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What Stores Have Motorized Shopping Carts? A Store-by-Store Guide for 2026
Wondering what stores have motorized shopping carts? Most large US chains do. Walmart, Kroger, Publix, H-E-B, Meijer, Wegmans, WinCo, Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's and Bass Pro all keep free electric carts near the entrance, and Target, Home Depot, Safeway, Whole Foods and Winn-Dixie keep at least one at most locations. A few well known names do not. IKEA has a written policy against motorized scooters, Aldi has them in roughly two of every three stores, and drugstores, dollar stores, Tractor Supply and Harbor Freight have none at all.
We checked every chain below in October 2026 against its own policy pages, its cart supplier and store phone surveys, and we re-check those pages every month so the directory stays current. The catch everywhere is supply. A store keeps two to six carts for a crowd of hundreds, so even a chain that stocks them can have none free when you walk in. Call ahead and shop off peak.
Every store in this guide was checked on October 18, 2026. Availability is set store by store and changes without notice, so treat each entry as what to expect, not a promise, and confirm with your local store.
What stores have motorized shopping carts?
Four kinds of store reliably keep them. Big box stores, warehouse clubs, full size supermarkets and home improvement warehouses. The carts are free to use, nobody asks for ID or proof of disability, and you simply drive one from the charging dock by the door. Only five chains put that in writing. Sam's Club, Wegmans, WinCo, IKEA and Bass Pro publish a cart policy on their own sites. Everyone else, including Walmart and Target, provides the carts as an unwritten courtesy, which is why the number per store varies so much.
The carts themselves come from two US makers. Amigo Mobility of Bridgeport, Michigan supplies more than half of all Walmart stores and every Kroger and H-E-B, which is why shoppers across the country call any store scooter an Amigo cart. Martcart of Rogers, Arkansas builds most of the rest. Both top out around 2 to 3 mph and the club sized Amigo ValueShopper XL is rated for a 500 lb rider and a 250 lb basket, which is as much as any chain's cart will carry.
Store-by-store directory, checked October 2026
Tap a filter to narrow the list. Green means the chain keeps free carts at all or most stores, amber means it depends on the location, and red means the chain does not provide them. Each card links to the page or report we checked, and the date shows when.
Which stores keep a motorized cart for you
Every tile is one chain, checked Oct 23, 2026 and re-checked monthly. Green tiles keep free carts at all or most stores, amber depends on the location, rose tiles have none, so bring your own scooter.
- 17chains with free carts
- 5depend on the store
- 4have none at all
- every policy last checked
Big box
3Walmart
Yes, free cartsFree electric carts at Supercenters and many Neighborhood Markets, a handful per store
- How to get one
- Take one from the dock, first come first served. Ask the greeter or the service desk if none are out
- Where
- Charging dock just inside the main entrance
- Called
- Amigo carts or the electric cart. Amigo Mobility says it supplies more than half of all Walmart stores
- First come, first served
- No written US policy
Target
Most storesMost stores keep one or two motorized carts by the front door
- How to get one
- Ask at Guest Services. Many stores have a red assistance phone by the door
- Where
- Inside the front entrance with the regular carts, or at Guest Services
- Called
- Motorized carts or electric carts
- Call ahead
- No written policy
Meijer
Yes, free cartsFree motorized carts, usually parked at both entrances
- How to get one
- Take one from the charging row, first come first served
- Where
- Cart area inside each entrance
- Called
- Motorized carts
- First come, first served
Grocery
11Kroger family
Most storesFree motorized carts at nearly every full size Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers, Fry's and Smith's, smaller banners vary
- How to get one
- Take one, first come first served, or ask at customer service
- Where
- Inside the entrance, next to the regular carts. Large stores keep several
- Called
- Amigo carts. Amigo Mobility says its carts are in every Kroger store
- First come, first served
Publix
Yes, free cartsFree motorized carts at nearly every store, and staff who carry groceries to your car
- How to get one
- Ask any associate or the customer service desk
- Where
- Just inside the entrance
- Called
- Motorized shopping carts
- First come, first served
H-E-B
Yes, free cartsFree motorized carts at nearly every standard H-E-B store across Texas
- How to get one
- Take one, or ask a partner at the front. Some H-E-B plus! stores offer a shopping assistant
- Where
- Inside the entrance
- Called
- Amigo carts. Amigo Mobility says its carts are in every H-E-B store
- First come, first served
Wegmans
Yes, free cartsFree motorized carts at every store, a published Wegmans service
- How to get one
- Ask at the service desk. Wheelchair carts and Caroline's Carts are there too
- Where
- Inside the main entrance
- Called
