Mobility scooter or electric wheelchair? How to tell which one you need
They look like cousins, but they solve different problems. Six questions that tell you which one fits the rider.
· 3 min read
The short answer: rent if you need a scooter for a trip, an event or a recovery that will end. Buy if you will ride most days for many months. If you are not sure yet, rent first: it is the cheapest way to find out whether a scooter fits the rider's life.
Start with how long you need it
The single biggest factor is time. Price, model and features come after.
- A day to a week: a holiday, a city break, a cruise stop, a wedding, a family visit. Rent.
- A few weeks to a few months: recovery after surgery or an injury, or a trial before buying. Rent long-term.
- Open-ended, most days: getting to the shops, seeing friends, everyday independence. Buy, or buy refurbished.
A simple sum
Divide the purchase price by the rental price per day. The answer is roughly how many rental days a purchase is worth.
With our current prices, an eTricycle 2 costs €1,599 to buy and €39 a day to rent in Tallinn, or €89 for three days. Buying costs about the same as 41 single rental days. If you need a scooter for a week's holiday, renting is clearly cheaper. If you will ride it every week for a year, buying is.
The sum leaves out a few things on each side:
- Renting usually includes delivery, collection and support, and nothing to store or maintain afterwards. Rentals often carry a refundable deposit (ours is €200).
- Buying comes with charging, storage, servicing and, eventually, a decision about what to do with it. On the other side, a scooter keeps some value: you can sell it later.
When renting wins
- Travel. No battery paperwork at the airport and no risk of damage in the hold. See our guide to flying with a mobility scooter.
- Recovery. A broken ankle or a hip operation has an end date. Renting avoids owning a vehicle you won't need in three months.
- Not sure yet. Many people, and especially many older riders, are unsure whether they will use a scooter at all. A few weeks of rental answers that for much less than a purchase.
When buying wins
- Everyday use. If the scooter is how the rider gets to the shops and to friends, the rental days add up fast.
- A specific fit. Riders who need a particular seat, size or setup do better with their own vehicle.
- Support with the cost. In some countries state or insurance support applies to purchases, not rentals. In Estonia, read our guide to assistive device subsidies.
The middle options
- Buy refurbished. The eT 2R is a refurbished eTricycle 2, a cheaper way to own one.
- Sell it back. If your needs change, our buy-back takes the scooter off your hands.
- Try before either. Our free home trial brings a scooter to your door to ride on your own streets.
Questions to ask before you decide
- How many days in the next year will the rider actually use it?
- Where will it be stored and charged?
- Who will service it, and how fast?
- Is any financial support available for buying?
- What happens to it when the need ends?
Prices on this page were correct on the date shown at the top. For current rental prices see mobility scooter rental in Tallinn.