Question about use of the car on the Motability Scheme?

clemmatis

Mupette wrote: »

which one is it this time..

Good question -- Andy

sobiette wrote: »

Maybe, but I have two others running on here + another on the CAG website. I regularly switch off/on my hub thereby changing my address!

HB58

sobiette wrote: »

PIP comes into force on the 8th April 2013. Between then and October 2013, they will be carrying out a pilot scheme just to male sure that the level of awards for DLA are being reduced. From October 2013, the start to re-assess people happens.

People who have DLA awards will start to lose them in 12 months time not 2014!

I stand corrected.

Uggable1

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I have a similar situation, as, I suspect, do the majority of spouses of those with a Motability car. I take my DH to his Alzheimers club, several times a week, then drive home, and do the reverse trip several hours later.

Should I leave my car at the club and walk home, because he isn't physically with me? And if I go mad, and after he's got out the car, I drive another mile or so, and have coffee with a mate, that's even worse - or is it?

To be strictly within the rules, I'd have to park another car, which I don't have, at the club, and leave the Motability car, and then drive home in The Other Car, if I had one! I think this is a really grey area, and whilst it's totally wrong to abuse the system, there has to be some leeway.

xx

I agree there should be some leeway, or it makes no sense to allow a named driver in cases where the DLA claimant cannot drive.

I don't think it is realistic to expect every single journey to be 100% for the benefit of the disabled person. I am able to care for my family member, but have other responsibilities I need to take care of. There is no way I would be able to go backwards and forwards alternating between a car and public transport all day. That is ridiculous.

Of course, outright abuse - taking the car on holiday, using it to go for a night out etc, should not be tolerated. But it seems they have a one-size-fits-all policy at the moment.

paddedjohn

gingergee wrote: »

Does that mean that when im not using my car and my partner is, even if that isn't specifically for my benefit, we are breaking some kind of rules? Kinda worried now that he can only drive it under certain circumstances and what they are?

You are not breaking any rules, you are breaking the law. Once the car is registered and taxed as a disabled vehicle it can only be used for the benefit of the person who owns the exemption. The dvla can and do fine people for abuse of this system but probably only a minimal amount are caught out.;)

Uggable1

Just to update the thread, I did call Motability and was told that as long as no outright abuse is taking place (e.g. using the car to go abroad, as a taxi service etc.), and the disabled person is not being denied use of the car (e.g. being forced to walk around because the named driver is using the car to go to work), you are allowed some personal use of the car.

So in short, I'm assuming this means named drivers can use the car occasionally, so long as it is primarily used for the benefit of the disabled person, and is not being abused.

New_World_Man

The other party with an interest in this is DVLA.

I don't know whether or not they would share the Motability views for "private use" of another person's VED exempt vehicle.

In reality I doubt that there would be much enforcement.

Might be different if you had a crash. In those circumstances you may well find that everyone suddenly becomes a stickler for the rules.

Mojisola

Uggable1 wrote: »

Just to update the thread, I did call Motability and was told that as long as no outright abuse is taking place (e.g. using the car to go abroad, as a taxi service etc.), and the disabled person is not being denied use of the car (e.g. being forced to walk around because the named driver is using the car to go to work), you are allowed some personal use of the car.

So in short, I'm assuming this means named drivers can use the car occasionally, so long as it is primarily used for the benefit of the disabled person, and is not being abused.

New_World_Man wrote: »

The other party with an interest in this is DVLA.

I don't know whether or not they would share the Motability views for "private use" of another person's VED exempt vehicle.

I think this is the difference. Mobility were giving you their view on how the car can be used (although I'd get it in writing from them to be sure) but not on using a car with a disabled tax disc. Try phone the DVLA for their view.

Uggable1

Mojisola wrote: »

I think this is the difference. Mobility were giving you their view on how the car can be used (although I'd get it in writing from them to be sure) but not on using a car with a disabled tax disc. Try phone the DVLA for their view.

Thanks, but personally I don't see the point in contacting the DVLA because the rules are basically the same. The car must be used for the benefit of the disabled person, whether they are in the car or not.

The grey area is that named drivers are obviously allowed for a reason. I'm assuming that most people who care for loved ones have other responsibilities, and in my case these will have to be juggled around this person not vice versa as Sunnyone suggested (and their argument about having a more 'valid' use of the car is totally ridiculous, considering they have no idea of my circumstances, especially having the cheek to assume I am 'any old family member, who will be doing 'a bit of running around' ).

Anyway, I started this thread, because I am keen not to 'break' any rules, but I now see in cases such as this, they will inevitably be bent slightly.

Thanks for the responses.

scotsmart

Just be careful it just takes ONE phone call from someone who assumes your doing wrong, parking wrongly (blue badge CANNOT BE IN VIEW if you are driving it without disabled person in vehicle) one that is regularly fined on and in real terms even if disabled person is in vehicle it should only be in view when parked in a marked disabled spot and removed when car is mobile again loads of grey areas so as I say tell NO ONE you don't have to what your doing and you should be fine although as someone mentioned 1000's are about to loose their cars anyway shortly

scotsmart

On another point if say DLA is revoked under new assessment rulings how quickly is the car expected to be returned and as ours was a £800 deposit do we get x % of that back? And lastly this could be catastrophic for Motability in lost revenues and cars well under lease agreements coming back to them a nightmare for them to I'm sure