Mobility scooter insurance in USA

welshsmartie

Hi there Folks. I am hoping someone can help. After years of wanting to go to the USA we have finally saved enough money but unfortunately my wife has become disabled and now uses a mobility scooter.

This is fine in the UK as we have easily found insurance cover for it. Taking it to the USA is a real issue though as I can't find anyone who will provide comprehensive cover whilst we are there, especially not for any public liability.

Any suggestions you have are welcome.

Cheers.

jonesMUFCforever

Are you wanting to take your own scooter or will you be hiring one over there?

EycplUK

Best to hire one in the States , most come with insurance , depends where you are going ?
It`s no problem at the airport or on the plane as wheelchair assistance can be booked and provided by the carrier , best one we have found in this respect was Emirates whose assistance program is above excellent from terminal to terminal

*Scarlett

I agree. It would be better to hire one for when you are there and arrange insurance with the supplier.

I would guess that the airline will charge a premium to carry the mobility scooter and you will always have the risk of damage (which may be covered by insurance but could be a hassle and ruin your holiday)

If your wife requires assistance / wheel chair then most airlines will provide this.

Make sure that the holiday company that you are booking with can meet your requirements for this.

welshsmartie

Thanks for the replies so far. We are flying with Air Canada who have been brilliant and who are happy to take the scooter free of charge.

If we take my wife's scooter which is insured fully comp in the UK then it is covered for for only damage and theft in the USA but not for public liability. I have rung every scooter US scooter hire company that I have managed to find via hours of googling and none of them offer public liability.

At the moment it is looking like we will have to find a specialist broker who deals in unusual stuff and pay through the nose for it. Going to the USA without public liability on any scooter, owned or hired, really worries me with their attitude towards suing people.

jonesMUFCforever

Trying not to be flippant here - don't run into OR over anybody then LOL

EycplUK

Could help if we knew where you were going to be in the states

welshsmartie

Sorry I should have said, we are going to Florida

rs65

Have you tried the PL section on your home and travel policies?

welshsmartie

Thanks for that idea. So far I have just tried our current home insurance and have now started ringing around other companies as ours is due for renewal this month but none of them will cover us in the USA.

From the reactions so far anyone would think we want to wave a machine gun around in a crowded public place, not drive a mobility scooter

rs65

I've just looked at mine and I don't see the US being a problem. Care needs to be taken it seems on the definition of motorised vehicles.

Just checked a specialist mobility insurers and worldwide cover seems to be provided.

Who are you insured with at the moment for scooter, home and travel?