The Government's Mobility Equipment Fund provides grants for specially adapted vehicles for people with the most severe disabilities. Motability is a non-political, non-profit-making organization. HM The Queen is their patron and Motability has the support of all the major political parties and many financial major institutions.
Motability Customer Services Helpline on 0845 456 4566 (local Rate)
Who qualifies for help from Motability
Anyone who qualifies for the Higher Rate Mobility component of the Disability
Living Allowance, or the War Pensioners 'Mobility Supplement', may also
qualify for a Motability car - provided that a) they have at least three
years of the allowance to run from the date of taking delivery of the vehicle
b) that there are no matters outstanding with Motability regarding a previous
vehicle c) that the driver(s) have an acceptable motor insurance history.
Under some circumstances, the three-year qualification is not required.
The Helpline staff can advise you on how to get more information about
special circumstances. You cannot use the lower rate of the mobility component
or the care component of DLA (or a combination of them) to obtain a car.
You do not have to be a driver to qualify. If you prefer, you can obtain
a car as a passenger and nominate up to two other people as the drivers.
Children from five years old can qualify for cars as passengers, provided
that they receive the higher rate mobility component of DLA. If you want
to learn, there is a list of centres with full facilities for assessing
your ability to drive.
You can use the Mobility Component of DLA to contract hire a new car
from a list of approved vehicles. The price covers the cost of maintenance,
insurance and breakdown cover. All standard servicing recommended by the car's manufacturer, and any maintenance repairs necessary
due to wear and tear are included in your agreement at no extra cost.
You only need to pay for repairs if they are not covered either by the above, or by insurance. For full
details of what is covered by the manufacturer warranty, please check the car instruction manual
provided with the car. Unavoidable minor damage caused by a wheelchair, or other mobility aid, will be accepted as fair
wear and tear.
See the Motability Web Site for full information
Most manufacturers have at least one car available
with little or No Deposit, although these options tend to be rather on
the basic side. There now seems to be more Small Basic Automatics available
for No Deposit. Normally, you will need to qualify for at least three years'
DLA or war Pension from the expected delivery date of your vehicle to obtain
a car using this scheme.
Arrangements are made for the DSS to pay the higher rate mobility component of your DLA directly to Motability. The War Pensions Agency can arrange to pay the WPMS in the same way. After three years, the car is returned to the dealer. There is a mileage restriction currently equal to 12,000 miles per 15,000 miles per year for all, and excess mileage charges are 5p per mile. If you have exceeded this mileage over the three year period, you will be expected to pay an additional mile charge. By placing a limit on mileage, Motability is able to negotiate lower hire rates. The allowance, however, is more than adequate for most people's purposes. You are allowed up to 15,000 miles each year without charge. If you exceed 15,000 in a year, you will be charged by your Maintenance Agent for each mile covered over 15,000 miles. You are obliged under the terms of the agreement to pay the charges in a lump sum. The vehicle must also be in good order at the end of the contract, any damage could result in extra charges. If you incur mileage charges one year, but have a total mileage of under 45,000 in the whole three-year hire period, your dealer will refund your mileage charges.
At the end of the contract and if you still qualify for the higher rate of DLA or war Pension (WPMS) for a long enough period, you can choose another new car.
The car will be covered by Motability's comprehensive fleet insurance policy with Royal and Sun Alliance Motability, at no extra cost to you. The policy does not cover use of the car for business purposes, and you must give details of any convictions (other than parking) in the last 5 years. Depending on their conviction records, some drivers may not be eligible for cover under the Motability fleet insurance policy. All drivers will carry an excess depending on age and driving experience. Experienced drivers must pay the first £75 of any accident repair bill, drivers under 25 or those with less than a year's experience must pay the first £100, and drivers under 21 must pay the first £150. The excess for second drivers under 21 is £150. Personal items are not covered and should be added to your own household policy. Following accidental damage to your car, Royal Insurance will make arrangements for repairs to be carried out and make a courtesy car available to you for the duration of the repairs. This vehicle will generally be a standard 3 door model and will be covered automatically under the policy at no extra cost. Loss of use cover If your car is unusable, due either to mechanical breakdown or to accidental damage, off-the-road insurance cover, provided by Royal Insurance, gives you a payment equivalent to the mobility component of your DLA or WPMS that is currently being paid to Motability Finance. This scheme will pay you for up to six weeks excluding the first week, while your car is repaired. Payment will be made at the end of the period relating to the claim. Payment is not made if a loan or courtesy car is provided to the customer. Uninsured Loss Recovery In the event of an accident where drivers are not at fault then Royal Insurance will endeavour to recover your policy excess and any other uninsured losses.
You can nominate two drivers for your car, one of whom may be yourself. In a few cases, when it is deemed necessary, a third driver may be included. If a third driver is permitted, there would be a charge of £150. Any third driver must be over 21 and have held a clean full driving license for at least a year. Additionally, a third driver will not be allowed if the second driver is under 21 or has not held a full license for more than a year. If you wish to nominate a third driver please call R&SAM on 0500 37 37 37.
Only one permitted driver can be under the age of 21. Also, the insurance does not normally provide cover for drivers under 25 years to drive cars above insurance group eight..
Buying a New car through
Motability on Hire Purchase
Motability can also help you to buy a New Car. If you need a specially-adapted
car, you may not wish to meet the cost of modifications every three years.
If you decide to buy a new car, Motability's special rates of hire purchase
could reduce your monthly outlay considerably. To qualify, you must have
at least four years' DLA or WPMS from the expected delivery date of your
vehicle. If you buy a new car with the Motability Hire Purchase Scheme,
you will also have to cover the cost of maintenance and repairs, fully
comprehensive insurance, any adaptations you need and membership of motoring
organizations, such as AA or RAC, if you choose.
Buying a Used car through Motability
on Hire Purchase
You may decide that the lower purchase price and greater availability of models, makes buying a used car a better option. Motability can also arrange a hire purchase plan for good-quality used cars. To qualify, you must have at least two years' DLA or WPMS from the expected delivery date of your vehicle and the car must pass an AA inspection. Buying a used car through Motability hire purchase differs in some important respects from buying a new car. When you buy a used car through Motability, they will insure your car through the AA Motorsure car component insurance scheme against the cost of mechanical breakdowns. This scheme covers your car for two years. AA membership, Homestart and roadside assistance will also be included in the total cost, for the duration of the hire purchase contract. There are a number of criteria that must be satisfied. The car must be under four years old, have done less than 40,000 miles from the date of its first registration and have been inspected by the AA. If the car is a used Alfa Romeo, Lada, Seat or Skoda, it must be under three years old, have done less than 30,000 miles and have been inspected by the AA. You must purchase through a Dealer. The dealer must either hold a recognized manufacturer's franchise (ie be an officially-recognized dealership) or be a member of the Retail Motor Industry Federation or the Scottish Motor traders Association. Used Lada's must be bought from a dealer approved by Lada. There are a number of commonly known vehicles Motability cannot help you buy. These include: Yugo's, Reliant's and FSO's, cars with faulty mileage recorders, vans to be used for commercial purposes, mini-buses or caravans.
If you currently contract hire a car from Motability, you may be able to purchase this car at the end of your contract and probably will not need to produce an AA report.
How to go ahead and Purchase a Used Car
If the dealer is prepared to supply the car through the Motability hire
purchase scheme and has no objection to an AA inspection, you should contact
the AA to arrange an inspection you will be charged for this service, although
there is a special low rate inspection fee for Motability customers. The
dealer will have to make any repairs the AA inspector considers essential
before supplying it. The AA will usually inspect a car within 48 hrs of
being asked to do so and receiving the fee from the customer. . Please
check that the car meets the criteria for age and mileage before paying
for an AA report. To book an inspection contact the AA Vehicle Inspection
Booking Unit on 0345 500610. Motability Finance, using part of the money
it makes available in exchange for the allowance, will insure the car under
the AA's Motorsure Scheme for two years against mechanical breakdown other
than that due to fair wear and tear, and provide full AA membership for
the duration of the HP agreement.
So, Which car should you choose ?
