A PMD (personal mobility device) and a PMA (personal mobility aid) are not the same thing in Singapore, and getting the two confused now costs real money. A PMD means an e-scooter and similar motorised devices; a PMA means a mobility scooter, motorised wheelchair or manual wheelchair for someone who cannot walk well. From 1 June 2026 the rules for both tightened sharply: motorised PMAs are capped at 6km/h on paths, mobility scooter users need a medical certificate to ride on public paths, and keeping a non-UL2272 e-scooter became an offence. This guide separates the two clearly, lists the real 2026 prices, and walks through the subsidy that can cover up to 90% of a mobility scooter.
The single biggest source of confusion is the labels. Singapore's Land Transport Authority draws a hard line between a PMD and a PMA, and the two follow completely different rule books.
A PMD is a motorised device built for general personal transport, the e-scooter being the obvious example. A PMA is an assistive device for a person who is unable to walk or has difficulty walking, covering manual wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Because a PMA exists to restore mobility rather than provide a faster commute, it gets a more generous set of riding rights, but from 2026 it also comes with a medical gate.
| Feature | PMD (e-scooter) | PMA (mobility scooter / wheelchair) |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | General personal transport | People unable to walk or with walking difficulty |
| Where you can ride | Cycling paths and Park Connectors only | Footpaths, shared paths and cycling paths |
| Speed cap on paths | 25km/h | 6km/h from 1 June 2026 |
| Fire-safety certification | UL2272 mandatory | UL2272 does not apply |
| Medical certificate | Not required | Certificate of Medical Need for mobility scooters from 1 June 2026 |
| Subsidy available | No | Yes, up to 90% via the SMF |
This is the headline shift, and it affects every mobility scooter user. From 1 June 2026 the maximum speed for all motorised PMAs on public paths dropped from 10km/h to 6km/h, which is roughly a brisk walk. Devices that were built to do up to 10km/h can stay in use until 31 December 2028, but the rider must keep them to 6km/h on paths in the meantime.
The second change is a medical gate. Mobility scooter users must now hold a Certificate of Medical Need, obtained through an Assessment for Mobility Scooter (AMS). The assessment has to be done by a Singapore-registered doctor or an occupational therapist, and it has been bookable since 27 February 2026. You can verify a certificate through LTA's OneMotoring platform.
Not everyone has to take the AMS. People aged 70 and above are exempt, as are those who already received a subsidised scooter through the active-mobility schemes before 27 February 2026, Assistive Technology Fund beneficiaries, and certain Ministry of Health disability-scheme applicants whose Activities of Daily Living assessment already shows a mobility need.
A compliant mobility scooter has a specific shape, not just a speed limit. LTA defines it as a single-occupant device with three or more wheels, one footboard, handlebar steering (a delta tiller counts) and a single seat behind the footboard.
On top of that, dimension and weight limits now bite. A PMA that exceeds 120cm in length, 70cm in width or 150cm in height, or whose laden weight (device plus rider) tops 300kg, cannot be used on public paths or brought onto public transport. Oversized mobility scooters that were sold before the rules are the ones most likely to fall foul of this.
Registration is being phased in. From 1 June 2026, new mobility scooters bought from retailers must be registered at the point of sale. From 1 January 2029, every mobility scooter on public paths must be registered, and using an unregistered one becomes an offence. Existing owners get a window in between to register their device.
The e-scooter side of the rule change is shorter but sharper. From 1 June 2026 it is an offence to even keep a non-UL2272 certified e-scooter, not only to ride one. UL2272 is the fire-safety standard that has been mandatory for PMDs since 1 July 2020 after a run of battery fires.
The penalty has teeth. Keeping a non-compliant e-scooter can draw a fine of up to $2,000 or up to three months' jail for an individual, and up to $4,000 for a company or other entity. Riding a non-compliant device on a path carries a heavier penalty still. That is why a cheap second-hand listing for an uncertified scooter is now a liability rather than a bargain.
