Girlfriend on motability insurance

cattermole

sandy_smith wrote: »

This is sad to read but quite true.

The scheme works great for those who still have some, albeit limited, mobility however for those at the other end of the spectrum it's still massively expensive.

They should increase the advance payments across the board to help subsidise those who need it most - like those who actually need WAVs.

Although with the introduction of PIP, one would imagine in a few years time a significant proportion of the non wheelchair users may not even be eligible for motability any more.

I think that was my gripe too when I was talking about high end performance vehicles, the scheme primarily benefits those most who could just buy a car anyway. Because they don't need major adaptations, larger vehicles for wheelchairs/WAV's and all the other kit one might need.

Higher Rate Mobility allowance has never covered the cost for those with the greatest need, and if you work then you have no chance of getting the grant for help with it.

Parva

singlehouseholder wrote: »

What I can't understand about the scheme is why the automatic cars are more expensive? The amount of people that as a result of their condition will need to have an auto and hand controls must be pretty high, why make us pay?

Quite simple. Try doing comparisons of automatic and manual gearbox cars. Automatic's are WAY more expensive than manual. I too am stuck with automatic due to my disability (drove manuals all of my life) but I do understand the premium required. People seem to forget that Motability is actually a charity that allows disabled people to have use of a car that they wouldn't otherwise be able to.

Edit: And I don't just mean in buying, I mean in maintenance if they go wrong, auto's are by design very complex.

Morglin

singlehouseholder wrote: »

The ones I've seen wouldn't really fit my wheelchair in the boot easily without putting the back seat down, unless I'm missing some of them? Any suggestions?
It's not that I want an expensive car, it's that I need a mode of transport to get to work and back. Used to walk but that's not an option now. As a paraplegic I think I'll be needing 'hand controls,' and hope I can get funding for them.:(
Dont know much about cars, don't know the reasoning for automatics to be more expensive than manuals.

We have a Ford Galaxy, and we can get either the scooter or the manual wheelchair in, without putting the seats down.

It did require quite a large deposit though - £4000, although that included a couple of upgrades we wanted.

Lin