lot of media coverage at the end of 2006 and is still a matter of regular enquiries to ESDA, so here are the facts about registering scooters:

There is a legal requirement to register a scooter with the DVLA, but it only applies to Class 3 scooters (those that can do more than 4mph and have lights) for road use.

A Class 3 scooter that is registered with the DVLA will have a tax disc issued to display for road use. At present, the DVLA will register the Class 3 powered mobility scooters under the ''Disabled Taxation Class'' using a V55 form. For Class 2 vehicles (those restricted to 4mph), the DVLA have exercised an extra statutory power which states that they do not need to be registered.

You must be over the age of 14 to drive a Class 3 scooter and should be able to read a car number plate at a distance of 40 feet.

More information can be found on the DVLA website: www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/invalid_vehicles.aspx or you can phone the DVLA on: 0870 240 0010.

We are aware that only a handful of people have actually registered their scooter with the DVLA. The Department for Transport tell us that the law requiring registration is not enforced.

Insurance for scooters is not mandatory. ESDA''s view is that it is essential. There are various providers of insurance for scooters - please contact ESDA''s Information Service for further details or advice.

Further information about scooters is readily available from ESDA''s Disabled Living Centre (DLC). We have several scooters that we use for assessment purposes, but please make sure you ring first as the DLC is a strictly appoinment-only service.

We are currently waiting to hear from the DVLA as to whether there is a conflict for people who would want to register their scooter, but already have an exempt tax disc on a car.

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