- Motorized shopping carts for customers with mobility impairments
WinCo Foods
Yes, free cartsFree electric carts, about three per store, handed out first come first served
- How to get one
- Ask at customer service. The count varies with store size and repairs
- Where
- The entrance or the customer service area
- Called
- Electric carts
- First come, first served
- Some stores keep carts inside
Albertsons and Safeway
Most storesAt least one motorized cart at most Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, Jewel-Osco and Acme stores
- How to get one
- Ask at customer service
- Where
- Inside the entrance
- Called
- Motorized carts
- Call ahead
Whole Foods Market
Most storesOne or two motorized carts at most stores, fewer in small city locations
- How to get one
- Ask at customer service. Call the store first in a city location
- Where
- Inside the entrance
- Called
- Motorized carts
- Call ahead
Giant, Stop & Shop and Food Lion
Most storesAt least one motorized cart at most Giant and Stop & Shop stores, smaller Food Lion stores may have none
- How to get one
- Ask at customer service
- Where
- Inside the entrance, at Giant usually the door nearest produce
- Called
- Motorized carts
- Call ahead
Winn-Dixie
Most storesMotorized carts reported at the remaining Winn-Dixie stores in Florida and south Georgia, about 130 after the Aldi sale
- How to get one
- Ask at customer service
- Where
- Inside the entrance
- Called
- Motorized carts
- Call ahead
Aldi
Some storesSome stores keep a single motorized cart, many have none
- How to get one
- Call the store first. The aisles are wide and the stores are small if you bring your own scooter
- Where
- By the entrance when the store has one
- Called
- Motorcarts, the word Aldi's own help pages use
- Call ahead
Trader Joe's
Some storesMost stores have no motorized cart, a few keep a single one
- How to get one
- Call the store first. Crew will shop with you if there is no cart
- Where
- Ask crew at the door
- Called
- Motorized cart
- Call ahead
Warehouse clubs
3Costco
Most storesFree motorized carts at most warehouses, members only
- How to get one
- Ask the door greeter or the membership desk. Weekend mornings run short fast
- Where
- Inside the entrance, past the membership check
- Called
- Electric carts with a large club size basket
- Members only
- Call ahead
Sam's Club
Yes, free cartsFree motorized carts at every club, a published Sam's Club policy
- How to get one
- Ask at the entrance. Availability varies by club, so call first
- Where
- The club entrance or member services
- Called
- Motorized shopping carts
- Members only
- Call ahead
BJ's Wholesale
Yes, free cartsMotorized carts reported at every club surveyed, members only
- How to get one
- Ask member services
- Where
- Inside the entrance
- Called
- Motorized carts
- Members only
Home improvement and farm
5The Home Depot
Most storesTwo to four motorized carts at most stores, claimed fast on weekends
- How to get one
- Ask at the service desk. Manual wheelchairs are usually on hand too
- Where
- Inside the front entrance
- Called
- Motorized carts or electric carts
- Call ahead
Lowe's
Varies, call firstReports conflict. Manual wheelchairs at every service desk, motorized carts only at some stores
- How to get one
- Call your store before you go
- Where
- Customer service desk
- Called
- Motorized carts
- Call ahead
Menards
Some storesUsually a single motorized cart per store, plus a couple of manual wheelchairs
- How to get one
- Call ahead, it is one unit for a very large floor
- Where
- Front service desk
- Called
- Motorized cart
- Call ahead
Fleet Farm
Some storesElectric carts at some stores. In a 2017 court case the company said its policy keeps them inside the building, so confirm with your store
- How to get one
- Ask at the service desk, and ask whether the cart may go out to the parking lot
- Where
- Front entrance
- Called
- Electric carts
- Carts stay inside
- Call ahead
Tractor Supply and Harbor Freight
No motorized cartsNo motorized carts or loaner wheelchairs reported at either chain
- How to get one
- Bring your own scooter
- Bring your own
Other stores
4Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's
Yes, free cartsA limited number of motorized wheelchairs at every store, a published policy
- How to get one
- Call the store before visiting to make sure one is free
- Where
- Main entrance
- Called
- Motorized and standard wheelchairs
- Call ahead
IKEA
No motorized cartsNo motorized scooters by company policy. Free manual wheelchairs at every entrance, and your own scooter is welcome
- How to get one
- Bring your own scooter. IKEA's own store pages for Norfolk and Round Rock list one or two motorized carts anyway
- Where
- Manual wheelchairs inside the entrance, ID required
- Called
- IKEA cites safety on its long showroom loop
- Bring your own
Walgreens and CVS
No motorized cartsNo motorized carts. Drugstores are small enough for your own scooter, and staff will help on request
- How to get one
- Bring your own scooter, or use the drive-through pharmacy
- Bring your own
Dollar General
No motorized cartsNo motorized carts at dollar stores
- How to get one
- Bring your own scooter. Aisles are narrow, so only a compact model fits
- Bring your own
No stores match that filter.
