Mobility Car Tax work etc

Confuseddot

Hi all,

Was looking at cars today with my friend, she needs a car with large boot due to the fact that her son has special needs buggy (larger than most) that doesn't fit in most cars. The few cars that we actually managed to get the buggy in were all very expensive even for a used model. Due to his needs she also needs a reliable car etc etc

He receives HRM and would qualify for a car under the mobility scheme which would mean she could get the car she needs. The only reason she can't get a smaller car is the buggy which he will be using for the forseeable future.

Now here comes the difficult bit, my friend would need to use the car to get to/from her work after droping him off picking him up from school. Having a look some previous threads on this topic it has become a heated debate.

It seems that mobility say that this is ok but DVLA and tax have some issues with this.


Looking for some general advice/experience of people who have been in similar situation, stoped by police etc Last thing she needs is more hassle/worry.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Confuseddot wrote: »

Hi all,

Was looking at cars today with my friend, she needs a car with large boot due to the fact that her son has special needs buggy (larger than most) that doesn't fit in most cars. The few cars that we actually managed to get the buggy in were all very expensive even for a used model. Due to his needs she also needs a reliable car etc etc

He receives HRM and would qualify for a car under the mobility scheme which would mean she could get the car she needs. The only reason she can't get a smaller car is the buggy which he will be using for the forseeable future.

Now here comes the difficult bit, my friend would need to use the car to get to/from her work after droping him off picking him up from school. Having a look some previous threads on this topic it has become a heated debate.

It seems that mobility say that this is ok but DVLA and tax have some issues with this.

Looking for some general advice/experience of people who have been in similar situation, stopped by police etc Last thing she needs is more hassle/worry.

- ask Motability, then ;
- ask the DVLA, then ;

Your friend is in the clear, even if the police or other do stop her for no tax and insurance and illegal 'personal' use of the vehicle she'll be in the clear and will have nothing whatever to worry about.

pauliboo

I agree with Richie about getting evidence to back her up just in case.

But the way I see it is that your friend will be using the car to commute to work and therefore feed and clothe her child, so I don't personally see any problem with her getting a Motability car.

Confuseddot

Thanks for the advice guys I will get her to phone.

It would be useful if the DVLA and mobility sang from the same hymn sheet but suppose that may be asking a bit much.

snugglepet20

IMO it would be a bit stupid to take the child to school and then be expected to drive home and swap cars just to go to work! Still with the government you never know...

pauliboo

Plus the chances of a Police stop-check are so remote now we don't have as many traffic officers.

I have been stopped once about 8 years ago. They ran the ANPR, found my classic mini came back as Disabled, pulled me over and wondered why there was a 25 year old skin head driving.
I said hello officer and showed them my Blue Badge and my walking stick, they didn't bother me again.

easy

oh, how many times have we been around this?

I have had a car on motability for the past 14 years, prior to that bought my own cars, but had free car tax cos of my disability.

On occasion (not frequently, but from time-to-time) my husband has driven my car without me in it. Be assured, the police are not the least bit interested in whether the vehicle carries free road-fund-licence or not, as long as it has a valid tax disc.

Not having the disabled person in the car does NOT have any effect on the validity of the tax NOR the insurance (as long as the driver is correctly named on the motability insurance, of course). The vehicle is supplied for the benefit of the disabled person, it is not supplied for their sole occupancy.

Lots of folk on here witter on about the rules. It's true that if you read the wording, DVLA'S rules on the tax disc do contradict what motability say.
In reality, no one has ever heard of a parent/spouse/carer having a problem (much less having the car or DLA revoked) for driving a motability car to and from their work when it has been used to drop the DLA recipient off somewhere else.
DWP/DVLA know what motability tell their applicants, and have never issued any instructions nor advice to stop them leasing cars on the basis that they will be used as the family car for the disabled person. It would obviously be unreasonable of them to do so.


OP tell your friend to go ahead if she would like to apply for a car on the motability scheme without worrying. Having a disabled child, she has enough to worry about.

Confuseddot

Thanks for that.

I think she is just a bit concerned as when she phoned dvla a few years ago to see if she could get free tax she was told if she used the car to travel to work then the tax wouldn't be valid therefore her insurance would be invalid so she just left it.

Richie-from-the-Boro

easy wrote: »

oh, how many times have we been around this?

I have had a car on motability for the past 14 years, prior to that bought my own cars, but had free car tax cos of my disability.

