Car Carriers for Mobility Scooters

How to Transport a Mobility Scooter: The Main Choices

Taking a mobility scooter on days out, to visit family or on holiday opens up a lot of freedom, but scooters are heavy and awkward to lift. Car carriers for mobility scooters solve this in different ways, and the right one depends on your scooter, your car and who will be doing the loading. Broadly, there are four options: a hoist that lifts the scooter into the boot, a ramp that lets you drive or push it in, a platform carrier that mounts on the towbar, or a scooter that splits or folds into light pieces. This guide explains how each works and what to check before buying.

How Do Boot Hoists Help Transport Mobility Scooters?

A car boot hoist uses an electric winch arm to lift a heavy mobility scooter directly into your vehicle luggage space. A strap or clamp attaches to the scooter, and a motor lifts it off the ground, swings it in and lowers it onto the boot floor. Hoists are popular because the scooter travels inside the car, protected from weather and theft, and because the user or a companion does not have to lift anything.

Hoists need a suitable car. The boot must be big enough for the scooter, the floor strong enough to take the mount, and the opening tall enough to swing the scooter through. Most hoists are fitted by a specialist, and some are designed for particular car models. Check how the hoist is powered, usually from the car battery, and whether it can be removed if you change cars.

How Do Boot Ramps Work for Loading Scooters?

Boot ramps allow you to roll or power a mobility scooter up into the rear of an estate car or van without manual lifting. They cost less than hoists and need no installation, but they suit larger vehicles such as estates, people carriers and SUVs with a low, wide boot opening. The steeper the ramp, the harder the scooter works, so a longer ramp is gentler. Driving a scooter up a narrow ramp into a boot takes care and practice, and it is not suitable for everyone. Our guides to the car boot ramp for mobility scooter use and to the lightweight car ramp for mobility scooter loading explain the options.

How Do Towbar Scooter Carriers Attach to Cars?

A towbar scooter carrier fixes an external platform onto your vehicle tow hitch to carry the scooter behind the car. The scooter is driven or pushed onto the platform, often via a small built-in ramp, and strapped down. Some platforms fold up against the car when empty. Carriers like these keep the boot free for luggage and suit cars with small boots.

There are important points to check. The towbar must be rated for the combined weight of the carrier and the scooter, known as the nose weight limit; exceeding it is unsafe. The carrier must not hide the number plate or rear lights, or it will need its own lighting board and plate. The scooter is exposed to rain and road grime, so a fitted cover is sensible. Our page on the wheelchair carrier for the back of a vehicle covers similar platforms.

Powered Platform Lifts

Some carriers combine a towbar platform with a powered lift that lowers to the ground so the scooter can be driven on, then raises it for travel. These reduce the effort needed but add weight on the towbar, so the nose weight limit becomes even more important. Our guide to the electric wheelchair hitch carrier explains how powered hitch platforms work.

A Folding or Splitting Scooter Instead?

For many people, the simplest answer is a scooter designed for transport. Boot scooters split into several pieces, such as the seat, battery, front and rear sections, each light enough to lift. Folding scooters collapse into a single compact unit, sometimes automatically. These fit in most car boots without any carrier.

The trade-off is that transportable scooters are usually smaller, with less range, less comfort and less ability on rough ground than larger models. If you already own a large scooter, a carrier is likely to be the answer. If you are buying a scooter mainly for trips, a travel scooter could avoid the need for a carrier altogether.

What to Check Before Buying a Carrier

Your Scooter

Find the weight of the scooter, including the battery, and its length, width and height. Larger class three road scooters can be too heavy or long for many carriers and hoists. GOV.UK explains the difference between classes in its guide to mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.

Your Car

Measure the boot opening and floor, check whether the car has a towbar and find its nose weight limit in the handbook. Think about the rear suspension too, since heavy loads on the back can affect handling.

Who Does the Loading

Consider the strength and mobility of whoever loads the scooter. A hoist needs someone to attach and guide the scooter; a ramp needs someone confident driving up it; a platform needs someone who can strap the scooter securely.

Securing the Scooter

However it travels, the scooter must be strapped down so it cannot move when you brake or corner. Use proper tie-down straps at the points the manufacturer recommends, and check them before every journey.

Loading Routine: A Calm, Repeatable Method

Whichever carrier you choose, a consistent routine makes loading quicker and safer. Park on level ground with plenty of space behind the car, well away from passing traffic. Put the scooter’s speed setting on its lowest level, or switch it off and use freewheel if you are pushing it. Remove the basket, any bags and loose items first, and fold the tiller down if the carrier requires it.

On a platform or ramp, line the scooter up straight before moving, then go slowly and steadily without stopping halfway. On a hoist, attach the lifting strap to the recommended points, take up the slack and check the scooter hangs level before swinging it in. Once it is in place, apply the brakes, fit the straps and give the scooter a firm push to make sure nothing moves. Reverse the process at the other end. Practising a few times at home, perhaps with a friend watching, builds confidence before a real trip. For more ramp ideas, see our guide to ramps for mobility scooters for cars.

Looking After the Carrier

Carriers live a hard life, exposed to rain, road salt and vibration. Rinse towbar platforms after winter journeys, check bolts and pins regularly, and keep moving parts lightly lubricated as the maker advises. Look over straps for fraying and replace them at the first sign of wear. For hoists, check the lifting strap and the electrical connection, and keep the boot mount clean. Remove a towbar carrier when you are not using it for a while, which also reduces wear and makes parking easier.

Insurance, Legal Points and Practicalities

Tell your car insurer about a towbar carrier or hoist, as it may count as a modification. Check that your scooter insurance covers it while in transit. When using a towbar carrier, allow for the extra length when parking and reversing. The NHS page on driving and using public transport links to wider help for disabled drivers and passengers.

Carrier Checklist

• What are the weight and dimensions of your scooter with its battery?
• Does your car’s towbar nose weight limit cover carrier plus scooter?
• Will the carrier hide the number plate or lights?
• Is your boot large enough for a hoist or ramp?
• Who will load the scooter, and can they manage the method?
• Would a folding or splitting scooter be simpler?