Availability is per store and changes without notice. We re-check every policy page monthly and the date above moves when we do. Spotted a change at your store? Tell us at support@heavydutymobility.com.
Does Walmart have motorized shopping carts and what are they called?
Yes. Walmart keeps free electric carts inside the main entrance of Supercenters and most Neighborhood Markets, parked at a charging dock near the registers. Most of them are built by Amigo Mobility, which told Crain's Detroit Business in 2023 that its carts are in more than half of all Walmart stores. There is no official Walmart name for them. Staff and regulars say Amigo cart, electric cart or just the scooter at the front, and any associate will know what you mean.
Walmart publishes no written cart rules for US stores, so the posted signage at your location is the rule. Typical signs ask for one rider, walking pace and indoor use, and ask you to return the cart to the dock. Do not confuse the electric carts with Caroline's Carts, the manual carts with a large forward facing seat and harness that Walmart finished rolling out to every US store in January 2025. Those are for caregivers pushing a child or adult who cannot walk the store and they are not motorized.
Which stores do not have motorized carts?
IKEA is the clearest no. Its customer service page says IKEA has chosen not to furnish motorized scooters in its stores, citing safety on the long showroom loop, and offers free manual wheelchairs at every entrance instead. A few individual stores such as Norfolk, Virginia and Round Rock, Texas keep one or two motorized carts anyway, so the store page is worth a look. Aldi is a partial no. About two thirds of Aldi stores keep a single motorcart, Aldi's own word for it, and the rest have none, so call first. Trader Joe's reports conflict from store to store. Drugstores like Walgreens and CVS, dollar stores, Tractor Supply and Harbor Freight do not provide them at all.
None of that stops you shopping there. Federal law requires every store that is open to the public to let you bring in your own wheelchair or mobility scooter, and staff may not ask about your disability. If you rely on store carts and your nearest store has none, a personal scooter that folds into the trunk solves the problem for every store on this list, not just the ones that happen to have a cart charged.
How do you find and reserve a motorized cart at any store?
No chain takes online or app reservations for a cart. The only way to make sure one is waiting is a phone call to the store, and most customer service desks will set a charged cart aside if you ask. Shop on a weekday morning rather than a weekend afternoon, pick the cart showing the fullest battery gauge, and report a dead or stuck cart right away so staff can swap it instead of leaving you stranded in the aisle.
- Call the store firstStep 1Ask whether a motorized cart is available and charged today
- Ask staff to hold oneStep 2Customer service can set a cart aside or meet you at the door
- Shop at off-peak hoursStep 3Weekday mornings beat weekend afternoons for cart supply
- Check the battery gaugeStep 4Pick a cart showing a full charge so it lasts your whole trip
- Report a dead or stuck cartStep 5Staff can swap it or pull another from the charging dock
Three asks at the desk make the difference. Ask for a cart that is fully charged. Ask whether someone can meet you at the door or bring the cart to your car if the walk from the lot is hard, which Publix and many supermarkets do as a matter of course. And if the store has no cart or none is free, ask for a shopping assistant. Several chains, including H-E-B and Trader Joe's, will send a staff member to shop the list with you.
Your rights under the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require a store to provide motorized carts. The Department of Justice's Title III technical assistance manual says a public accommodation is not required to supply personal devices such as wheelchairs, so a store that has no cart, or whose only cart is in use, is not breaking the law. What the ADA does guarantee is access with your own device. Under the 2014 DOJ rules on wheelchairs and other power-driven mobility devices, a store must let you use your wheelchair or mobility scooter anywhere customers are allowed, and staff may ask only whether the device is needed because of a disability, never what the disability is. A state disability placard or a simple statement that you need it counts as credible assurance.
Store cart rules are a different matter. A chain may set its own conditions for the carts it owns, such as keeping them inside the building. If a store refuses to let you use your own scooter, or questions your disability, that is the ADA problem, and the ADA.gov mobility devices page explains how to file a complaint.
When the store cart is not enough
Store carts fail shoppers in two ways. The first is supply, which no amount of planning fixes on a Saturday afternoon. The second is capacity. The largest store cart carries a 500 lb rider and most carry less, with a small basket and a top speed around 2 mph. Shoppers above that weight, or who want to shop more than one store in a trip, do better with a personal scooter. A folding travel scooter rides in the trunk and comes out at every store on this list, including the ones with no carts, and a heavy duty model carries riders a store cart cannot. Every one of them is welcome in every store under the ADA rules above.
Popular with shoppers who bring their own
A personal scooter works at every store in the directory, including the ones with no carts and the days every cart is taken.
If you are new to personal scooters, start with folding mobility scooters for the trunk friendly options or heavy duty mobility scooters for the highest weight capacities. Call us at 1-888-233-5563 and we will match the scooter to the stores you actually shop.
For store owners and facility managers who want to offer motorized carts
This section is for the smaller group of readers who run a store, a senior living floor or a large facility and want to offer customers a motorized cart rather than borrow one. Start with our buyer guide to motorized shopping carts for stores, which walks through capacity, fleet size, charging setup and floor layout. The part of the buying decision we get asked about most is the cart itself and how to size it.
The cart Heavy Duty Mobility sells for this job is the EZ Shopper 8000 electric shopping cart. It is the customer facing unit a store buys to put by its own entrance, the same kind of cart your shoppers reach for at Walmart or Kroger, with a higher rider rating than the Amigo and Martcart units the chains run. It is made in the USA and currently priced at $2,999, down from a regular $3,749.
- 750lbsMax rider capacity
- 20hrsRun time per charge
- 2.5mph programmableForward speed
- 34inTurning radius
- 9,100in3Basket volume
- USAMade in
The specs map directly to the retail floor job. It carries a 750 lb rider, 250 lb more than the biggest cart the chains run, so it covers the bariatric shoppers a lighter unit turns away. The basket holds up to 250 lb across 9,100 cubic inches, which is a real grocery run. A full charge delivers up to 20 hours of shopping time, so one overnight charge on the dock covers a full trading day. The forward speed is 2.5 mph and programmable, deliberately slow so the cart moves at a walking pace among standing shoppers, and the 34 inch turning radius clears a standard checkout lane without a three point shuffle.
The customer facing electric shopping cart we sell to stores
- #1Best overall
EZ Shopper 8000 Electric Shopping Cart
The cart a store buys to put by its own entrance, the same kind of unit shoppers reach for at Walmart or Kroger but rated for a 750 lb rider, 250 lb more than the biggest cart the chains run. It carries up to 250 lb of groceries in its 9,100 cubic inch basket, runs up to 20 hours of shopping time per charge, and moves at a 2.5 mph programmable walking pace. Made in the USA.
See price & details- Pros
- 750 lb rider capacity plus a 250 lb, 9,100 cubic inch basket for a full grocery load
- Up to 20 hours of shopping run time per charge on dual AGM batteries
- 2.5 mph programmable forward speed set to a safe walking pace among shoppers
- 34 inch turning radius for tight aisles and checkout lanes, made in the USA
- Cons
- Built for the supermarket and retail floor job, not heavy outdoor or industrial hauling
- 2.5 mph top speed is deliberately slow, so it is not a fast way to move freight
Raphael's rule of thumb When a store owner asks me how many carts to buy, I tell them to count their busiest hour, not their average one. A supermarket that runs fine with three carts on a Tuesday morning will still leave a customer stranded at the door on a Saturday, and that stranded customer is the one who writes the review. The part most owners skip is the charging dock. A 20 hour run time only helps if every cart goes back on the dock at close, so dock more units than you run and rotate them. Size the fleet to the rush, add one, and give every cart its own charging spot.
