How to Get a Mobility Car: Your Quick Guide to the Motability Scheme

If you’re disabled, having a mobility car can make a huge difference. Living in the UK, you might qualify to get one through Motability.

Motability Operations has been around since 1978. Since then, its mission is to help those who need mobility cars get one.

What exactly is the Motability Scheme? Do you qualify? And if so, how do you navigate the process?

You have a lot of questions, and we have a lot of answers. Our guide on how to get a mobility car will take you through each step of the scheme.

What Is The Motability Scheme?

The Motability scheme was created to help the disabled get around and remain active and as independent as possible. Today, there are around 630,000 people who take advantage of this wonderful program.

There are different tiers to the program. Depending on your needs, you can choose the one that’s best for you

Motability can help you find a mobility scooter, wheelchair accessible vehicle, or even lease a new car. You don’t even have to drive, either. Motability allows you to designate two drivers who can operate the vehicle on your behalf.

There are plenty of benefits of the Motability scheme designed to make the lease of your vehicle a worry-free experience. These include insurance arranged through RSA Insurance, breakdown assistance provided by RAC, servicing and maintenance, Kwik Fit tyres plus Motability’s award-winning customer service team.

Everything has been thought through for you, just add fuel and go.

What Are The Costs Associated With Mobility Vehicles?

The Motability Scheme has an easy payment system. By exchanging your mobility payment, you can pay for a new car.

Here are the different kinds of allowances you can use with the Motability scheme: Subject to change and in line with benefit amount changes by DWP.

• £145.35 weekly – Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
• £59.75 weekly – Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HMRC DLA)
• £66.75 weekly – War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
• £59.75 weekly – Enhanced Rate of Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (ERMC PIP)

Servicing costs, breakdown assistance, and insurance are covered by the scheme. Other things like oil and fuel insurance is provided with very modest excess payments and of course speeding fines are your responsibility!

What Determines Motability Eligibility?

Wondering if you’re eligible for the Motability scheme? There are a few requirements you have to meet first.

First of all, and most importantly, is the requirement that the car or wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) must be used by, or to benefit, the disabled person who is in receipt of the mobility payment. This is not to say the disabled person must be in the car every time it is used, but when they are not the journeys that are taken without that person should be benefiting them, for example, shopping and other errands.

You or your nominated driver(s) need to have a license and be in good standing, that do not have any driving citations.

Be in receipt of the above allowances following a medical assessment.

How To Get A Mobility Car

Now let’s look at how to apply for a mobility car.

The first decision is if you can fund the advance payments or if you are going to apply for a charitable grant from Motability, standard cars often have a zero advance payment and there are hundreds with very low amounts to pay, a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) can run into many thousands of pounds so a grant is a popular route for many customers.

The Motability Grant

A Motability Grant is available to a disabled person who would otherwise not be able to afford to pay the advance payment and is an individual means-tested application. Factors that can affect the outcome of the application include household circumstances, a financial situation such as whether you received income from paid employment and have any savings or investments, your disability or impairment and how it impacts your mobility plus any equipment you regularly travel with, amongst other factors.

Through the Motability program, you’ll have a few leasing options. For a standard car, you will have 60,000 miles, you can lease a vehicle for three years, or for a WAV its 100,000 miles, you can do five years.

First, pick out the vehicle that best meets your needs. You can choose from a scooter or powered wheelchair, a wheelchair accessible van, or a car.

Second, order your vehicle from a reputable dealership that works with the Motability scheme.

You might be able to trade in your old car during the process. If your plan requires an advance payment, this would need paying prior to hand over of your new car

What Car Can I Get On Mobility?

On the Motability website, you will find a handy car search guide for all the different cars and wheelchair accessible vehicles that are available through the Motability Scheme.

You first input what type of allowance you are in receipt of; Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HMRC DLA), Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP), War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement (WPMS) etc.

You can then input the details of your requirements to easily find a vehicle that will be suitable. If you are looking for a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV), this will include information such as whether you want ramp or lift access, side or rear entry. Also very important is the entry height, which is the measurement from the floor to the top of the door frame with a 50mm buffer. Comparing this to the seated height of the wheelchair user will determine what WAVs will be suitable.

Standard or wheelchair accessible vehicle?

WAV vehicles are most suitable if you are not able to transfer from your wheelchair to the car seat. They offer a greater level of independence as the standard vehicle is adapted to make it possible for a wheelchair user to remain in their wheelchair when the vehicle is moving.

If you are able to transfer into the car seat, it may be that a Motability car with a vehicle adaption is a more suitable option. Options include transfer plates, person hoists and swivel seats plus adaptions that help stow away your wheelchair or scooter independently. The real benefit of the Motability Scheme is their experience in matching the right car or WAV to the individual customer.

Once you have decided on whether you are shopping for a car or WAV you can then input the specification of the vehicle you are looking for, if you have a preference for fuel type and transmission. The number of seats you require, and you can also filter the results by make, model and convertor. You do not need to fill in every option, be as specific as you like, or fill it only the essential and have a good browse through the hundreds of options that are available through Motability.

A selection of vehicles available through the Motability Scheme at Brook Miller include but are not limited to;

Volkswagen Transporter / Shuttle – Rear Lift, Centro & Side Entry

Renault Trafic – Rear Lift

Renault Master

Find Your Mobility Car Today

Now that you know how to get a mobility car, you’re ready to go shopping!

There are a lot of great options out there waiting for you to drive them home. Contact us today and we’ll make the process of finding your mobility car even easier!