Motability for new drivers?

steve91

Hello MSE users, my name is Steve and I am 17 years old. I am currently sitting driving lessons and hope to pass my test within 3-4 months from now. I have been looking at ways of acquiring a car and paying for insurance/tax - and one of my most feasible options has seemed to be the Motability scheme. My father is a recipient of the DLA (Disability Living Allowance) and I understand that I could be eligible for the scheme as a driver for him. However, I have been told that I will be charged an insurance excess (understandably as I am a new driver) - but does anyone know how much this excess is?

I understand the average car is around 46.75/wk and this works out far cheaper a year than buying a 1k car and paying 3.5k a year for insurance. I have spotted a very, very nice brand new Honda Civic on the scheme - that requires no advance payment.

Does anyone else use the motability scheme under similar conditions? I would be driving my father aroundabout 20-30 miles/wk and a further 50-60/wk maybe for my own social/commuting. Any help or advice on this would be very much appreciated, thank you :beer:

shellsuit

The Mobility scheme is set up to help people like your Father (that's if he can apply as you haven't give enough info).

It's not there so you can get a cheap car to razz around in.

You do realise that if your Father was able to get onto the scheme and you were able to be his driver, that he gets the car instead of the cash?

What does your Father think of your idea?

BargainGalore

Even if you are a named driver you can only use the car to drive your Dad around it is not for helping your social life/commuting

Only to take him to appointments, shops, socialising etc

steve91

shellsuit wrote: »

The Mobility scheme is set up to help people like your Father (that's if he can apply as you haven't give enough info).

It's not there so you can get a cheap car to razz around in.

You do realise that if your Father was able to get onto the scheme and you were able to be his driver, that he gets the car instead of the cash?

What does your Father think of your idea?

My father is pretty happy with the idea. I only see him a couple of times a week because transport is mainly an issue - so a car would be a great help. He has difficulties walking and rarely leaves the house because of this. A car would help this also.

I don't think the policy states you must use the car 100% of the time for the benefit of the DLA holder.. does it?

mcspanna

steve91 wrote: »

Hello MSE users, my name is Steve and I am 17 years old. I am currently sitting driving lessons and hope to pass my test within 3-4 months from now. I have been looking at ways of acquiring a car and paying for insurance/tax - and one of my most feasible options has seemed to be the Motability scheme. My father is a recipient of the DLA (Disability Living Allowance) and I understand that I could be eligible for the scheme as a driver for him. However, I have been told that I will be charged an insurance excess (understandably as I am a new driver) - but does anyone know how much this excess is?

I understand the average car is around 46.75/wk and this works out far cheaper a year than buying a 1k car and paying 3.5k a year for insurance. I have spotted a very, very nice brand new Honda Civic on the scheme - that requires no advance payment.

Does anyone else use the motability scheme under similar conditions? I would be driving my father aroundabout 20-30 miles/wk and a further 50-60/wk maybe for my own social/commuting. Any help or advice on this would be very much appreciated, thank you :beer:

You would be uninsured for the bit in bold above. Motability cars can only be used for the direct benefit of the disabled person. You could only use it for commuting if you are the main breadwinner for your household and there are no circumstances where you could be insured for your own socialising. The very nice Honda civic that you mention may well be one of the 'nicer' cars that motorbility will not insure people under the age of 25 on at all or without a very hefty payment. Assuming that you would be planning to give your dad the £46.75/week that he would be losing, I'm sure you should be able to find a more cost effective and less complicated way of driving.

HTH

mcspanna

steve91 wrote: »

I don't think the policy states you must use the car 100% of the time for the benefit of the DLA holder.. does it?

Sorry, posting at the same time but with regard to the bit above Yes it does.

BargainGalore

Its says on the mobility web site

"The car should be used for the benefit of the disabled customer (whether they are in the car or not)"

MX5huggy

BargainGalore wrote: »

Its says on the mobility web site

"The car should be used for the benefit of the disabled customer (whether they are in the car or not)"

So it does not say "can only"

From Wikipedia (that oh so reliable source)

"Insurance is provided exclusively by Royal and Sun Alliance who have a dedicated Motability division. Insurance for persons under 25 require a choice of car that is Insurance Category Group 8 or below. Royal and Sun Alliance also require any persons wishing to be one of the two named drivers to have none or possibly some minor endorsements on their Driving License in the last 5 years. Drink Driving convictions definitely require 5 years from conviction date to be eligible for insurance on a Motability car."

devizes18193

the other way would be to use the award to buy a used car . The down side is you /dad would be liable for insurance etc . But then possable that you could drive it . My sons dla goes to my wife but she dont drive do the car is in my name for the logbook / and insurance.

h901

the 1.4 civic hatchback is a group 4
so you should be okay for the insurance

the other civics are usually group 9-10 so the 1.4 civic would probably be your only option

Pete268

Also bear in mind that all Motability lease scheme cars are taxed in the disabled class. There is no option to tax it as PLG etc.

The rules for use of a vehicle taxed in the disabled class are:

The vehicle must only be used for your purposes, for example shopping or getting prescriptions.

If it is being used by the nominee or someone else for their own personal needs, then the exemption will be lost and the normal rate of vehicle tax must be paid.

(The you/your referring to the disabled person).

Taken from:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/MotoringAndTransport/Yourvehicleandlicence/DG_10028003

So a Motability car cannot be used by the OP for his own purposes.

Peter