The most important considerations are safety and access. Remember to take into account factors such as door width, sill and boot height. Make sure you have adequate storage for a wheelchair, if you use one, and any other necessary equipment. Check the driving position and take a test drive to make sure the hand and foot controls are suitable and easy to use. First define your needs, both now and for the next few years, then choose the car that fits your requirements - not the other way around. An assessment centre can help you do this. The car that you choose must be suitable for the whole term of the agreement. A list of assessment centres is available from the Motability Customer Helpline on 0845 456 4566 (local Rate) .
Everyone's needs are different, so a wide choice of special adaptations are available. Some of the more common adaptations include hand controlled brakes and accelerators, steering wheel knobs, pedal guards, extended switches, raised or rotating seats, roof- mounted wheelchair hoists, and seat harnesses.
If you contract hire your car, any adaptations you have must be removed, at your own cost, when you return or replace the car after three years. Your replacement car would then have to be adapted too. So, if you need major adaptations such as rear-access, either a new car or an AA-approved used car through the Motability Hire Purchase Scheme may be the best option.
Who pays for adapting the car?
If you need to have the car adapted you will probably have to cover the cost yourself. You must also cover the cost of removing any special equipment when you return the vehicle at the end of the contract hire period and for the servicing and maintenance of the adaptations. However, if you cannot meet the costs in any other way, a grant may be available for this from Motability's Charitable Fund. If you have severe disabilities, you may qualify for a grant from the Government's Mobility Equipment Fund, which is administered by Motability. Please note that there is currently a waiting list for new customers from both these funds. If you need advice, call the Customer Helpline on 0845 456 4566 (local Rate) .
How long does it take to get a car after I have ordered one?
Motability publishes a Code of Conduct ,' which outlines what you can expect from it. The code states that it will issue documents within three days receiving a correctly completed application form, if no grants are required . The advance payment you pay is price protected for 3 months from the date that your agreement is printed, or from the date that you sent in your application to Motability. If you apply for financial help, your application will take longer. Both the Motability Charitable Fund and the Government's Mobility Equipment Fund are heavily subscribed and there is a Very long waiting list. You could wait over a year if you need anything except one of the No Deposit Cars available.
Motability asks you to use this time to save up your allowance towards
the costs.
We all know of course that for a great many disabled people who rely
on their allowance to finance existing mobility that this request is unpractical.
Other factors affecting how long you must wait may include the availability of the model you choose, and how quickly the DSS can produce a stamped payment authority form. Although those factors, unfortunately are outside Motability's control. The biggest delay is that wait for extra help if you cannot afford a deposit. It will speed up the processing of your application if you ensure that your dealer remembers to include the appropriate Motability dealer code number on the application form if you are applying for a contract hire.
Buying on hire purchase
New cars
You will only own the car, at the end of the hire purchase period or if you make an early settlement. There are no mileage charges. There is no limit to the type of adaptations permitted. AA membership, Homestart and roadside assistance are NOT included in the cost of hire purchase. Loss of use insurance is NOT included. AA Motorsure car component insurance, covering the cost of mechanical breakdowns, is NOT included.
You pay for maintenance, servicing and repairs. You arrange and pay for your own insurance, which must be fully comprehensive. Usually you need to pay a deposit which varies according to the price of the vehicle.
You will own the car, but not until the end of the hire purchase period. There are no mileage charges.
There is no limit to the type of adaptations permitted. AA membership,
Homestart and roadside assistance are included in the cost of hire purchase,
but are in addition to the agreed price you negotiated with the dealer.
You
pay for maintenance, servicing and repairs. However, AA Motorsure car
component insurance, covering the cost of mechanical breakdowns, is included,
at extra cost, provided that the car has passed an AA inspection. You must
pay for an AA inspection of the car. You pay a deposit to the dealer.
The size of deposit will vary according to the price of the vehicle. You
arrange your own insurance, which must be fully comprehensive.
Wheelchairs
Many people use the Motability wheelchair scheme to obtain the powered wheelchair or scooter of their choice. The scheme works in a similar way to that for buying a car on hire purchase.
