motability changes

Spoonie_Turtle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952072#Comment_81952072

Good point. Though they still don't have to arrange logistics with the customer and get it to fit in around the customer's schedule, and then repeat annually for the rest of a hypothetical longer lease.

chrisw

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952081#Comment_81952081

Motability don't do anything to schedule maintenance and MOTs - it's between the customer and the garage to agree suitable appointments.

I don't know why they restrict to 3 years, it used to be up to 5 years if mileage was low but they've clamped down hard on that recently.
You'd have thought it would be better with a longer lease as they're still collecting the full payments but depreciation must be significantly slower. And even up to 5 years old, repairs must still be minimal.

MouldyOldDough

There was talk, a few years ago of increasing the time to first MOT to 5 years - what happened to that idea ?

The idea was that due to more modern technology and materials - car parts would last longer before failing….

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952910#Comment_81952910

A good point. I had my car 5 year service and third MOT a couple of weeks ago. In all that time with about 8000 mile a year, not a single thing has gone wrong, apart from a loose piece of plastic near the clutch. Although it is one one of the more reliable makes ( Mazda).

However on the MOT they check things like brake pads, and other safety points, that as a driver you would be unaware of any problems developing. Especially important if a car was doing high mileage.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952121#Comment_81952121

3 years is the sweet spot for selling cars at auction. Best return on them. As dealer can sell 3 year old cars fast. 5 years not so easy to sell.

Sadly you see at auctions cars sent back to Motability under 3 years old. One the other week only had 250 miles & was a couple of months old. Lost thousands on that one.