Unaffordable WAV's with Motability

jofraz

Just wondering if anyone out there has come up against the following regarding motabilty WAV's ??

My son has recently got his first electric wheelchair so we are now having to get an appropriate vehicle to transport it etc.. after looking on the motability searchable price guide it has become apparent that it is impossible to afford a family sized vehicle that accommodates his electric w/chair! The advanced payments for such vehicles are extortionate, e.g 15,000 +
Unless you chose a small adapted vehicle, which does not have enough seats for a family i.e 4 + , you've had it !!
We are extremely disappointed that they do not provide an affordable " family " sized vehicle having had a family sized motabilty car for 3 yrs with room for manual w/chair and family, we are now being forced to buy privately an already adapted vehicle for the same price as the advanced payment but it will be a useable family vehicle, but at great cost to us, which during the present credit crunch climate is going to put more finacial preasure on us.
So after finally getting the electric wheelchair financed through a charity - as the local health authority wouldn't - ( thats another long story ) we were of course elated after getting the chair only to be once again deflated by yet another pitfall!!
Has any one else experienced this with motability??

mcspanna

jofraz wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone out there has come up against the following regarding motabilty WAV's ??

My son has recently got his first electric wheelchair so we are now having to get an appropriate vehicle to transport it etc.. after looking on the motability searchable price guide it has become apparent that it is impossible to afford a family sized vehicle that accommodates his electric w/chair! The advanced payments for such vehicles are extortionate, e.g 15,000 +
Unless you chose a small adapted vehicle, which does not have enough seats for a family i.e 4 + , you've had it !!
We are extremely disappointed that they do not provide an affordable " family " sized vehicle having had a family sized motabilty car for 3 yrs with room for manual w/chair and family, we are now being forced to buy privately an already adapted vehicle for the same price as the advanced payment but it will be a useable family vehicle, but at great cost to us, which during the present credit crunch climate is going to put more finacial preasure on us.
So after finally getting the electric wheelchair financed through a charity - as the local health authority wouldn't - ( thats another long story ) we were of course elated after getting the chair only to be once again deflated by yet another pitfall!!
Has any one else experienced this with motability??

Hi jofraz,

Welcome to the boards!

I've not been in this situation myself but have you tried contacting motability? I'm fairly sure that they do some sort of scheme for people who can't afford the deposit on a means tested basis.

Hope that helps.

mcspanna

jofraz

Yeah been in touch with motability and we are just outside means test so dont qualify, also they only wanted to supply small vehicle not the larger family vehicle we need. Don't mean to sound ungrateful the scheme is fantastic if it suits your needs, but if not your really stuck.
We have tryed to get help from them to buy our own adapted vehicle but they only allow you to borrow over the length time you have been awarded Mobility for, which unfortunately works out at not enough to purchase the kind of vehicle we need, Because for some strange reason they have only given my son his benefit for 3 yrs again even though his condition is perminant and has worsened. It all makes no sense, I feel as if everything takes a turn to perminantly working against you.

hugs4aud

I too came upon this problem. We were changing our car this year so rang motability and asked about help with costs as the advanced payments have gone up so much.
We wanted an MPV so that it could accomodate my husbands electric scooter and have room for passengers. I was told NO as the car only had to be able to accomodate my husband, scooter/wheelchair. I said "what about passengers?" they replied "The car is for your husband, not passengers".
Therfore we had to go for a car that really isnt suitable. We have a Vauxhall Zafira, (£99 deposit) that is ok with his wheelchair and passengers, but his scooter takes up all boot space with middle seats pushed forward.
Absoloutly ridiculous.

bigturnip

The Kangoo and all it's different incarnations from different manufacturers is about the only option you have for a free WAV on motability, there are some companies that do layouts with four seats plus wheelchair, so can accommodate five people including one in the chair. If you need space for more than five people then short of sticking a couple of chairs on the roof there is no low cost option.

Bart

Hi hugs4aud have a look at the Hyundai i800 full 8 seater with room in the boot for a wheelchair NOT folded, drives very nice very very comfortable. The only sting is £3649 down payment.

jofraz

Not only me then struggling to find / afford appropriate vehicle then.
looks like We are going to have to settle for not enough seats but affordable vehicle.
Obviously no other option. as after looking into pre-adapted big enough used vehicles we are unable to afford what we would ideally need.
it just seems so unfair, not only are you restricted financially (due to being restricted in being able work full time etc and have adequate income due to having a disabled child), you are penalized for being disabled and having a large extended family and wanting to be sociable/active/ and do "normal" things as larger group to keep your child sociable & active etc...
Yes I'm VERY peed off right now which also infuriates me as I Very rarely allow things to get me down.
Getting very fed up of going 1 step forward and 2 back !!!! :mad: