Motability Car Grant Question

P4ula

I was chatting to another disabled motorist yesterday whilst parked up at the Supermarket, I was admiring his new car which he said he had just got it on the Motability Scheme. He went on to mention that as he needed an automatic car he received a grant of £600 towards the deposit, something to do with making it cost the same as the equivalent manual cars advanced payment. He said the grant wasn't means tested and was seperate from the usual motability grants application.

The thing is, I also need an automatic car but have never heard of this grant before. It wasn't mentioned by the salesman when I got my current aiutomatic car on the scheme a few years ago. I cannot see anything on Motability's website about it either. Was he having me on or mistaken about it (he seemed genuine enough though). I am struggling to save for my next Motability car and a grant such as this would be brilliant if it exists.

Thanks
Paula

tenacioust123

P4ula wrote: »

I was chatting to another disabled motorist yesterday whilst parked up at the Supermarket, I was admiring his new car which he said he had just got it on the Motability Scheme. He went on to mention that as he needed an automatic car he received a grant of £600 towards the deposit, something to do with making it cost the same as the equivalent manual cars advanced payment. He said the grant wasn't means tested and was seperate from the usual motability grants application.

The thing is, I also need an automatic car but have never heard of this grant before. It wasn't mentioned by the salesman when I got my current aiutomatic car on the scheme a few years ago. I cannot see anything on Motability's website about it either. Was he having me on or mistaken about it (he seemed genuine enough though). I am struggling to save for my next Motability car and a grant such as this would be brilliant if it exists.

Thanks
Paula

Hi

This grant is for War Pensioners, if you receive the War Pension Mobility Allowance and need an automatic or semi automatic transmission car on the Motability Scheme, there is a non means tested grant available of upto £660 which is to cover the difference in the advance payment between a manual and automatic car of the same make/model.

TT

holistic_witch

you can apply for grant towards costs but that is means tested and you still have to put a percentage in. I spoke to a lady on Friday, as i'm hoping that I get high rate mob when it eventually comes through.

P4ula

Thanks both,

I didn't realise it was just for war pensioners. The chap never mentioned it and I just presumed it was for everyone. Its a shame that there isn't the same grant available for those who claim High DLA mobility and need an automatic car. It does seem a bit unfair.

I would try for a normal motability grant like last time but I was told that it restricts the type of car I can have to the cheapest possible models and I couldn't add to one to uprate it a bit in order to have slightly more room for comfort. Not that I want anything huge, just a Focus sized automatic, preferably diesel powered. I don't like the VW Golf or the Astra though.

Oh well, I will just have to carry on saving although its a struggle as I am just 39p per week above the income support level!

Paula

vanilla

There is a grant available, as i'm in the middle of appling for it. It states on the form that it is for help towards advance payments, adaptations or driving lessons. I found it on the mobility site as the advance payments have shot up so much this last while.

I was told not to put a deposit down on any car until they had come to a dicision and that a decision should be made in 4-6 weeks. They also go by the least expensive car that will meet your mobility needs you are expected to pay something towards the car and there is no guarantee that you will get any help at all but the worst they can say is no.

This grant is available to anyone on motability as i'm appling for my child, i even spoke to someone on the phone just to make sure i got it right. HTH

Grants helpline number is 0844 800 0900

claire1234

http://www.motabilitycarscheme.co.uk/main.cfm?Type=CFIS

see the financial help part of the motability website,

you can get help with advanced payments, adaptions and if you between 16 - 24 get help with lessons,

when i rang before christmas there was a few month waiting list so best to apply stright away and they expect you to pay a min of £200 if its for the advanced payment,

so say if your advanced payment is for around £500 they might give you £300 and you pay the £200,

hth

Andel82

I have always paid a decent advance payment. I drive up and down the uk to different hospitals so I save up for at least a 1.6 diesel. My current car has cruise control and it been a god send on motorways. But, I struggle over any distance now and am desperate to keep some independance and get a semi auto. My car is due in Spetember and they wont let me apply for a grant till July. Salesmen have said its like getting blood from a stone for advance payment help and they will always give you the cheapest one. I want the C4 1.6tdi as it does 64mpg and it is semi auto with 6 gears. All the other autos are rubbish on mpg compared to their manual versions. I can afford £500 and need anothe £1,000 for the car I am after. I've even took to writing to my MP, what good that will do I dont know. Motability are not as charitable as they make out. What charity give you a £25 voucher for recommending a friend??? I think if some started a similar scheme and built up some competition then we'd all get a better deal. I dont like the way these salesfolk act as if they're doing you a favour. There should be some set up where the NEED your custom and can throw in a few extras like with normal puchases. If I dont get this car I'll be in a manual diesel and wont be able to go far. I've paid a lot into motability with advance payments and now I need their help - i'll show my bum out the living room window if I get near to what Im after.

P4ula

tenacioust123 wrote: »

Hi

This grant is for War Pensioners, if you receive the War Pension Mobility Allowance and need an automatic or semi automatic transmission car on the Motability Scheme, there is a non means tested grant available of upto £660 which is to cover the difference in the advance payment between a manual and automatic car of the same make/model.

TT

Just thinking about this, it is really a shame that there is not a similar scheme for those of us who receive DLA High Mobility and need an automatic car and have to pay more for the 'privelidge'.

I am not saying the war pensioners don't need this allowance, but they get cars with a cheaper deposit than DLA (I know they end up paying the same longterm) but is it discrimination to treat one group of disabled people more fairly than another group? I know there are grants to help with deposits etc but having to go through a means test when another group of disabled people do not seems unjust.

It could be classed as a reasonable adjustment surely to make this allowance available to DLA HRM recipients who NEED an automatic car.

What do other people think? (although there is probably no chance of this uneven playing field ever being levelled) but I feel it is a pretty unfair system.

Paula

PolishBigSpender

P4ula wrote: »

It could be classed as a reasonable adjustment surely to make this allowance available to DLA HRM recipients who NEED an automatic car.

What do other people think? (although there is probably no chance of this uneven playing field ever being levelled) but I feel it is a pretty unfair system.

First of all, if there ever was a claim under the DDA in respect to providing extra grants to all HRM recipients, then you'd find that the scheme would radically alter. It would seem highly unlikely that any such claim could succeed - it's not as if the government is obliged to provide a car to disabled people.

Secondly, I believe there are adaptions (which are readily paid for by Motability) to effectively transform a manual car into a semi-automatic. Such adaptions usually replace the foot clutch with a hand operated one - usually via the gearstick. For this reason, there's absolutely no need for Motability to provide grants for automatic cars.

GlasweJen

P4ula, it's hardly too much to give people who have fought for the freedom of the country £600 towards a car that suits their needs is it?

savingsusie

No one has mentioned how lucky they are that there is a Motability scheme available for them to use. People will always want things for free, life is not free for anyone and particularly not for disabled people.
And yes I am disabled, I have to use an electric wheelchair which means adaptations to a car, I need automatic gearbox and a large MPV to accomodate. I use the Motability scheme and usually pay in the region of £4000 deposit to get the vehicle to meet my needs. I do not claim grants or assistance I have to save up and go without other things to do so. I am also happy and glad there is such a scheme that gives me freedom and independence.