Question about use of the car on the Motability Scheme?

Uggable1

Hello all, recently I was approached by a member of my family to participate in the Motability Scheme as a named driver (this person cannot drive and nor can anyone else in my immediate family).

This person has a number of quite severe health issues and requires regular trips to hospital and elsewhere, for this they use a taxi service. My mother also does this person's shopping everyday, and a number of other things, however she is no longer is good health herself, and is struggling with work and looking after my elderly grandparents.

The problem is I have two children, and if I am going to have use of the car on Motability, I'm going to need to use it for other things such as taking my children to school, and doing my own shopping etc. But at the same time, I don't want to break rules or have my family member's benefit affected.

Can anyone clarify exactly what you can use the car for as a named driver? I've looked on their website, but it is not 100% clear to me. My family member has spoken to them already, but had already given me incorrect info several times (saying you keep the car after 3 years etc. which I know is wrong).

luminated

Sorry I can't answer your specific question but I can confirm if you telephone Motobility they have been exceptionally pleasant and helpful.

sharjay99

As far as Im aware the car must only be used for the person intended. As a named driver you cannot use the car for your own social uses.
You must be either carrying the person or running errands etc for the person, this was how it was when I had my car on the scheme and I believe they are getting stricter on named drivers aswell now ie they must live within a certain distance, be over a certain age etc

nannytone_2

do you already own a car?

there is nothing stopping you from using your own vehicle, and the family member paying you to drive them where they need to go and to do errands.

GlynD

As long as you are a named driver you can drive a Motability car. It is also possible to have you listed as the keeper. There's an argument against personal use but I cannot see how anyone could prove you weren't on business for the entitled person. I am a WPMS recipient btw so do have a Motability car and know the rules. As long as the car is regularly being used for the benefit of the entitled person I'd say you could look at personal usage as a perk. You'd only be doing what thousands of other are. It wouldn't hurt to call Motability however as another poster has suggested. They are nice people and you won't get the third degree.

GlynD

HB58 wrote: »

PIP for people currently on DLA will not start until 2014, so you will have to wait a bit longer before you get your wish.

Plus it doesn't affect those on WPMS.

Uggable1

Thanks for the responses everyone, I'll give them a call.

And to Nannytone, I can't justify the expense and hassle because I don't urgently need a car for myself at this time. I get along fine with public transport on the whole. However, it would be useful if I need to start taking on extra errands for my family member, as I'm a lone mother of two and it would be near impossible to juggle everything without a car.

PippaGirl_2

It's against the rules to use the car at all purely for your own use, it must only be used for your family member. People get 'shopped' for this all the time.

nannytone_2

so if you dont have a car now .... why would it be esential for the kids and the shopping? just carry on as usual and use the car for your relative

PippaGirl_2

Nannytone, I think she was meaning that using the bus for her own use and to transport her children to and from is taking up all her time. So she has no time to do the errands and provide the lifts for the family member. The only way she would have time to do the lifts/errands would be if she commutes her and the children using the car to save time

sparkycat2

monkeytrumpet wrote: »

I would not worry about it they never check and the scheme is over abused as it is. Nearly all the new cars where I live are Motability cars. I can't wait for april and they start to lose them. The whole scheme is a farse.

HB58 wrote: »

PIP for people currently on DLA will not start until 2014, so you will have to wait a bit longer before you get your wish.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pip-assessment-thresholds-and-consultation.pdf
DLA Higher Mobility 1,040,000
PIP Enhanced Mobility 760,000
280,000 who would get DLA high rate mobility will not get PIP enhanced mobility.

Who wants a motability vehicle when instead they can be miraculously cured of disability or illness by the government. They are going to cure them aren't they, rather than leave them housebound or just make those unable to march in protest a lot poorer.