Negative changes to the Motability scheme as of 1st January 2017.

[Deleted User]

I have this week been informed that Motability have introduced a cap of £27,500 on all vehicles (£28,500 for 7-seater vehicles). All vehicles over this price have been removed from the scheme. Also, all SUVs and MPVs over 170bhp have been removed from the scheme. Finally, if you require a 7-seater you must now prove the need for it.

I don't mind if an organisation makes these changes; I seriously mind it if they do so without making any effort to tell customers or the public. This is even more true as the car I wanted to order this week is no longer available on the scheme but was available when I last visited my Motability dealer two weeks ago.

I have used the scheme for 12 years and has been researching SUVs since November. In December I went on test drives and worked with a Motability dealer to find the right car for me. I decided to order the car at the start of January once Christmas was over. Two days ago I went into Exeter to order the perfect car for me to learn that over 50 SUV models/trims have been removed from the scheme (along with many other vehicle types and models).

I am furious that Motability made these changes without telling customers, without the Motability Lifestyle magazine writing anything about the changes and with Motability still including no information about this change on their website.

The car that I wanted is no longer on the scheme. My next three choices are all unavailable as well. The lesser car that I will now go for is at the same Advance Payment as the "better" cars had two weeks ago. The reality of this is that I can now order a car with £2000 less features but for the same amount of money as before. This only impact of this change on Motability customers is a reduction in choice and less value for your money.

Has anyone else discovered this recent change?

mrcol1000

To be fair this is not going to effect a lot of mobility customers. This also is not the only method of a disabled person being able to get a car. They also do say that the list of cars is updated every three months. It must be frustrating but Mobility do not have any kind of legal obligation to offer certain cars. It may well be the manufacturers who have decided not to offer premium cars to mobility at a discount.

pstuart

If you look at the website Which Motability, you will find a lot of upset contributors.

We were 'lucky' to get one of the last expensive auto's in December.

Pop_Up_Pirate

Its a charity that allows a disabled person to get around by offering a car without all the headaches associated with buying and maintaining one.

I don;t think there is anything to be "furious" about.

bigbulldog

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

Its a charity that allows a disabled person to get around by offering a car without all the headaches associated with buying and maintaining one.

I don;t think there is anything to be "furious" about.

We are aware of that,but thank you very much for reminding us all.:)

CTcelt1988

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

The WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) vehicles don't appear to have changed.

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

Its a charity that allows a disabled person to get around by offering a car without all the headaches associated with buying and maintaining one.

I don;t think there is anything to be "furious" about.

Well automatic drivers are worse off as plenty of trim models are gone. Not necessary premium models.

easy

You know I'm kind of in agreement with the opening poster El_Jackel here.

OK it's a charity, and I know that some people think that people like me and Deleted_User should just be jolly well grateful for this marvellous facility that the motability folk have put our way. And I am VERY appreciative of the motability scheme, which has served me well for the last 17 years, and I hope it will continue to do so.

But if ordinary able-bodied motorists SUDDENLY found they weren't able to buy vehicles they had been planning to purchase, simply because someone in authority decided they weren't worthy of them, I'm guessing there would be a lot of cross letters appearing in the press.
I agree Deleted_User, at the very least motability users should have been properly informed of the changes before they were simply imposed on us.

I know lots of people think we should just be happy that we get some help to access any vehicle at all. There is quite a lot of jealousy about our access to "free cars :rotfl:" on the motability scheme. But I need an automatic transmission, it's all i can drive, I need an Estate car to take my mobility scooter, I need electric door mirrors, because my husband is taller than I am, and when he's been driving the car I can't reach across the car to adjust the passenger side mirror, same with height adjustable seats, and reach adjustable steering wheels. I need a heated windscreen because when it's frosty I can't reach to scrape it, and sitting in the cold waiting for the car to defrost in the old fashioned way does my funny muscles no good at all.
I could go on and list all sorts of "luxury features" are invaluable to lots of disabled drivers/passengers, which is why high spec cars should continue to be available on motability.

There is also the point that many of cars can only be acquired with an initial advance payment. I honestly don't understand why we can't have access to virtually any vehicle that is on the market, just pay a high advance payment for the premium marques/highest spec cars (which is what was happening to a limited extent).

My car enables me to be independent, i use it to get to and from work, I couldn't use public transport, can't stand around at bus stops or use crowded buses for example. Because I can get to and from work I earn my own living, I pay tax and national insurance, and my husband can also work full time (very full time) instead of having to ferry me to-and-fro, so he also pays tax & NI. Of course I pay fuel duty and VAT on the petrol I use in the car, and VAT on just about everything I buy (clothes to go to work in, for example, I'd buy far fewer clothes if I wasn't working). So the motability scheme helps me (and my family) be net contributors to the economy and the state, rather than relying on benefits/tax credits.

I would ask anyone who disagrees with the motability scheme and what it does to think about that for a while.

mrcol1000

No one is saying because you are disabled that you shouldn't be allowed to have a nice car. It is just that it shouldn't be subsided by a charity

bigbulldog

mrcol1000 wrote: »

No one is saying because you are disabled that you shouldn't be allowed to have a nice car. It is just that it shouldn't be subsided by a charity

Then in your opinion why should it not be funded by a charity as I was under the impression that's what charities are there to help those that need it and more to the point Motability is self funded.

bigbulldog

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

Yet I was going to be charged £22,000 advanced payment for WAV.

Lucky you for having the savings to pay the £22,000 advance payment.:)

mrcol1000

bigbulldog wrote: »

Then in your opinion why should it not be funded by a charity as I was under the impression that's what charities are there to help those that need it and more to the point Motability is self funded.

There to help them get a vehicle so they can get around. Not a high powered sports car at a discount rate.