The first day with a new mobility product should be about learning rather than rushing. This Pride Mobility setup checklist covers the basics for a new scooter, Jazzy® power chair or Pride® power lift recliner. Use it alongside the owner’s manual for your exact model and instructions from your authorized Pride Mobility® provider. Some steps apply to every product: inspect the delivery, save the paperwork, locate the model and serial number, and learn the controls before regular use. Other steps differ by product and battery type. When this guide and your product materials differ, follow the owner’s manual and contact your provider with questions.

Before Delivery Clear the Space and Gather Documents

A little preparation can make delivery and setup easier. Choose a clean, well-lit area with enough room to inspect the product and move around it. For a scooter or power chair, plan a level practice route away from stairs, curbs, rugs, cords, pets and foot traffic. For a lift recliner, confirm that the intended location has enough clearance for the chair to move through its full range without contacting a wall or nearby furniture.

Keep these items nearby before delivery or pickup:

• Your order confirmation, delivery paperwork and provider contact information
• A copy of the owner’s manual or quick-start guide for the exact model
• A pen or phone for recording the model number and serial number
• A grounded electrical outlet that meets the instructions in the owner’s manual
• Any prescribed seating, positioning or accessibility items you use with the product

If a caregiver will help with transfers, charging, transport or daily operation, invite that person to participate in the delivery demonstration. It is easier to ask questions while the provider is present than to reconstruct a step later.

Inspect the Product Charger and Included Components

Before discarding packaging, compare the delivery with the order and included-parts list. Look over the frame, upholstery, shrouds, wheels, armrests, foot platform or footrest, controller or hand control, battery or battery box, charger and accessories. Confirm that removable parts are seated and secured as described in the manual.

Pause and contact the delivering provider if you notice shipping damage, a missing part, a loose electrical connection or anything that does not match the order. Do not attempt a repair or modification on the first day. Photos of the packaging, product and affected area can help the provider understand what arrived.

What to Check by Product Type

Scooters and Go Go® travel mobility products: Confirm that the seat, battery pack, basket and other removable pieces are locked into place. If the scooter was disassembled for transport, ask the provider to demonstrate assembly and disassembly for your model before you try it alone.

Jazzy power chairs: Confirm that the joystick or controller is secure, the cable is routed safely, the foot platform is positioned correctly and the seating components match the order. Do not change programming or seating hardware unless your provider or qualified technician instructs you to do so.

Pride power lift recliners: Check that the hand control, transformer, power cord and any backup-battery components are present and connected according to the manual. Keep cords away from moving parts and walking paths. Make sure children and pets stay clear of the mechanism while the chair is moving.

Find and Record the Model and Serial Number

Record the model and serial number before the product becomes part of your regular routine. You may need this information for product registration, warranty questions, replacement parts or service. Pride serial numbers are shown on a white label and are typically 14 alphanumeric characters with no spaces.

The location varies by product. On many scooters, the label is on the seat post behind or below the battery pack. On power chairs, it is generally on the main frame and may be under a shroud or near the seat post or footplate. On lift recliners, labels may be located on the steel lift frame near the motor and on the wood frame below the scissor mechanism. Consult Pride’s serial-number guide or your model’s manual before removing a battery, shroud or other component.

Take a clear photo of each label and save it with your purchase receipt and provider information. Then complete your Pride product registration. Double-check letters and numbers before submitting the form; entering the serial number without spaces can prevent a validation error.

Complete the First Charge

Battery and charging instructions are not identical across all scooters, power chairs and lift recliners. Before the first charge, read the charging section of the owner’s manual and identify the battery type and approved charger. Use only the charger supplied with or specified for the product. Do not substitute another charger because the plug fits.

For a scooter or power chair, turn the product off and place it in drive mode before charging unless the manual for your model says otherwise. Connect the charger in the order listed in the manual, charge in a dry area at an appropriate room temperature and allow the charge cycle to finish as indicated by the charger lights. The correct charging time and indicator pattern depend on the model, charger and battery chemistry, so avoid relying on a universal number of hours.

If your product uses a lithium-ion battery, Pride’s lithium-ion battery FAQs provide additional charging and storage guidance. Some battery packs can be charged off the product, while others have model-specific steps. Never charge a battery that appears damaged, unusually hot, wet or swollen. Contact your provider if the charger does not behave as described in the manual.