Motability's hire purchase plan can also be used to purchase the wheelchair of your choice. You will need at least two years' DLA or WPMS from the expected delivery date of your wheelchair to qualify for this scheme.
The chair you choose must be bought through one of the suppliers listed on the wheelchair price list, all of whom have agreed to Motability's terms of supply. The manufacturers are all members of the British Surgical Trades Association and the retailers are members of the British Association of Wheelchair Distributors. There are many types of wheelchair to choose from, depending on the type and extent of disability, terrain and usage. You may also need special adaptations. The types of wheelchair available range from a battery- powered four-wheeled chair, through the popular three-wheeled scooters, up to the weatherproof four- wheeled vehicle for outdoor use. Which one you choose is up to you. However, first consider your needs, how you will use the vehicle, the terrain you will be using it on and test the vehicle before you decide. You may also like to read 'How to Choose a Pavement Vehicle' which is available free from Banstead Mobility Centre, Damson Way, Fountain Drive, Carshalton, Surrey, SM7 4NR. Tel: 0181 770 1151.
The finance rates available over two or three years are printed in the wheelchair price list. As well as the regular payments made by the DSS from your disability Living Allowance or WPMS you will have to pay a deposit of at least £200.
You can also choose to pay more than the minimum required as a deposit and use less finance than the amount shown on the wheelchair price list. Please show the level of finance you require on the application form. The remaining balance of your DLA will be paid to you direct from the DLA Unit in Blackpool, once your Motability agreement has been completed .
When you have chosen the model you want, fill in the application form in this brochure and send it to the Vehicle Applications Motability Gate House West Gate Harlow Essex CM20 lHR
Within seven days of the delivery of your chair, the retailer will send
you a notice of your cancellation rights. You will then have a further
five days in which to cancel the hire purchase agreement, if you wish.
If you are happy with the agreement and with the chair, simply ignore the
cancellation notice.
Wheelchair Insurance
You must meet the cost of fully comprehensive insurance before taking delivery of your wheelchair. Your supplier may be able to arrange this, or you can arrange insurance yourself.
How much can you afford. Do bear in mind costs like battery replacements,
maintenance and insurance.
This article provided for information only, DDLG can accept no liability
for any inaccuracy and details are believed correct at the time of publication.
Adaptions
Arranging Finance
Buying a New car
Buying a Used Car
Contact Information
Contract Hire
Hire Purchase
Insurance
Radar
Used Cars
Wheelchair
Wheelchair Insurance
Which Car?
Who qualifies for help from Motability
Motor
Vehicle Companies taking part in the Motability Scheme
Many are FREEPHONE
(0800) (UK) or LOWCALL (0345) telephone numbers
Note: FREEPHONE numbers are
FREE OF CHARGE
LOWCALL numbers are charged at LOCAL CALL RATE.
ALL OTHERS charged at normal charge rates
CITROEN
0345 511611
DAEWOO 0800 309903
DAIHATSU 0800 618618
FIAT
01582 863634 (FULL CHARGE RATE)
FORD
0800 240241
HYUNDAI
0800 981981
HONDA
0345 159159
KIA
0800 77 57 77
LAND ROVER 0345 045310
MAZDA
0345 585382
MERCEDES BENZ
0800 678910
MITSUBISHI 01285
655777
NISSAN
0800 7319633
PEUGEOT
0645 455466
PROTON
01275-375475
RENAULT
0800 387626
ROVER
0345 045 310
SAAB
01628 895 755
SKODA
0345 745745
SEAT
0500 222222
SUBARU
0121 5222000
SUZUKI
0500 011 959
TOYOTA
0845 2755555
VAUXHALL
0800 7315267
VOLKSWAGEN 0800 333666
VOLVO
0800 400430
Converted Vehicle Manufacturers
BROTHERWOOD
01935872 603
GOWRINGS MOBILITY
0800 220878
UNIVERSAL MOBILITY
0345 413348
WIDNES CAR CENTRE
0151 4202000 (VW & Mercedes Automatics & Renault
Master Available)
LEWIS REED GROUP
0151 6502334
CONSTABLES
01323 767574
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for general enquires to DDLG.
Some information reproduced with the kind permission of Motability 2004
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