Hiring mobility equipment: Shopmobility and Red Cross

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

You do not have to buy mobility equipment to use it. Shopmobility schemes lend scooters and wheelchairs for a shopping trip, the British Red Cross hires out wheelchairs by the week, and private firms hire almost anything for holidays or recovery after an operation.

When hiring makes sense

You are recovering from an operation, illness or injury and will not need the equipment for long.
A relative who uses a wheelchair is coming to stay.
You are going on holiday, to a wedding or on a day out that involves more walking than you can manage.
You are thinking of buying a scooter or wheelchair and want to try one in real life first.
Your own equipment is away for repair.

If you are going to need something for months, buying, or asking the NHS or council to provide it, usually works out better. See our mobility aids buying guide.

Shopmobility

Shopmobility schemes lend or hire manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters so that people with limited mobility can get around a town centre or shopping centre. The NHS describes them as usually low cost or free. They are run locally, by councils, charities or shopping centres, so there is no single national booking system and each scheme sets its own rules.

How it usually works

Who can use it: schemes are generally open to anyone with a mobility problem, temporary or permanent. You do not usually need to be registered disabled or hold a Blue Badge.
Joining: many ask you to register as a member first and bring proof of identity and address. Some charge a membership fee.
Booking: book ahead, especially on Saturdays and before Christmas.
Training: first-time users are normally shown how to use the scooter and given a short practice.
Cost: ranges from free (with donations welcome) to a few pounds a day. Check with the scheme.
Where: offices are usually in or beside a main car park or bus station.

To find a scheme, search online for the name of the town plus "Shopmobility", ask at the shopping centre's information desk or ask your council. The Shopmobility UK page on the Driving Mobility website has more information. Some schemes also offer longer hire for holidays.

Tip: Shopmobility is the best free test drive there is. If you are wondering whether a mobility scooter would suit you, borrow one for an afternoon before you spend anything.

British Red Cross wheelchair hire

The British Red Cross runs a wheelchair hire service across the UK. It is a paid hire service, not a free loan, and it hires out wheelchairs only. According to the British Red Cross wheelchair hire page, at the time of writing (November 2026):

Hire costs £22 a week for a standard wheelchair, with a minimum hire of one week and no deposit. Larger (bariatric) chairs cost more.
Home delivery and collection is a one-off £35 where it is available; in some places you can collect the chair yourself.
Self-propelled and transit (pushed by someone else) chairs are available. Lightweight models are not.
You do not need a referral or a letter from your GP.
You book online or by phone on 0300 456 1914, giving your measurements and weight so the right size is supplied.
You must contact the Red Cross to arrange the return; collection is not automatic.
In a few areas, including Northern Ireland, the NHS may fund the hire.

Prices change, so check the Red Cross page before you book. For holidays and events, it suggests booking a few days ahead.

Borrowing from the NHS

The NHS says its wheelchairs can sometimes be borrowed for a short time, for example after an operation, and that walking sticks and frames can be borrowed too, sometimes for a small deposit. Ask the hospital ward, your physiotherapist or your GP surgery before you pay to hire. Equipment needed at home when you leave hospital should be arranged as part of your discharge.

Private hire companies

Mobility shops and specialist hire firms hire out scooters, powerchairs, wheelchairs, rollators, riser recliner chairs, profiling beds, hoists, bath lifts and portable ramps. Many deliver to homes, hotels and holiday cottages. Stairlifts can be rented too; see stairlifts.

Questions to ask before you hire

What is the total cost, including delivery, collection, any deposit and VAT?
What is the minimum hire period, and what does an extra week cost?
Is the equipment the right size and within its weight limit for me?
Is insurance included? Who pays if it is damaged or stolen?
What happens if it breaks down? Is there a phone number that is answered at weekends?
Will someone show me how to use it and how to charge it?
How do I cancel, and will I get my money back?

If you have a long-term illness or disability, ask whether VAT relief applies to the hire; the Red Cross, for example, offers a VAT exemption by phone. See VAT relief on mobility aids.

Hiring for holidays and days out

In the UK: hire firms in most holiday areas will deliver to where you are staying. Check your accommodation has somewhere to store and charge a scooter.
Attractions: many large gardens, historic houses, zoos and shopping centres have wheelchairs or scooters to borrow. Book ahead. See days-out discounts for over-60s.
Airports and stations: assistance for disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility is free, but you need to book it in advance through the airline or train company.

Common questions

Is Shopmobility free?

Some schemes are free and rely on donations; others charge a membership fee, a daily charge or both. It depends on the local scheme.

Does the Red Cross lend wheelchairs free?

Not generally. It is a weekly hire service with a set charge, although in a few areas the NHS funds it. Check the Red Cross website for current prices.

Do I need a Blue Badge to hire equipment?

No. A badge is about parking, and is separate. See our Blue Badge guide.

Can I hire a mobility scooter if I have never used one?

Yes. Shopmobility schemes and reputable hire firms will show you the controls and let you practise first.