The short answer: rent when the need is short, uncertain or tied to one trip. Price out buying when the need is long-term and you know which scooter fits the person, the house and the car. Most of the decision comes down to time and to what each quote actually includes.
This guide doesn't tell you whether a scooter is the right device for a medical need. That's a question for your doctor, therapist or the supplier's staff. It helps you set up the rent-or-buy decision so you can compare real quotes side by side.
Start with how long you'll need it
Time is the biggest factor, so write down your honest guess before you call anyone.
- A few days or weeks. A trip, a family event, or a short recovery. Renting usually makes sense here, because you hand the scooter back when you're done and someone else stores and services it.
- A few months, or you don't know yet. Renting lets you find out how much you use it, whether it fits through your doors, and whether you can load it into the car. You learn what to look for before you spend money on a purchase.
- Long-term, with a settled need. If you expect to use a scooter for a long time, get purchase quotes as well as rental quotes. Over a long enough period, a monthly rental can add up past the purchase price. Only your own quotes can tell you where that point is.
Also think about where the scooter will go. Businesses and state and local governments covered by the ADA must allow people with disabilities who use wheelchairs and scooters into all areas where members of the public are allowed to go [6]. Your own home, car and daily routes are the real limits, so measure doorways, ramps and the trunk before you choose.
Renting for a trip
If you're renting for a vacation or a visit, the questions are a little different from a home rental.
- Delivery to where you're staying. Will they deliver to a hotel, a rental home or a cruise terminal? Is pickup included at the end?
- Help on the road. Who do you call if the scooter stops working on day two, and how fast can they swap it?
- Charging. Does the rental include the charger? Will it work where you're staying?
- Flying. If you're flying with a scooter, the battery matters. The FAA says the passenger must tell the airline where the battery is on the device. For a lithium-ion battery that's removed from the device, the size limit is 300 watt hours and the battery goes in carry-on baggage only [5]. Lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries are forbidden with these devices [5]. For scooters with other battery types, the FAA says to contact your airline, because advance arrangements and extra check-in time may be needed [5].
Medicare's equipment benefit is built around items your doctor or other provider orders for use in your home [2]. If you're renting just for a trip, ask the business how it bills before you book, and read its rental agreement.
What a rental should include
The monthly or weekly rate is only part of the cost. Ask each supplier to list what's included and what costs extra.
- Delivery, setup and instructions. Medicare suppliers are responsible for delivering covered items and making sure you get the information and instructions you need to use them safely and effectively [4]. Ask any rental business for the same.
- Charger and accessories. Is a charger included? A basket, a cane holder, a cover?
- Repairs and replacement. For Medicare-covered rentals, the supplier must maintain and replace at no charge, or repair, the items it rented, and the item must work as intended afterward [4]. For a private rental, get the repair terms in writing.
- Returns. Medicare suppliers must accept returns of substandard items, or items that weren't suitable for the person at the time they were fitted and rented or sold [4]. Ask a private rental business what happens if the scooter doesn't fit your car or your home.
- Questions and complaints. Medicare suppliers must answer questions and respond to complaints about items they sold or rented [4]. Find out who you'd call, and when they answer.
- Deposit, minimum term and early return. How much is the deposit, and when do you get it back? Is there a minimum rental period? What if you return it early?
How Medicare handles scooters
Medicare Part B covers power-operated vehicles (scooters) if you're eligible, and only when they're medically necessary [1]. Before Medicare covers a scooter, you must have a face-to-face examination and a written prescription from a treating provider [1].
Medicare doesn't treat every piece of equipment the same way. Depending on the item, you may need to rent it, you may need to buy it, or you may be able to choose [1]. Some items become yours after you've made a certain number of rental payments [1]. Medicare suppliers must tell you that you may rent or buy inexpensive or routinely purchased equipment, and about the purchase option for capped rental equipment [4]. Ask the supplier which of these applies to the scooter you've been prescribed.
Medicare only pays for equipment from suppliers enrolled in Medicare [2]. After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if your supplier accepts assignment [1]. A supplier that accepts assignment agrees to charge you only the Medicare deductible and coinsurance, and it must submit your claim directly to Medicare [3].
The rental-specific rule is the one people miss. For rented equipment, Medicare says to make sure the supplier will accept assignment for all rental months. Otherwise you'll have to pay the full cost upfront, and Medicare pays you back later for the amount it covers [2]. Ask that question in exactly those words.
Questions to ask every supplier
Ask each supplier the same questions so you can line up the answers.
- "Do you rent this scooter, sell it, or both?"
- "What's the total for [your period], including delivery, setup, pickup and any deposit?"
- "What's included: charger, accessories, repairs, a replacement if it breaks?"
- "What's the purchase price, and what does it include: delivery, setup, a warranty, service?"
- "If I rent first and decide to buy, does any rent count toward the purchase?"
- "Can I return or exchange it if it doesn't fit my car or my home?"
- If you use Medicare: "Are you enrolled in Medicare, and do you accept assignment for every rental month?"
Write down each answer, the name of the person you spoke to, and the date.
How to compare quotes yourself
We don't publish prices, because they vary by supplier, by scooter and by place. You get the real numbers by calling. Then compare them on equal terms.
- Pick one time period. Use your best guess for how long you'll need the scooter, and price every option over that same period.
- Total the rental. Multiply the rate by the number of weeks or months, then add delivery, pickup, accessories and any fees. Note the deposit separately, since you may get it back.
- Total the purchase. Add the price, delivery, setup, and anything the seller says isn't covered by its warranty, such as batteries or service visits. Ask the seller what those usually involve for that model.
- Add your share of coverage, if any. If Medicare or another plan is involved, ask the supplier what your share would be under each option, in writing.
- Check the break-even point. If the rental total passes the purchase total well before your time period ends, buying may cost less. If it doesn't, renting keeps your options open.
Our rent-or-buy tool runs this comparison with the numbers you collect.
Where to go next
Use our supplier search to find scooter suppliers near you, then call with the questions above. Not sure what kind of scooter to ask about? Read our scooters overview and our guide to comparing folding mobility scooters.