Why Do I Need Mobility Insurance?
24 Aug 2018
This is a question that many people ask. According to the Gov.uk website, you don’t need mobility insurance for your mobility scooter, however, it’s worth getting to ensure peace of mind should something happen. Most of the time, there are never any mishaps and everything is okay but having that safety net can make all the difference if it is ever needed.
What would you do if your mobility scooter was damaged?
If your mobility scooter falls victim to damage through intent or accident, it may mean that you won’t be able to use it. If you don’t have insurance, this could mean paying a lot of money for new parts or even a new mobility scooter. Having mobility insurance will help to make sure that you will have easy and convenient options open to you to get you out and about quicker.
Property damage
If your scooter causes damage to another person’s property it could result in a large bill to pay. Having public liability insurance in your policy give you the reassurance that these costs would be covered in the event of such an accident.
If your scooter breaks down, what would you do?
A mobility insurance policy could cover you in the event of a breakdown, so that you would be covered for the costs of getting you and your scooter home (within a certain radius). You can also get mechanical breakdown cover as well, in a separate policy, to cover the costs of repairing any mechanical damage. The policy could also cover a replacement, should it be impossible to repair the current one, or even a hire scooter while yours is being repaired.
How sure are you that you will never lose your keys?
If you lose your keys and cannot find them, or worse the lock is damaged or the keys are stolen, this will make your mobility scooter unusable. Getting the keys and lock replaced can be costly, as can the re-programming of immobilisers. If you get key insurance with your policy, you are protected against this and will be able to pay a certain amount towards the costs of getting this sorted.
How long does your warranty last?
Depending on the manufacturer and seller, you may only have a short warranty period so it may be worth extending your warranty with mechanical breakdown insurance. This will make sure that your scooter continues to be covered for repairs in the event of mechanical failure.
Accidents involving other pedestrians
While you might not need to purchase insurance to be able to use your mobility scooter legally, it is important to think about what could happen while you are out and about. For example, if you are using your mobility scooter and are involved in an accident with a pedestrian, it may be necessary for you to go to court. As well as covering for your public liability some policies will cover legal costs for this so you have one less thing to worry about.
Important things to remember
While an insurance policy will cover you for a lot of things, it is also important to make sure you are adhering to the below points:
- Reggularly maintaining the mobility scooter, as not doing so could invalidate your policy.
- Depending on the type of mobility scooter you own, you may also need to get a free tax disk to display on it.
- You must also research the legal uses of your mobility scooter, as some are only allowed on the pavement and some can be used on the road. Improper use of a mobility scooter could invalidate your insurance policy.
- Make sure that the scooter on the policy matches the one you are currently using, as your policy will only cover the named vehicle, even if you change scooters.
If you want more information on our mobility insurance, please feel free to get in touch with us and we can take you through our options so you can make the right decisions, based on your requirements.
If you wish to compare insurance prices, check out our mobility scooter insurance comparison page.
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