Motability scheme

D&DD

Afternoon all
Just got our post and it's a good job I was sitting down when I opened it..DS2 has been awarded HRC and HRMob :j
This will (hopefully) be a godsend as our car is just about to die on us after 10+ years of loyal service.
His hospital is miles away and our car is struggling to make the journey now, so we plan to get a mobility car *we hope* but a bit confused as to how we go about it as his award is for 2 years not 3,on the motability site it keeps saying 3 years
I know I'm a daft bint but I don't understand does this mean he is ineligible for help with a car??Any help much appreciated
Thanks
D XX:D

sportage1kia

Hi there
Just happen to see your thread. I am sure you will get many more replys soon, but if you phone Motability 0800 953 7000 they maybe able to help you further. I am hoping myself to change my car next year. Best of luck
Regards

philswannie

The motability website says

"You should expect to receive the allowance for the full

length of the agreement you choose. But we welcome
Contract Hire applications as long as you have at least

12 months’ award length remaining when you apply."

But as already posted, best to give them a call.

Good luck

welshbit

Hiya,
I got the same award, both high for 2 years. I had no problem getting a motablilty car. I've even had adaptions done. If the higher rate mobility doesn't get awarded at the end of the 2 years you will need to hand the car back, but not until you get the final decision. I think you are also given the opportunity to buy or rent the car in those circumstances, but as you've already been advised, it's best to give them a call.
Congrats on him getting the award he deserved, I know congrats is a weird word to use, but I know how much of a relief it is and how stressful the wait is.
Ali

ShockingPink

Have you thought about using the money for a loan to buy your own car? If the DLA is discontinued after the 2 years, you'll either have to pay a lump sum to buy the car, or it will be taken away from you as you'll no longer be eligible for the motability scheme.

When my Dad died, the car was taken away a week later, leaving my mum with no car - he'd been with Motability for 30 years! If you own the car you'll still be able to keep it if the award ends.

I bought my (second hand but good nick) car using mobility allowance. Having long since paid off the loan, I now put the allowance in to a special "car fund" to pay for servicing etc and towards my next car when I need it.

ETA: I know my mum wasn't entitled to use the car for her own benefit, by the way - but she only ever went in it with my Dad. If the car had been owned by them she could have kept it for her own use afterwards.

kaya

buying a car if you can get a decent rate loan is a much better idea, i looked a leasing an astra elite on the motability scheme, i would have handed over 7k in 3 years with nothing to show at the end, its worth doing all your sums before comitting

ETA although they pay for servicing and insurance when you lease you still get free road tax if you buy your own car, i have been told that some dealers give out bills for all minor repairs and scratches when you finish the lease as well

ShockingPink

kaya wrote: »

buying a car if you can get a decent rate loan is a much better idea, i looked a leasing an astra elite on the motability scheme, i would have handed over 7k in 3 years with nothing to show at the end, its worth doing all your sums before comitting

ETA although they pay for servicing and insurance when you lease you still get free road tax if you buy your own car, i have been told that some dealers give out bills for all minor repairs and scratches when you finish the lease as well

That's true - they do! Even for teeny little stone chips.

zzzLazyDaisy

I did the sums and decided it was better to buy my car. It is now fully paid for and costs me nothing apart from servicing, tyres and MOT.

But I won't be able to change it for a new car every three years, and also I was lucky because I had the finances to be able to do this. Lots of people on DLA are also on low incomes and can't get a loan.

So it really is worth doing your sums.

Remember if you have your own car for the benefit of the disabled child, you are exempt from road tax (you need to get a certificate from DLA for this)

If you buy a new car, and your child is a wheelchair user, you may be VAT exempt

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_PublicNoticesAndInfoSheets&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_CL_000128

Also, if you are thinking of getting a vauxhall car, you can get a manufacturers discount ...

VAUXHALL MOBILTY PLAN
Disabled customers are eligible for the retail affinity programme if they are a recipient of one of the following:The higher rate mobility component of the disability living allowanceThe war pensioner’s mobility supplementThe lower rate mobility component of the disability living allowanceThe severe disability allowanceA blue badge Under this plan, customers are able to purchase one vehicle a year. A copy of the customer’s award notice/ badge and national insurance number must be kept by the dealer. Customers who purchase their car using motabilty hire purchase are also eligible for the affinity programme. For further information, please call Vauxhall mobility on 0870 442 1570.
hth Daisy

OH! And WELL DONE for getting your DS HRC&HRM :T

D&DD

Aw thanks everyone:D I'm just so chuffed we didn't have a long fight for it this time!! I don't have the energy ATM

I was thinking about wether it would be better getting a loan as well.As you can see from our sig we are finally debtfree just after xmas :j so the plan was to save for a car then and hope ours would last (autogearbox is shot,amongst many other things)

I've heard that a new car loses value as soon as you drive it out of the garage and also as has been said the mobility garages keep tabs on even minor scratches so we might be better off buying a good secondhand one.
Our current car is an ex-mobilty car and has done us proud all these years.

He's got a lifelong condition so wouldn't think he'd lose it but you just never know nowadays do you!
Lots of great advice thankyou so much :T will put our thinking caps on and let you know what we decide in case its helps someone else out..we might even get a bargain seeing as the carsalesmen are struggling!!;)

alexcross

ahh Hun Im so chuffed for you. I had hoped that son would be awarded higher mobility because of new problems (looking at 7 years of hospital visits after seeing his consultant last week) he has been on middle rate care and lower mobility for past two years when I asked for them to look at it again they have put him on higher rate care and still lower mobility. My car is ten years old and everything is starting to go. It is costing me a fortune but I need it as I live in a very rural area and the hospitals are miles away.
I cried when I got his reviewed letter back...yes I am very graetful for the little bit extra money but I had hoped to get a decent used car through mobility scheme I can't get a loan as on Benefits so looks like im stuck patching up ol' not so faithful.
gl hun glad it worked out for you
xxx

colin13

i have a mobility car and i think it is a great thing:) as u say it is 7k over 3 years but with that u get 100percent peace of mind

and they dont charge u for stone chips etc u r allowed the usuall wear and tear tht occurs on any car with in a 3 year period

and u get car serviced every year and any repairs for nothing I burnt my clutch out going up hill on way to scarbourgh and the car was only 4 months old if u want a good car and peace of mind IMO mobility is great