For the broader catalog, browse electric shopping carts for retail and assisted living floors or our wider range of motorized carts for facilities.
Frequently asked questions
What are the motorized carts at Walmart called?
They have no official Walmart name. Most are built by Amigo Mobility, which supplies more than half of all Walmart stores, so staff and shoppers call them Amigo carts, electric carts or simply the scooter at the front of the store. Ask any associate for the electric cart and they will point you to the charging dock inside the entrance. Do not confuse them with Caroline's Carts, the manual carts with a large forward facing seat that Walmart added to every store in January 2025 for caregivers.
Are store motorized shopping carts free to use?
Yes. Every chain that provides motorized carts lends them free, and none asks for ID, a deposit or proof of disability. The one condition is at the warehouse clubs. Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's require a membership to shop at all, so a non member cannot walk in and use the cart. Return the cart to its charging dock when you finish so it is ready for the next shopper.
Which stores do not have motorized shopping carts?
IKEA, by written policy. Its customer service page says IKEA has chosen not to furnish motorized scooters and offers free manual wheelchairs at every entrance instead, although a few stores such as Norfolk and Round Rock keep one or two carts anyway. Aldi has a cart in roughly two of three stores and none in the rest. Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General, Tractor Supply and Harbor Freight do not provide them. Lowe's and Trader Joe's vary by store, so call first.
Can a store refuse to let me use a motorized cart?
A store can run out, and it can set rules for the carts it owns, such as keeping them inside the building, because the Americans with Disabilities Act does not require a business to supply personal devices like wheelchairs or carts. What a store cannot do is refuse your own wheelchair or mobility scooter, or ask what your disability is. Under the Department of Justice rules on power-driven mobility devices, staff may ask only whether you need the device because of a disability, and a disability placard or your word is enough.
What weight can a store motorized shopping cart hold?
No chain publishes a limit, so the answer is whatever the cart model is rated for. The club sized Amigo ValueShopper XL used at warehouse stores is rated for a 500 lb rider and a 250 lb basket, and most supermarket carts carry less. For comparison, the EZ Shopper 8000 that Heavy Duty Mobility sells to stores carries a 750 lb rider plus 250 lb in the basket. If you are above the store cart's rating, a personal heavy duty scooter is the safer choice and every store must let you bring it in.
Why are there never any motorized carts available when I shop?
Because each store keeps a small fleet, usually two to six carts, against hundreds of shoppers, and demand peaks exactly when you are most likely to shop. Weekend afternoons are the hardest time to find one. No chain takes reservations online or in an app, so the fix is a phone call. Ask customer service to set aside a charged cart, shop on a weekday morning, and pick the cart with the fullest battery gauge.
Do Costco and Sam's Club have motorized carts?
Yes, both do, and Sam's Club puts it in writing. Its ADA accessibility page says clubs offer motorized shopping carts for convenience or for members who need mobility assistance, with availability varying by club. Costco keeps electric carts inside the entrance of most warehouses, the large basket Amigo units built for club shopping. Both require a membership to enter, and both run short on weekend mornings, so arrive early or ask the door greeter to hold one.
Do Home Depot and Lowe's have motorized carts?
Home Depot keeps two to four motorized carts at most stores near the front entrance, and associates will push a manual wheelchair if the carts are out. Lowe's is less consistent. Store phone surveys have found carts at every store called, while a Lowe's representative has said stores do not keep motorized carts and only manual wheelchairs are guaranteed. Treat Lowe's as varies by store and call before you go.
Can I bring my own mobility scooter into a store?
Yes, into every store that is open to the public. The ADA requires businesses to allow wheelchairs and mobility scooters anywhere customers go, and staff may not ask about your disability. That rule covers the stores with no carts, such as IKEA and Aldi, as well as the days the store cart is in use. A folding travel scooter rides in the trunk and comes out at every stop, and a heavy duty model carries riders above a store cart's rating.
Can children ride the motorized carts?
No chain publishes an age rule, and the carts are meant for shoppers who cannot walk the store. Staff at some stores have asked families to stop a child using one, and a few of those incidents have made the news, so expect to be asked unless the child needs the cart because of a disability. Walmart's Caroline's Carts, Wegmans' wheelchair carts and similar manual carts are the right tool for a child or adult who needs to ride with a caregiver.
