Nominated driver for relatives Mobility scheme car

BusyMammy.

Hi folks,

First time poster and would appreciate some advice. Thanks in advance.

Today we completed the final application for my step fathers car. He has had a few strokes and although he is very physically fit, he struggles cognitively. He is no longer able to drive so I will be the nominated driver of the car, and it will stay at my property.
I understand that the car is only to be driven when it directly benefits my step father but I didn't realise quite how strict the rules would be until today. I also didnt realise it would have a tracking device.
The case manager has approved my journeys to work and my childrens nursery as 99% of the time I will call into my parents house before, after or both.
But there a few regular trips that I already make with him that I am unsure will be okay.

1. Around once a month I take him on a roughly 50 mile trip to see an old army buddy. We've been doing this for almost two years but I have to take my two toddlers with us.
We usually go in for an hour or so as his chum loves to see the kids but then I will leave for and hour or two with the kids.
We go to the park or shops and give the men some time to catch up.
Would this be classed as personal use?

2. I try to include him on our family outings as much as I can but I share a car with my partner and with two car seats it is a squeeze. The plan was to be able to take two cars for the sole reason of including him and my mum.
So can I use the car to ensure he is able to come out with us?

3. Probably similar to Q2.
Every now and then I will take the kids (3&1) to an indoor playground and he likes to come with us. We all go for local forest walks. As I said physically he is very fit. He loves to play with them. But he becomes very confused outside of his home. Even at home he needs to help to do basic tasks.
Because this is something I would normally do, is it not allowed?

I realise these sound like trivial things but I don't want to get it wrong.
Obviously the car will be used for a lot more than just that.
I also do his groceries, gp/hospital visits, scripts and visit them multiple times a day.


Any advice at all would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

I don't see any problem as long as the car is being used for his benefit, If you have concerns best talk to motability.

BusyMammy.

I think I'll have to give them a ring.

The tracker being fitted took me by surprise so now I'm just over thinking each situation.

Thank you 😊

Ames

The three scenarios you mention all seem fine.

Be aware though that the Motability rules are less strict than the DVLA rules. Under DVLA rules a car with a tax exemption cannot be used for a carer to commute to work. All Motability cars have the tax exemption. There's some debate on these boards about whether it's ok to stretch the DVLA rules since you're unlikely to get caught.

LocoLoco

Busy Mammy, I was concerned about accepting a Motability car when my son was in receipt of higher rate DLA, partly for the reasons you mention and partly because I was worried about the car having to go back if/when my son's DLA award changed. I put the mobility element of his payment towards running our own car instead so you could always do that if, after speaking to Motability, you think there will be times having their vehicle is going to cause a problem. I'd also follow up your phone call with an email asking them to confirm so that you have something in writing, just to be on the safe side.

fredandwilma

See this criteria:-


https://www.motability.co.uk/information-for-customers/cars-and-wheelchair-accessible-vehicles-customer-area/your-agreement-named-car-drivers

Who can drive for you

In order to protect the Scheme, there are a few rules surrounding who can drive your car.

Named drivers should live within five miles of the disabled customer’s address. We will, however, consider requests to include drivers outside of this range where this is essential to support the customer’s mobility needs.

The most important criteria for nominated drivers is the distance they live from the applicant. I take it you don't live with your parents as you say you visit your parents and the car will stay at your property?

I know someone who wanted a 'nominated driver' who lived just over 5 miles away and this wasn't allowed.

If none of the named drivers live at the disabled customer’s address, or the disabled customer lives in a care home where a number of drivers have access to the car, we may consider fitting a location tracker. This is to ensure the customer is gaining direct benefit from the car. We will always speak to the customer to discuss this in advance of a tracker being fitted.

w06

You may find you're better off, financially and in terms of enjoying the car and not fretting, cancelling the motability order and using the benefit to buy and insure a car independently. After 15 years using Motability I did just that a couple of years ago, after many problems with RSA (The insurers that Motability use). Not regretted it once.

woolythoughts

Interesting, I live 216 miles away from my mother and I am a named driver on her motability car. I regularly visit at weekends but don't get there until late on a Friday.


The new rules about adding people to the insurance means that any temporary driver has to be with the main person when the insurance is being changed. As motability are closed Fridays and over the weekends this was never possible.


So they suggested I be added as a permanent named driver - and I have been.


So the mile limit is flexible.


We have no tracker fitted either.

fredandwilma

woolythoughts wrote: »

Interesting, I live 216 miles away from my mother and I am a named driver on her motability car. I regularly visit at weekends but don't get there until late on a Friday.


The new rules about adding people to the insurance means that any temporary driver has to be with the main person when the insurance is being changed. As motability are closed Fridays and over the weekends this was never possible.


So they suggested I be added as a permanent named driver - and I have been.


So the mile limit is flexible.


We have no tracker fitted either.

Interesting. In that case, you must be doing well over the mileage caps, including any mileage you may do at home? Or maybe you don't use the car during the week?

Even so, if you visit your mother most weekends and take her out in the car, you would notch up around 67,000 miles over a three year period? It's a 432 mile round trip to see your mother.

Do you pay the additional cost of 5p a mile?


https://www.motability.co.uk/contact-and-support/faqs/how-many-miles-am-i-allowed-to-do

The mileage allowance is 60,000 miles over a 3 year agreement. Any additional miles will be charged at a cost of 5p per mile. For 5 year agreements, the mileage limit is 100,000 miles.

woolythoughts

fredandwilma wrote: »

Interesting. In that case, you must be doing well over the mileage caps, including any mileage you may do at home? Or maybe you don't use the car during the week?

Even so, if you visit your mother most weekends and take her out in the car, you would notch up around 67,000 miles over a three year period? It's a 432 mile round trip to see your mother.

Do you pay the additional cost of 5p a mile?


https://www.motability.co.uk/contact-and-support/faqs/how-many-miles-am-i-allowed-to-do

You misunderstand - I don't have the car myself - my mum has it and drives it through the week. I have my own car - a low sportscar which my mum is unable to get into.


I see her about one weekend every month and we like to go out together. I get very very sick as a passenger so have to drive. She can't get into mine so I have to drive hers.


She used to have my uncle on as a second driver and I went on temporarily over the weekends I was there. Until motability brought in the rule that the temp driver had to be with the main driver when being added on - which didn't work as motability is closed during the time I'm with her from 2000 on a Friday to 0500 on Monday.


So my uncle was taken off as the main second driver and I am on there permanently - and if he needs to drive the car then he goes on a temp driver (given he lives 2 miles from my mum!).


I was just pointing out that you can be the permanent named second driver on a motability car if you live over 5 miles away and it doesn't necessarily mean a tracker!

unforeseen

I think the 5 mile limit only comes into play if the vehicle is kept at the named drivers location. In your case the limit will not apply.


I think the rules were written the way because they base it on the assumption is that the named driver will have possession of the vehicle at all times if the applicant is a non driver