Motability Grants stop until forseable future?

abbas786

I got my first car on Motability a few years back and I applied for a grant towards the advance payment and the cost of adaptation.

I only paid £200 towards the cost of the vehicle and that was all. It had around £8000 worth of adaptations done to it but I think Motability was robbed as I checked and you can get them for half the price if not less.

Anyway, my contract runs out in November so I was going to apply for a grant towards the advance payment of another car and get these adaptations out from this car and installed into a new one but they said that they were not giving grants out for anything unless the persons needs have changed that the current vehicle is no longer suitable.

They used to just give grants out but because of the recession they have said no, im gutted as I was looking forward to a new car as I currently have the Toyota Verso which is adapted for hand controls and has a wheelchair hoist in the back but it drains so much fuel, I only get 30 Mpg.

I said what if I was to get a loan towards the advance payment of the vehicle and they swap the adoptions around and they still said no.

Doe anyone know any one else who might be able to help with funding, the cheapest Auto car suitable for my needs costs more than £2500 in advance payment alone (even though the exact same in manual is £750!).

Anubis_2

The grants have not stopped, however they state:
*There is no entitlement to help from Motability. All financial help is discretionary and subject to available funding. Motability is a national charity (Registered Charity no. 299745) with limited funds so it is vital that we help those people who need it most.

Grants are only given towards vehicles and adaptations obtained through the Motability Scheme.

It could be because you have had £8000 worth of adaptations previously, then they are letting someone else have a bit of their limited funds who has never claimed. It's not an automatic right, they could be thinking that as they helped you previously, you would be aware you needed the adaptations so would need to budget for them or for what it costs for an automatic. Why is the auto car so much deposit? What car is suitable for your needs?

jetta_wales

Considering the vast cost of your adaptations maybe it would be wise to consider purchasing your current vehicle instead? You could apply for a loan with repayments that match your HRM I should think.

abbas786

Hi, well I need a Car that can take a powered wheelchair in the back and still have 5 seats left so always go for a 7 seater or a big boot car, it has to be automatic too and have a 4 way driver seat as I lost both my legs and right hand due to Meningitis in 1999.

I understand what you are saying about giving others a chance but I won't need new adaptations, just requires these ones to be transferred but they wont even do that if I buy a car myself.

I can find in August how much it would cost to buy the car.

The Cars that meet my needs, from the ones I have seen quickly are: Vauxhall Antara and Nissan Qashqai +2, there are more but then they start costing above £3500 in advance payments.

iluvmarmite

My sister is getting her Qashqai +2 on the 17th of this month and she just had to put down £499 advanced payment! She doesnt need all the adaptions you do though so maybe that has something to do with it, oh and its not auto either.

abbas786

iluvmarmite wrote: »

My sister is getting her Qashqai +2 on the 17th of this month and she just had to put down £499 advanced payment! She doesnt need all the adaptions you do though so maybe that has something to do with it, oh and its not auto either.

Its a nicecar, cheapst Auto in the Qashqai+2 Range is £2,999

kentyy

I was in a simular situation last month.

The cost of autos has gone right up and also there is less choice.

I have adaptions too so the cost is ridiculous.

Maybe you could do as I did and extend your present car for another two years.

You get the choice of extending for either one or two years when your present time is up.

That way I have just kept the same car, the same adaptions, and no extra cost for another 2 years to give me some time to save up for the next time

abbas786

kentyy wrote: »

I was in a simular situation last month.

The cost of autos has gone right up and also there is less choice.

I have adaptions too so the cost is ridiculous.

Maybe you could do as I did and extend your present car for another two years.

You get the choice of extending for either one or two years when your present time is up.

That way I have just kept the same car, the same adaptation, and no extra cost for another 2 years to give me some time to save up for the next time

Thats what I may have to do as I don't have any other option, I asked if they could give reduce the monthly payment they take as they currently take all the HRM, I wouldn't even mind if they gave me £20 back each month as it consumes to much fuel (30Mpg is crazy!) but they said no too

Oldernotwiser

abbas786 wrote: »

Thats what I may have to do as I don't have any other option, I asked if they could give reduce the monthly payment they take as they currently take all the HRM, I wouldn't even mind if they gave me £20 back each month as it consumes to much fuel (30Mpg is crazy!) but they said no too

I can't see that there's any hardship in driving a three year old car, particularly when all servicing and repairs are included. For many of us, even a five year old car counts as something too new to be afforded!

sunnyone

abbas786 wrote: »

Hi, well I need a Car that can take a powered wheelchair in the back and still have 5 seats left so always go for a 7 seater or a big boot car, it has to be automatic too and have a 4 way driver seat as I lost both my legs and right hand due to Meningitis in 1999.

I understand what you are saying about giving others a chance but I won't need new adaptations, just requires these ones to be transferred but they wont even do that if I buy a car myself.

I can find in August how much it would cost to buy the car.

The Cars that meet my needs, from the ones I have seen quickly are: Vauxhall Antara and Nissan Qashqai +2, there are more but then they start costing above £3500 in advance payments.

Any grant is decided on your circumstances at the time and you wont be assessed for 5 seats unless you fulfil the criteria of having a partner or carer + three kids for who you claim CB for, for 7 seats you would need more kids etc and even if you had the kids you would only get a grant towards the cheapest options and the cars you have mentioned certainly arn't the cheapest option and you cant even top up the grant towards a diffrent car, you get what they say or no grant at all and thats as it should be, if you can find extra money to add to the grant that shouldnt allow you a better car but a smaller (if any) grant.

Motability the charity isnt their to provide people with the cars they want or think they need, they are their to allow as many disabled people as possible to have suitable vehicles to allow them to leave the house and not take the P155 like the story in this months disabled drivers mag of a man who decided he wanted a 4x4 with 7 seats so he could go fishing, fit his two large dogs in and ferry his grown up kids around which is all well and good but only if he is willing ot pay for it!

I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager Paravan and I can drive from powerchair (when my new powerchair is delivered in the next week) or be a passenger in my wheelchair or a seat, it also has four full seats, a big boot and plenty of room for the dogs. I refused to spend every penny we have in savings/investments just for a car for me so I got a second hand one instead, just because you can get a new car from Motability certainly dosn't mean you thats your only option.

SingleSue

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I can't see that there's any hardship in driving a three year old car, particularly when all servicing and repairs are included. For many of us, even a five year old car counts as something too new to be afforded!

A 10 year old car is new to me! Mine is 18 years old.......

Sorry not adding anything to the thread with my comment....