For a power lift recliner, follow the manual for connecting the transformer and any battery-backup system. Backup batteries are intended for the function described in the manual; they do not replace the chair’s normal power source.

Review Controls Brakes and Freewheel Mode

Before sitting in or operating the product, ask the provider to explain every control you will use. Locate the power control, speed adjustment, horn, battery indicator, joystick or throttle, brake release or freewheel lever, recline controls and any optional functions included with your model.

Scooters and power chairs use an electromagnetic braking system and may have a freewheel or manual mode that allows the product to be pushed when the drive system is disengaged. Learn how to confirm that the product is in drive mode before transferring into it or turning it on. Do not sit on or operate the product in freewheel mode. Only use freewheel mode as directed in the owner’s manual, and avoid engaging it on an incline.

For a scooter, practice the throttle control, steering and speed dial at the lowest setting. For a Jazzy power chair, learn how the joystick responds to small movements and how releasing it brings the chair to a stop. For a lift recliner, learn the hand-control buttons while seated and keep hands, loose clothing, blankets and objects away from the moving mechanism.

Practice in a Clear Level Area

Your first practice session should be short and predictable. Wear the footwear and use the mobility aids or transfer support you normally use. If your clinician or provider gave you transfer instructions, follow them. Start on a dry, level surface with plenty of space and someone nearby if assistance would be helpful.

For a new mobility scooter setup or Jazzy first use, begin at the lowest practical speed. Practice these skills before navigating a busy space:

• Starting smoothly and stopping with room to spare
• Driving in a straight line and making wide, controlled turns
• Approaching doorways and judging the product’s width
• Backing up slowly while checking the full path
• Parking on a level surface, turning the power off and removing the key when applicable

Avoid steep slopes, curbs, loose gravel, wet surfaces and crowded areas until you understand the product’s handling and the limits stated in the manual. Never test stability by exceeding those limits. Ask your provider before using ramps, vehicle lifts or tie-down systems, because compatible equipment and securement procedures vary.

For a lift recliner, move the chair through its positions gradually. Confirm that the base remains stable, the cord stays clear and the chair does not contact nearby objects. Practice returning to a comfortable seated position and using the lift function only as instructed. Do not sit or stand on the footrest, and do not use the chair as a substitute for prescribed transfer assistance.

Keep Support Information Within Reach

End the first day by placing the manual, charger instructions, receipt, registration confirmation and provider contact information where you can find them. Pride’s Resources and Support center includes owner’s manuals, specification sheets, operating instructions and warranty information. If you need local help, use the Pride Mobility dealer locator to connect with an authorized provider.

A careful first day gives you time to learn the product as it was designed to be used. Save this Pride Mobility setup checklist, repeat the practice steps as needed and keep model-specific guidance close by whenever you charge, adjust, transport or operate your product.

Printable First Day Setup Checklist

Product model: __________________________	Serial number: __________________________
Provider: __________________________	Phone: __________________________

Before Delivery

□	Clear a well-lit setup and practice area.
□	Choose a grounded outlet that meets the manual’s instructions.
□	Gather the order, receipt, manual and provider contact information.

Inspect the Delivery

□	Compare the product and accessories with the order.
□	Check the frame, upholstery, wheels, controls, cords, charger and battery components.
□	Photograph and report missing parts or visible damage before use.

Record and Register

□	Photograph the model and serial-number labels.
□	Save the receipt and product information together.
□	Complete Pride product registration online.

Charge and Learn

□	Read the model-specific charging instructions.
□	Use only the charger supplied with or specified for the product.
□	Review all controls, indicators, brakes and freewheel mode with the provider.

Practice Safely

□	Confirm drive mode before sitting in or operating a scooter or power chair.
□	Practice at a low speed on a dry, clear and level surface.
□	Keep lift recliner cords and moving parts clear of people, pets and objects.
□	Stop and contact the provider if anything does not operate as the manual describes.

Important: This checklist supports, but does not replace, the owner’s manual or instructions from your authorized Pride Mobility provider. Follow the guidance for your exact model.
Resources: Owner’s manuals and support |  Product registration |  Dealer locator