The Motability Scheme enables anyone in receipt of a higher rate mobility allowance to exchange that allowance for a lease of a car, scooter, powered wheelchair or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. The Scheme provides flexible and hassle-free access to a brand new, reliable vehicle of your choice – giving you greater freedom, every day.

 

How the Scheme works

Simply exchange all, or part of your mobility allowance to lease the vehicle of your choice. You choose the vehicle you want that fits within your budget, and payments are deducted from your higher rate mobility allowance every four weeks paid directly by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

 

There are three pricing options available for those looking to lease a car: cars that cost less than your mobility allowance; cars that cost all of your mobility allowance; and cars that cost all of your mobility allowance, plus an Advance Payment, which generally gives access to a larger car or additional features.

 

The Scheme covers all running costs such as insurance for up to three named drivers (this doesn’t have to be you), servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and tyre and windscreen repair and replacement. All you need to do is add fuel, and go! A recently added option allows wheelchair users to include a lightweight manual wheelchair when leasing a car. The initiative, available to anyone placing a new application for a car, has been designed to ensure customers have enhanced mobility when arriving at their destination.

 

The range of vehicles

There are over 2000 cars of various makes, models and types available to lease through the Motability Scheme, from fuel efficient smaller vehicles to roomy estates and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. Choosing a car is a big decision, so if you cannot make a decision with the assistance of the car search tools online, why not come to a 2020 One Big Day event near you, to view over 100 different cars and adaptions available to lease through the Scheme?

 

Your worry-free lease

After you have chosen the type of car that best suits your mobility requirements and have looked at the available options, it's very important that you take a few different cars out for a test drive, which your dealer will be happy to arrange for you. Once you have taken a test drive and chosen your car, you are ready to place an order and enjoy the freedom that comes with it.

 

A standard lease is over three years, or five years if you are leasing a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. At the end of your lease you simply just hand your car back and if like most customers you choose to stay with the Scheme, you can select a new car and renew your lease. If you return your car in good condition, you could be eligible to receive the Good Condition Bonus. The amount you receive depends on the length of the agreement which is currently £600 for a three-year lease. The Good Condition Bonus is the Scheme’s way of saying thank you for looking after your Motability Scheme car. 

 

Assistance

In addition to its head office in London and Bristol, and in order to maintain the best services for our customers, we have made plans to open a new contact centre in Edinburgh. The new teams in Scotland will be ready to take calls from January 2020 and are set to move into our permanent office from April 2020.

 

Motability Operations is here to answer any questions you may have about the Scheme. You can contact the Customer Services team directly on 0300 456 4566. 

For more information please visit https://www.motability.co.uk/.

Or you can contact us at Spinal Injuries Scotland on 0800 0132 305 or [email protected]