Tandem mobility scooters are no different from a conventional driver-only model, other than their stretched chassis and additional seat. However, they are not currently legal to use on British roads or pavements.
According to the Department for Transport:
Tandem mobility scooters cannot legally be used on pavements or roads in Britain. In law, a mobility scooter and a powered wheelchair are both considered to be an ‘invalid carriage’, defined under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. The specific definition is: Section 20 (2) “invalid carriage” means a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of one person, being a person suffering from some physical defect or disability.
The Department does not have any plans to amend the legislation to make Tandem mobility scooters lawful.
There are two categories of mobility scooter. Class 2 mobility scooters can’t be used on the road (except where there isn’t a pavement) and have a maximum speed of 4 mph. This type of mobility scooter does not need to be registered. Class 3 mobility scooters can be used on the road, and have a maximum speed of 4 mph off the road, and 8 mph on the road.
A report commissioned by the Department for Transport found that many suppliers of mobility scooters fail to inform their customers of the legal requirement to register these larger class 3 scooters with the DVLA. To register a class 3 mobility scooter, complete form V55/4 for new vehicles, or V55/5 for used vehicles.
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Matt Hodges
A few years ago a tandem mobility scooter was seen frequently on Morecambe Promenade and was featured in the local paper. It was used by an elderly couple where one of them, I think the lady, could not manage a normal mobility scooter. I have a picture of it with riders probably scanned from the local paper or the papers website.
I would also point out that a tandem tricycle with pedelec electric assist is legal provided it complies with the electric bicycle regulations which would require one of the riders to provide some of the power by pedalling. Also it would not require DVLA licensing and would be able to have electric power up to 15.5 mph.
An electric assist trike can be very useful for people with limited mobility provided they can pedal or hand crank.
Gordon Higginbottom
Is it permitted to use a tandem mobility Scooter on the road/pavement . My wife & I are OAPs I am a blue badge holder ( spinal probs) with a current full driving licence, & my wife suffers from R/A . My local Motobility shop recommends & sells tandem mobility scooters- insisting they are now legally allowed on roads when registered in the uk. Is this correct? We use them on hols abroad in europe legally, but I cannot find out about the UK- hence this message , if they are legal I require a reg form . It would then mean we can shop together ….wonderful. Please advise . I have asked previously with no response.If it is NOT legal How can the shop Sell & demonstrate them on the High St
The ETA
Hello Gordon
We would suggest you ask the shop for further details. Are they suggesting that you can register a tandem model as a category three mobility scooter? we have been told by the Department for Transport that tandem mobility scooters do not conform to the current definition of an ‘invalid carriage’ – the legal term used to describe mobility scooters. It may be that your shop is suggesting that you register the tandem as a quadricycle, but this would mean you’d need a number plate and MOT etc and you wouldn’t be entitled to ride it on the pavement.
Suzanne
I have a severely disabled adult daughter who does not have the capacity to control an electric scooter. Surely its discrimination under the equalities act if no reasonable adjustments can be put in place, such as a two seater scooter, to allow her to use one?
Old guy on a bike
https://bikeportland.org/2018/02/19/chris-billman-is-the-only-oregonian-with-a-disabled-parking-decal-for-his-bicycle-268675
N Barrow
Hi, I have a three wheeled TGA scooter with a double seat (side by side ) it is no wider than the mud guards, we are both disabled with blue badges etc. with the single seat I can ride it on the pavement, does this also apply with my double seat. if not why?
Yannick Read
The bench seat on a TGA scooter is wide enough to accommodate two people, but technically I think it is a single seater
leslie stace
i have 3 scooters plus a elec,chair wife cant drive she go over people feet we both have blue badges i wuold give anything for a tanden she house bound i have a trailer to go to eastbourn to drive along the promernade if i can get a tanden, any body cot won for sale please 07873733184
leslie stace
64 vervon road uckfield e ,sussex tn225dy
leslie stace
thank you so much lesstace
John Allsop
I wanted a tandem mobility scooter, my wife has problems driving a single seater, but the DVLA informed me they are not legal so they must not be used on public roads, private roads are ok with the permission of the owner of the private road. I didn,t buy one although they are on sale in the UK which should be also be illegal.