On occasion (not frequently, but from time-to-time) my husband has driven my car without me in it. Be assured, the police are not the least bit interested in whether the vehicle carries free road-fund-licence or not, as long as it has a valid tax disc.

Not having the disabled person in the car does NOT have any effect on the validity of the tax NOR the insurance (as long as the driver is correctly named on the motability insurance, of course). The vehicle is supplied for the benefit of the disabled person, it is not supplied for their sole occupancy.

Lots of folk on here witter on about the rules. It's true that if you read the wording, DVLA'S rules on the tax disc do contradict what motability say.
In reality, no one has ever heard of a parent/spouse/carer having a problem (much less having the car or DLA revoked) for driving a motability car to and from their work when it has been used to drop the DLA recipient off somewhere else.
DWP/DVLA know what motability tell their applicants, and have never issued any instructions nor advice to stop them leasing cars on the basis that they will be used as the family car for the disabled person. It would obviously be unreasonable of them to do so.

OP tell your friend to go ahead if she would like to apply for a car on the motability scheme without worrying. Having a disabled child, she has enough to worry about.

- as many times as it takes

What's the difference between Dis-abled, and Dis-honest ?
What's the problem with an honest person with dignity ringing and asking ? If you are correct then there is / was / and will be no problem will there ?

Does your foxily phrased, "On occasion (not frequently, but from time-to-time)" equate with the O/P's using it for going to work.?

Does pauliboo's situation ANPR'd in his own car with his own "Blue Badge and his own walking stick" equate with the O/P's using it for going to work.?

Confuseddot's friend having already explicitly been told by DVLA that the tax & insurance would be invalid has your encouragement and authority to commit what the DVLA told her is an illegal act does she. ?

Now here comes the difficult bit, my friend would need to use the car to get to/from her work after droping him off picking him up from school. Having a look some previous threads on this topic it has become a heated debate.

It seems that mobility say that this is ok but DVLA and tax have some issues with this.

Looking for some general advice/experience of people who have been in similar situation, stoped by police etc Last thing she needs is more hassle/worry.

This thread is like a blast from the greedy past a couple of years ago in this D&D area of the forums. The question right from #1 was not is it legal - - - but was, I know its illegal - - - but what's my chances of being caught - - - what's the chances of getting away with it.?

I think she is just a bit concerned as when she phoned dvla a few years ago to see if she could get free tax she was told if she used the car to travel to work then the tax wouldn't be valid therefore her insurance would be invalid so she just left it.

The disabled are jeered, scorned, ridiculed and attacked as cheats and fiddlers from all sides and you cry unfair / unjust - is it ?. You can't have it both ways, get some dignity.

- ask Motability, then ;
- ask the DVLA, then ;

Your friend is in the clear, even if the police or other authority do stop her for no tax and insurance and illegal 'personal' use of the vehicle she'll be in the clear and will have nothing whatever to worry about.

Confuseddot

Thanks Richie I have advised her to contact them both.

sunnyone

easy wrote: »

oh, how many times have we been around this?

I have had a car on motability for the past 14 years, prior to that bought my own cars, but had free car tax cos of my disability.

On occasion (not frequently, but from time-to-time) my husband has driven my car without me in it. Be assured, the police are not the least bit interested in whether the vehicle carries free road-fund-licence or not, as long as it has a valid tax disc.

Not having the disabled person in the car does NOT have any effect on the validity of the tax NOR the insurance (as long as the driver is correctly named on the motability insurance, of course). The vehicle is supplied for the benefit of the disabled person, it is not supplied for their sole occupancy.

Lots of folk on here witter on about the rules. It's true that if you read the wording, DVLA'S rules on the tax disc do contradict what motability say.
In reality, no one has ever heard of a parent/spouse/carer having a problem (much less having the car or DLA revoked) for driving a motability car to and from their work when it has been used to drop the DLA recipient off somewhere else.
DWP/DVLA know what motability tell their applicants, and have never issued any instructions nor advice to stop them leasing cars on the basis that they will be used as the family car for the disabled person. It would obviously be unreasonable of them to do so.


OP tell your friend to go ahead if she would like to apply for a car on the motability scheme without worrying. Having a disabled child, she has enough to worry about.

We have been reported for my husband using my disabled tax disc to go to work etc. and the DVLA do appear on your doorstep to prosecute you for abuseing a disabled persons tax disc.

We were warned that he couldnt use my tax disc or he would be fined yet we have never only had one vehicle!