Electric scooters can be a big financial investment. Some cost as much as a car. But, unlike a car, you don't have to worry about parking, insurance or gas. So in the interest of saving you some money up front and get to the cost-cutting benefits, we've put together this list of shopping tips for scooters.
This might seem obvious, but just like TVs and appliances, electric scooters go on sale around major events or holidays. I recommend researching and narrowing down your top picks beforehand to ensure that the prices haven't increased due to demand and that the sale price is actually a deal. But if you want a better price, shop during any holiday, Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
This option requires some patience. Just like there are new iPhones every year, scooter manufacturers also release new or updated models. Many offer preorder discounts to get gauge public interest. After all, scooters take up a lot more space than an iPhone, and manufacturers don't want to make more than they can sell.
Also read: Best Electric Scooter for 2022
FluidFreeRide Miami showroom
We've all gotten used to making so many purchases online, it's easy to forget you can still shop in person for things, including electric scooters. Taking time to go to a scooter store or a local repair shop can help save some money. They frequently get inventory returned due to damage in shipping or as returns for one reason or another, such as too powerful or not powerful enough. The shop then repairs or replaces any damaged parts and sells the scooter at a discounted price. They also typically provide a limited warranty.
FluidFreeRide, with locations in New York, Miami and San Francisco, and Voro Motors in New York and Los Angeles, are two that come to mind. You can even test-ride scooters before you buy. FluidFreeRide offers a 10% discount to those in the military and to veterans.
Voro Motors offers a 7% discount to first responders and those in the military. Both require verification on ID.me, and the discount will be applied at checkout.
Dualtron Storm electric scooter in front of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Regardless, if you have a local shop, go in and see what deals they might have. As the old saying goes, you won't know if you don't ask. They may have scooters that were repaired but never picked up. You might be able to get one for just the cost of the repair. (At the same time, you should check that no additional repairs are needed.) Also, try to ask in person and not over the phone. You don't want to get one price on the phone only to get another price in person.
Unagi Shop New York
If you're still not ready to lay out hundreds of dollars on a scooter but are curious enough to want to try it out, scooter maker Ungai has a great subscription service. For $49 a month and a one-time $50 setup fee, you can rent one of its sleek, powerful scooters. Unagi also has a storefront in New York, but its scooters are also available at Best Buy and too many places to list where you can see the scooters up close. If you can't make it to one, they also can deliver the scooter to you.
Like every other online store these days, scooter vendors regularly have a discount code available to knock some money off the price or at least get you free shipping. Scooter companies will also regularly create codes for media sites like CNET that can be applied at checkout for a discount or sometimes extra accessories.
Are you on the fence about getting an electric scooter and giving up your daily driver? If your commute isn't too far, you could wind up saving a ton of money. Let’s take a look at how riding your electric scooter more often can help you recoup its cost faster and even save you some extra money along the way. Until then, let's talk about what an electric commuter scooter is.
In the world of electric scooters, the commuter option is built for, well, commuting. They are designed and manufactured to act as a replacement for public transportation and driving your car to work.
Keep in mind, that a lot of electric scooters aren’t capable to be replacements for your daily driver. Only commuter scooters have what it takes. We’re not going to explain what to look for in a commuter scooter, it’s just worth pointing out the differences. They’re more comfortable to ride, easier to store and carry, and have a longer battery range. Kaabo Mantis 8 is made for commuting. It is Kaabo’s answer to compact performance. Built-in a small, but incredibly sturdy package, the Mantis 8 is designed to provide fast-paced daily urban commuting and adventurous trail riding capabilities. Find out what lightweight performance means when you get on the powerful Mantis 8 dual motor!
Gas prices have been soaring recently. As a result, cars and motorcycles are only becoming more expensive to operate. With current gas prices why spend 200 to fill your gas tank when you can get an electric scooter for one-half of one percent the cost of a normal vehicle?
Luckily, electric scooters don’t require any gasoline. Instead, they're powered by rechargeable batteries. The cost of refueling these batteries is impressively low. Just take a look at the average e-scooter charging costs in the United States:
$0.02 USD during off-peak hours in the U.S.
$0.07 USD during peak hours in the U.S.
Not only are electric scooters more affordable to fuel, but they’re also more cost-effective to maintain. According to Budget Direct car servicing and tire, maintenance costs around $29.41 weekly if you live in major cities. That’s over $1,500 of car maintenance costs in a year. Electric scooters contain fewer parts and are less maintenance compared to owning a car or motorcycle, so it has less maintenance cost. Moreover, decent electric scooters don’t break down easily and will last longer, unless you don’t take care of them or ride it recklessly. If there will be any maintenance needed, it often would be tire changes, which are not that expensive.
Parking Fees
Getting tired of paying for parking? $18 per day is the average cost of parking in most major cities. Factoring in a 5-day work week, that is $90 per week just to park. If you aren't paying monthly, parking can cost you over $4,000 per year.
No matter where you are in the world, parking space is one of the pain points for city car drivers. However, electric scooters eliminate the need for parking thanks to their compact size, lightweight, and foldable body. E-scooter riders can easily fold and carry it after using it. Plus, they can store it easily under office tables, inside cabinets, or even large lockers. Naturally, you also eliminate the need to pay parking fees. So, you will no longer have to worry about finding a parking space and paying for it.
Than Public Transportation
If your city has good public transportation, you can use it to get around town affordably. Taking the bus or train is certainly cheaper than owning a car. Even so, the cost of using public transportation regularly can add up over time.
Here’s how electric scooters compare to public transportation in terms of average monthly cost:
Public transportation tickets – $65 in the U.S.
Electric scooter charging costs – $2.10 in the U.S.
As you can see, riding an electric scooter is significantly more cost-effective than relying on public transportation. Based on this data, your electric scooter could pay for itself in as little as seven months, depending on the price of the model you purchase. Electric scooters also offer more flexibility than public transportation, since you won’t have to work around the bus or train’s schedule.
Upfront Costs
When buying a vehicle, the initial cost is a major consideration. However, unlike buying cars, electric scooters are significantly cheaper. According to KBB’s recent survey, the Average New Car Price Tops $47,000 in the U.S.
On the other hand, commuter electric scooters in America can cost from $300 to $1000. Premium or off-road electric scooters can cost around $1000 to $3000 depending on how powerful you want them to be. The Kaabo Mantis 8 costs $1,199.