John Allsop
How can we get the law changed to allow two seat mobility scooters on the roads?. I have now bought an electric assist Trike with a seat on the back for my wife, not ideal as the seat foot rest can,t be lowered.
Yvonne Parsons
I would dearly love to own a tandem scooter. We used to have a car but my Husband has M.D. and can’t see very well. I don’t drive but have a blue badge as I don’t walk well. Our lives at the moment is just sitting indoors, . I could have a scooter, but what about Tom? He wouldn’t be able to see where he was going. So a tandem would be a god send. We must get the law changed on this.
Dean
The best way to get the law changed is to start an online petition and get enough signatures. At least 100k signatures would be needed but shouldn’t be that hard if it is posted on every disability group on social media.
It is disgraceful that although some of the 2 seater scooters are near enough the same size as a single one (TGA Supersport with bench seat comes to mind) you are still not allowed to carry 2 people on them on public land.
I rang the Department For Transport myself once to complain as my mother cannot get out of the house without her mobility scooter and my sister is mentally handicapped and needs my mum to do everything for her. There is no way my sister is capable of operating one so allowing my mum to drive a 2 seater with my sister would be the solution and give them both a better life. The Department for Transport were very clear that there are no plans to change the law no matter what reasons I gave. I even gave an example of someone who cannot walk far and their partner being blind with walking difficulties but they were not interested.
I think it is time for people to make some noise so it gets changed.
Yvonne Parsons
I have written to the editors of 3 daily newspapers about this disgrace. The Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday and The Daily Expresss. Hoping that they will come to our aid. If you all wrote to them, that would add weight to my letter.
Yvonne Parsons
I have an a reply to my letter from my MP Sir Hugo Swire. He says that he’s written to the Secretary of State for Transport, for his comments on the points that I raised and as soon as He hears back he’ll let me know. Keeping all fingers crossed.
How about you all writing to your MP?
Yvonne Parsons
I have now received a reply from my M.P. Sir Hugo Swire with a copy of a letter from Mr Grant Shapps the new Secreatary of State for Transport, he says he has instructed his officials to look into how they can harness technology to improve mobility for everyone. I think that sounds hopeful.
Erica Sheen
Please would you try to get twin seater mobility scooters street and pavement legal, both of us are disabled and are very limited. In walking, we therefore never get in to our local towns, we thought having a twin seater mobility scooter would answer our prayers, but just looking on line for one, have had my hopes destroyed by finding out that they are not legal, why make and sell them. When they can’t be used..
chris king
i think we all get a petition together send to gov and get the law changed ,
Rodney Burstow
I am unable to drive now and being reliant on family to convey us about is extremely inconvenient, my wife of 68 years is near blind and is unable to walk far, we are both blue badge holders, I would love to have a tandem mobility scooter but if they are not legal on the road or pavement not much use are they!
Mark Whittaker
I was about to purchase a tandem trike for myself and wife, my wife has terminal cancer and other medical problems, as her carer I’m astonish how little all the needs of a disabled person and their carer are taken into consideration. My wife suffers from chemo brain so could not be trusted to drive a scooter alone, further more myself having joint and pain issues would be in distress just trying to keep up. We live on a second floor flat, prisoners get out more! Having legal access to a more suitable scooter would change our life completely, how do I know this because we hired one in Majorca when we went on our last family holiday, WE should not have to pertition No 10 for a change, reasonable people would see the benefits for all the people who already have the daily challenges disability gives, not to be given the means to enjoy just a little benefit, WELL Death is welcomed! Hope I can get a tandem coffin.
George Mossop
I will sign the petition for dual mobility scooters to be made legal.
George Mossop
I will sign any petition for dual mobility scooters to be legally driven on footpaths & roads as well as single scooters.
J K ALMOND
I am 85 years old my wife 84 I used to drive hgvs but due to age and medical I decided to stop driving but cinse that my wife as got dimencer and can’t use the controls so I cannot go out as I cannot leave her on own I would to get a tandem mobility scooter pleas make it possible Excuse speling J k Almond
PHILIP HANNAM
I saw a tandem scooter advertised , where the passenger sat on a towed chair which could be detached for solo use, it was ideal for me, but too far to fetch, is that legal.
