Mobility Scooters in Minnesota
Looking for a mobility scooter in Minnesota — to buy, to rent, or to understand what the state offers? Minnesota has one of the country’s hardest winters — and the Twin Cities answer it in a way few places do, with the Skyway, miles of enclosed, heated walkway. The rest of the year, the cities of lakes are laced with paved paths. This statewide guide compares every Minnesota city we cover, explains whether a scooter is street-legal here, walks through how to get Medical Assistance or Medicare to pay — Minnesota expanded Medicaid — and helps you plan around a serious winter. Then it links you to your own city’s detailed guide. Polaris Mobility earns a commission on qualifying Amazon purchases through links on this page.
- Up to 330 lb
- ★ 4.7 owner rating
- 9″ wheels, 5.0 mph
- Comes apart for a car
If we had to name one scooter for the whole state, it is the Golden Buzzaround EX. In a place where much winter travel happens indoors on the Skyway and, in the green months, on cleared lake paths, a comfortable, stable, dependable four-wheel scooter is the natural choice, and it leads in Minneapolis. It has the highest owner rating and weight capacity of our four. Where the draw is a long loop like the 50-mile Grand Rounds, the longer-range Glashow steps up, as in St. Paul. The table below shows which we picked for each.
On Medical Assistance or Medicare? Read the funding steps below — Minnesota covers power mobility for eligible residents.
Compare Minnesota’s cities at a glance
| City | 65 or older | Disability | Our top pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 10.8% | 11.6% | Buzzaround |
| St. Paul | 12.2% | 12.5% | Glashow |
Reading it: the Twin Cities are young — both sit below the national 13.0% disability rate — so the choice turns on the ride. In Minneapolis, with the Skyway for winter and the lakes for summer, the comfortable all-rounder Buzzaround leads; in St. Paul, where the Mississippi River paths and the Grand Rounds reward range, the longer-range Glashow does. Either way, this is a state where a scooter earns its keep in two very different seasons.
Is a mobility scooter street-legal in Minnesota?
Where to ride: lakes, rivers and the Skyway
- Grand Rounds Scenic Byway (Minneapolis) — about 50 paved miles linking the Chain of Lakes, Minnehaha Falls and the river.
- Midtown Greenway (Minneapolis) — a below-grade paved rail-trail across the south of the city, flat and sheltered.
- Mississippi River paths and Sam Morgan Trail (St. Paul) — paved riverside miles through the capital.
- The Skyways (Minneapolis and St. Paul) — miles of enclosed, heated second-level walkway, the winter route between buildings.
A serious winter
How to get Medical Assistance, Medicare or the VA to pay
- See your doctor for a face-to-face exam. They must examine and document that you have real difficulty getting around inside your home, even with a cane or walker — that in-home need is the standard the programme uses, so describe your daily trouble plainly.
- Get a written order (prescription). The doctor writes an order naming the device, your diagnosis and why it is medically necessary, and confirming you can operate it safely (or have someone who can help).
- Use an enrolled supplier. Get the scooter from a supplier enrolled with Medical Assistance, Medicare or the VA. A non-enrolled shop means no payment, even with a valid prescription.
- Let the supplier file for authorisation. The supplier submits the paperwork; the programme reviews and approves eligible devices. With Medicare you then pay 20% of the approved amount after your Part B deductible; Medical Assistance may cover more.
One honest note: because the programmes judge in-home need, a scooter bought mainly for the lake paths or errands is often a separate, out-of-pocket purchase. Your Minneapolis and St. Paul guides list local suppliers, and you can confirm the current rules with Medicare, the VA, or Medical Assistance.
Other help in Minnesota
Renting vs. buying a mobility scooter in Minnesota
Through the long green seasons, an owned scooter does real work on the lake paths — and buying within a couple of months is usually cheaper than renting.
- Keeps costing you. A travel scooter runs roughly $100 to $200 a week depending on model (Scootaround), so a month of regular use is several hundred dollars.
- You hand it back — it never becomes yours.
- Not fitted or sized to you.
- Reasonable for a State Fair visit or a one-off event.
- Pays for itself fast. A one-time purchase; after a few weeks of what renting costs you are ahead — and you keep the scooter.
- It is ready whenever you are — on the Skyway in winter and the lakes in summer.
- It comes apart for a car boot — for the lakes, a clinic or a day out.
- And it may be funded. If your need is medical, Medical Assistance, Medicare or the VA may cover an approved device.
Bottom line: if you live in Minnesota, buy — then read your city’s guide to match the model to your lakes, winters and Skyway. Check first whether Medical Assistance or Medicare will fund it.
Who needs mobility support in Minnesota
16.8% of Minnesotans are 65 or older — 962,143 people out of 5,713,716 — level with the national 16.8%. Its disability rate, 11.4%, runs below the national 13.0%. Minnesota is about as grey as the country but healthier on paper — a state that ages actively.
