Sourcing wheelchairs and mobility scooters from China

Zero duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, carriages for disabled persons not mechanically propelled, such as manual wheelchairs, and other carriages, including motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters, carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.

Parts and accessories are in heading 8714; confirm the commodity code.

Medical device rules

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are medical devices under the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, so they need UKCA or CE marking under the device rules, a UK Responsible Person where the maker is overseas, and MHRA registration; see medical products. Powered models also need battery, charger and EMC evidence. For patient transfer equipment, see our patient stretcher sourcing guide.

Road use and VAT

The Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988 set classes: class 2 for pavement use, and class 3 for road use up to 8 mph with lights and other equipment, which must be registered with the DVLA. Supplies of wheelchairs to a disabled person for their own use can be zero-rated for VAT under the disability relief, with an eligibility declaration. For continence products, see our adult incontinence pants sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 200 folding mobility scooters under 8713 90 00 00. At £64,000 free on board and £5,000 to ship and insure, the customs value is £69,000. With 0% duty on mobility scooters, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £69,000, or £13,800. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. Some supplies to disabled people can be zero-rated, as the section above explains, but the figures here assume standard-rated stock. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.

Inspection checklist

Performance tests: static stability by ISO 7176-1, brake effectiveness by ISO 7176-3 and static, impact and fatigue strength by ISO 7176-8 reported for the exact model, alongside the BS EN 12183 or BS EN 12184 report, and folding and brakes checked on sampled units on a ramp.

Powered models: power and control systems tested to ISO 7176-14 and electromagnetic compatibility to ISO 7176-21, lithium batteries supplied with UN 38.3 test summaries for shipping, chargers checked for UK plugs and marking, and maximum speed measured against the setting for the class.

Road-use scooters and labels: class 3 vehicles checked for the speed limiter, lights, indicators, horn and mirror the Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988 require, and every unit checked for UKCA or CE marking, MHRA registration, the user weight limit and English instructions.

What goes wrong

Wheelchairs and scooters fail at the frame, brakes and batteries. Welds crack at the folding joints, parking brakes that do not hold on a slope are a safety defect, and seat and backrest upholstery tears at the fixings. On powered models, battery packs with cells of unknown origin lose range quickly or have no approved transport documents, controllers are programmed faster than the class allows, and chargers come with the wrong plug.

Ask for the test report to BS EN 12183 or BS EN 12184 and the medical device technical file, test brakes on an incline and check folding under load, inspect welds and fixings, check the speed setting and lights against the class, check battery test and shipping documents, and confirm spares and a UK repair route before shipment.

Testing and service

Ask for test reports to the BS EN 12183 or BS EN 12184 standards, and agree spares, tyres and batteries, and a UK repair route. At inspection, check brakes, folding, welds and weight limits.

Cambridge China Bridge sources manual and powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with device registration, road class and service settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.