The ETA
That’s interesting – sounds like a clever way to circumnavigate what is clearly a silly law
Mrs Pat Turner
We have just purchased a new tandem mobility scooter, the seller has charged us VAT because they say it isn’t a mobility scooter. My question is does the driver need a licence? He is on disability benefit and is 83.
The ETA
The seller should have made it clear to you that a tandem mobility scooter cannot be used legally on the pavement or the road. Strictly speaking, the only place you can use them is private property.
Sue
I bought a beautiful tandem mobility scooter last month unfortunately I didn’t know then they can only be used on private land.
Now I have to find someone to buy it.
John Allsop
Is it nice to know or is it terrible to know that so many people have the genuine need for a two seat scooter and our Government and stupid laws say we can,t have one. I have tried a battery assist two seat trike and it,s far from ideal, at 82 I can,t peddle up the hill to get out of town, as soon as I have to stop peddling the power goes off until I start peddling again, on a steep hill I can,t do it and have to keep the brakes on to stop rolling back into traffic, it,s more dangerous than a two seat scooter could be, but the law says it,s OK. There are plenty of two seat scooters for sale can,t the sellers tell the Government people want them but are frightened to buy because of being taken to court and find heavily for using them.
terence manning
i have a class two mobility scooter which i have insured. i think all mobility scooters should be taxed and insured by law. they are not a toy.
terence manning
the shops that sell mobility scooters electric wheelchairs should register them with dvla before selling them.
Pamela Ashton
So many places abroad where you can hire double mobility scooters. My husband has dementia and can no longer drive and I don’t drive but I found our scooter so easy to use and could get him here there and everywhere while on holiday in Tenerife. Now at home we have no transport and have to rely on others. As I am his full time carer we are at least able to use our local rideability.If they change the law at least we would have our independence back.
john sampson
I live in n/Ireland and would back any petition to change law on twin seat scooters I thought n/I was the only place with stupid laws and most of are m/p etc just as bad where else would you get paid for doing nothing
david hepton
Get a taxi
John Allsop
With the present Covid-19 and all it,s implications probably nothing can be done, but our MPs might have time to think about having the law changed, so that two seat scooters could be made legal to use on our roads. So we could all write or send an e-mail to our MP asking him or her to look into making it legal to use two seat scooters, we could even ask them to look at this comments site so they can see that there is a need for these scooters and many people have the need for one who don,t know about us .Somehow we have to bring this into public view.
Nina
I suffer from SPS and I only have my confidence if my carer is with me. I got a lovely scooter, but am not able to go anywhere on my own. I just need someone with me.
I understand that mobility scooters are suppossed to make one independent, But I need someone there to feel secure.
Please, please make it legal for at least, one passenger to travel with me on my lovelyscooter.
Nin
Ann Horne
I gave up driving some years ago. My Husband has just given up his car,health reasons.
I would love to buy a tandem scooter, but it has to be legal. Stupid law
. I
Chris Newman
We have only recently found out about tandem mobility scooters , we didn’t know such a thing existed until sent a photo by a friend. Very briefly it gave us hope as we are both disabled and thought buying one would give us back our independence to get out and about together instead of being shut in the house. So our disappointment was intense when we now discover that they are illegal. The law much be changed .
Persis Christ
3 seated tiny scooter is no different then 2 seated scooter which should be legal with same features of Class 3 government law since other European countries are using without problems.
Janice cullen
Has anybody set up an online petition to legalize two seater mobility scooters yet ?
william young
I too — have a partner with damentia . A dual disabled scooter would be a treat to behold. Yes it is well pst time the government responsible got their finger out & legalised them!!!!!!!
Mrs.E.Parkinson
My husband has lost his sight I was thrilled when I read about the 2 seater electric wheelchair
I was considerating buying one for us too get out and about as I
also have health problems it would have been lovely for us both .But I could not believe it when I read you can’t use them in this Country but can use them in other countries .It would have been wonderful having one for us too get out and about .Come on change the Law it would make an awful lot of disabled people and there cares too get out instead of sitting in there four walls day in day out.
Please someone get a petition up and running
I would like the Prime Minister too give these emails a few minuets of his of time too read them &
understand how we all feel .Life is Too Short.