The core PMD device limits are unchanged: a maximum motorised speed of 25km/h, an unladen weight of 20kg and a width of 70cm. E-scooters remain banned from footpaths and roads, and are only allowed on cycling paths and Park Connectors. If you are weighing one up as transport, our full breakdown of the real cost of owning an e-scooter covers the $20 registration, the $10.90 theory test and the buy-versus-bus maths.
Mobility scooter prices span a wide band depending on range, fold mechanism and build. Budget models start around $700, while premium auto-folding units run past $3,000. The figures below are listed retail prices as of June 2026 and shift with sales, so treat them as a starting point and confirm with the retailer before buying.
When you compare models, the spec that matters most after compliance is real-world range against your daily trip, and whether the device folds small enough for a taxi boot or a flat lift. Factor the purchase into your wider monthly budget rather than treating it as a one-off, because batteries and servicing add up over the years.
| Model | Listed price (SGD) | Weight | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry mobility scooters | from ~700 | varies | 10-15km | Budget end of the market; check 6km/h compliance |
| Mid-range folding scooter | ~1,300 to 1,500 | around 37kg | 12-15km | Most common daily-use band |
| Auto-folding premium | ~3,000 | around 25kg | around 15km | Folds via remote; lighter for transport |
| Top-end / heavy-duty | up to ~5,000 | varies | longer range | Larger frames may breach the 120cm length limit |
A mobility scooter is one of the few transport purchases the state will co-pay, which changes the maths entirely. The main route is the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF), administered by the Agency for Integrated Care, which can cover up to 90% of the device cost or the device subsidy cap, whichever is lower. The exact percentage depends on your means-test result.
To qualify for the SMF you must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident aged 60 or above, not living in a nursing or sheltered home, and your monthly household income per person must be $4,800 or below. Households with no income qualify if the property's annual value is $21,000 or below. An approved healthcare professional, such as a registered therapist, doctor or nurse, must assess and recommend the device first, which is why the medical step and the subsidy step go hand in hand. If you want to understand the income figure used, our explainer on the annual value of a property covers how that no-income test works.
Younger persons with disabilities are covered separately by the Assistive Technology Fund (ATF), which also offers up to 90% subsidy. From January 2026 the ATF's per capita household income ceiling rose to $4,800, matching the SMF. ATF applications go through public hospitals and Social Service Agencies rather than directly to AIC.
If you are buying for an elderly parent, the order of steps matters because the medical assessment and the subsidy depend on each other. Doing them out of sequence can mean paying full price and then discovering the device is non-compliant.
Run through the list below before any money changes hands, and keep the documentation, since LTA can verify a Certificate of Medical Need on OneMotoring and registration is being enforced in phases.
A PMD is a personal mobility device for general transport, such as an e-scooter, and is restricted to cycling paths and Park Connectors. A PMA is a personal mobility aid for someone who cannot walk well, such as a mobility scooter or wheelchair, and is allowed on footpaths and shared paths but capped at 6km/h from June 2026.
Yes. From 1 June 2026, mobility scooter users must hold a Certificate of Medical Need, obtained through an Assessment for Mobility Scooter done by a Singapore-registered doctor or occupational therapist. People aged 70 and above and certain subsidised-device or disability-scheme beneficiaries are exempt from the assessment.
The Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund can cover up to 90% of a mobility scooter's cost for Singapore Citizens or PRs aged 60 and above whose monthly per capita household income is $4,800 or below. The exact rate depends on the means-test result, and a healthcare professional must recommend the device first.
Yes. From 1 June 2026 it is an offence to keep a non-UL2272 certified e-scooter, not just to ride one. An individual can face a fine of up to $2,000 or up to three months in jail, and other entities up to $4,000, so uncertified second-hand scooters are no longer worth keeping.
This is general financial information for Singapore, not personal financial advice. Figures change — verify current rates against the official sources above before acting. See our full disclaimer.