The Twin Cities pull the numbers down: both Minneapolis and St. Paul are young, below the national disability rate. So here a scooter leans a little more toward staying active — on the Skyway through winter and the lakes in summer — than toward round-the-clock need. Still, for those who do need one, Minnesota expanded Medicaid, so between Medical Assistance, Medicare and the VA the route to a covered device is well open, with an affordable model to fill the gap.
Best mobility scooters for Minnesota (2026)
Picks weighted for comfort indoors and out, range on the long lake-loops, and value. Specs are per manufacturer listings; confirm current details and price on Amazon — and see your city guide for the local fit.
| Model | Wheels | Max rider | Top speed | Owner rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Buzzaround EX ★ Top pick | 9″ (4-wheel) | 330 lb | 5.0 mph | 4.7★ (verified) |
| Glashow S1 Folding Most range | 10″ (4-wheel) | 265 lb | 6.2 mph | 4.4★ (46) |
| Aotedor Lightweight Best on a budget | 7″ | 300 lb | 3.7 mph | 4.5★ (277) |
| Pride Go-Go Sport | 3-wheel | 325 lb | 4.7 mph | 4.4★ (109) |
4.7★ (verified owners) · 9″ wheels · up to 330 lb
Why Minnesota: the highest rating and capacity here and four-wheel stability — the comfortable all-rounder for the Skyway in winter and the lakes in summer. Comes apart for a car boot.
4.4★ (46 ratings) · 10″ wheels · rated ~25 mi range · 265 lb limit
Why Minnesota: the longest range of the four for the 50-mile Grand Rounds and the river paths, on bigger 10″ wheels, and it folds flat for winter storage. Check the 265 lb limit, the lowest here.
4.5★ (277 ratings) · folds compact · up to 300 lb
Why Minnesota: the cheapest and most owner-reviewed here, light to lift and folds compact to bring indoors for winter storage — the value pick.
4.4★ (109 ratings) · compact · up to 325 lb
Why Minnesota: a tight turning circle for the Skyway’s corners and indoor use through the winter, and easy to bring along. Four wheels are steadier out on the lake paths.
Watch: the Buzzaround EX, our top pick
An independent walkthrough of the Golden Buzzaround EX — our top pick for Minnesota — showing the four-wheel frame, seat, controls and how it comes apart to transport.
Video: Golden Buzzaround EX review (YouTube). Polaris Mobility is not affiliated with the reviewer.
Still choosing? Our guide to the best four-wheel scooters ranks the stable models side by side, the full scooter catalogue lists every model we cover, and the city guide index links every city we have written.
Minnesota mobility scooter FAQ
Is a mobility scooter street-legal in Minnesota?
Yes, and the rules are light. A mobility scooter used because of a disability is treated under Minnesota law as a pedestrian device, not a motor vehicle, so you do not need a driver’s licence, state registration or mandatory insurance. You may use sidewalks and pedestrian paths with ordinary care and a walking pace in crowds, plus the state’s many paved trails, the Skyway and low-speed streets. A few cities add their own footpath rules, so check locally if in doubt.
Does Medical Assistance or Medicare cover a mobility scooter?
Either can. Minnesota expanded Medicaid, so Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare can cover medically necessary durable medical equipment, including a power scooter, for eligible residents of any age; everyone 65 and over has Medicare; and veterans have the VA. The path runs through your doctor: a face-to-face exam documenting difficulty moving around inside your home, a written order, an enrolled supplier, and prior authorisation. With Medicare you then pay 20% after the Part B deductible. Because the standard is in-home need, a scooter bought mainly for the lake paths is usually an out-of-pocket purchase.
What is the best mobility scooter in Minnesota?
Across the state, our overall pick is the Golden Buzzaround EX, because much of Minnesota’s winter travel happens indoors on the Skyway and, in summer, on cleared lake paths, so a comfortable, stable all-rounder suits best: it has the highest rating and weight capacity of the four, four-wheel stability, and comes apart for a car. But the best choice depends on your city — the longer-range Glashow S1 leads in St. Paul and where a long loop like the Grand Rounds is the draw, and the light, foldable Aotedor is the value pick. The city table above shows our pick for each.
How do you use a mobility scooter through a Minnesota winter?
Lean on the indoors. The Twin Cities Skyway gives you miles of enclosed, heated walkway between buildings, so much winter travel need never go outside. Outdoors, keep to cleared paths in the snowy weeks, and store the scooter if the cold turns extreme — severe cold cuts battery range hard, so charge fully and keep winter trips short. A scooter that comes apart or folds is easier to bring indoors and store. Come spring, the lakes open up for months of easy riding.
Which Minnesota cities have a detailed guide?
We have written full guides for Minneapolis and St. Paul — each with local trails, transit fares, paratransit rules and a top pick for that city. The full city index lists every city we cover, and it grows each week.