Page 16 | Motability cars - should they be UK made?

Pandersmum · 2025-10-18T08:49:15+00:00

Motability cars are currently in the news with suggestions VAT will be added. I realise they are a lifetime to some and a perk to others. They are a huge annual cost to the tax payer. AIBU to think that all motability car choice should be limited to those manufactured in the UK? This would support British manufacturing worker jobs and increase UK business tax revenue whilst still providing cars for those who need them?

PandoraSocks · 18/10/2025 14:43

Locutus2000 · 18/10/2025 14:41

Stop lying.

Show quote history

It is maddening that MNHQ allows this sort of shit to be posted.

Locutus2000 · 18/10/2025 14:41

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:06

I think like anyone else, disabled people need a choice of vehicles and using British manufacturers only may not provide those choices. Why should they be restricted to just certain manufacturers?

I worked in a German branded car garage briefly years ago - we had some severely disabled people who came in and I was thrilled to see that they were getting the vehicles they needed. There were some families who literally brought me to tears with their happiness at finally getting a car that suited their specific requirements. I loved helping these people.

There are however sadly some people who do abuse the disability payments - for example there were many young lads who came in and were getting a car in their grandmothers name for the purpose allegedly to take her to hospital appointments. It was always the same story. Now if they had been getting a suitable ‘regular’ vehicle I may not have batted an eyelid, however when they were getting a very low, 2 seater style higher powered sports car that would be very difficult for an elderly or infirm person to get in and out of - and also barely room for a pram let alone any walking device or wheelchair to go into it, then I very much doubt these cars were being used to ferry their grandmother around. Granny probably never saw the interior of them!

I think this is predominantly where people will have a negative view of the scheme. For others though who really need it, it’s an absolute lifeline for them and literally the only way they can live an as normal and independent life as possible. The issue isn’t the motability scheme - it’s the benefits system and their inability to police fraud.

Stop lying.

PandoraSocks · 18/10/2025 14:41

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:33

Well 15 years ago - yes this did happen. Always the same story - needed it to take granny to hospital. Not sure if requirements have changed since then. But certainly there was a huge difference in vehicle requirements between the genuine claimants and the non genuine. Thing is - I actually support the motability scheme for the people who need it - no need to keep trying to pull apart what I’m saying is there. Unless you have worked in a car dealership and had experience of the different types of people who have come in and their reasons for needing the car, then you cannot possibly comment can you.

Show quote history

My DH has been leasing Motability cars for 20 years.

No-one has to give a reason to the dealer for leasing the car. No dealer will ever ask this. So why would it even be mentioned that he car is to take granny to hospital?

No-one can lease a car on behalf of anyone else.

"Granny"is more likely to get AA than DLA/ PIP unless they became disabled before retirement age.

I could go on. Your story is full of holes. Writing this sort of rubbish is despicable and ableist.

Avantiagain · 18/10/2025 14:40

"They don’t need to be £30k cars for a start."

You won't get much change out of 30k for any car that fits in 5 adults and an adult wheelchair.

Overthemhills · 18/10/2025 14:39

@Cantbleedingcope
But no one can just walk into a car dealership and buy a car, using the Motability scheme with someone else’s award.
The scheme - as someone upthread complained about - involves paying the insurance on that car.
When I applied to Motability the contract had to be checked with medical records supplied as well as DLA award and the contract to swap DLA was made between Motability and the DWP. Allied Mobility then supplied the WAV.
Admittedly I don’t know if there’s much option to look at cars of huge variation but the context of the young people using granny’s award (which one I wonder) to o secure funding either had GRANNY as the fraud and the card dealership as lunatics they can’t distinguish an older woman from two young men

Locutus2000 · 18/10/2025 14:39

PandoraSocks · 18/10/2025 13:18

The resentment about the Motability scene is completely illogical.

If it was scrapped then disabled people would have to use their PIP/DLA to lease cars from other outlets. I just quickly checked and we could lease the car we have now for less than the PIP payment we sign over to Motability.

The difference is the money we pay now is ploughed back into the scheme for the benefit of all its members, rather than shareholders. Why is that a bad thing?

The difference is the money we pay now is ploughed back into the scheme for the benefit of all its members, rather than shareholders.

Well, some of the money. Senior management do okay.

Inside Motability the billion-pound car scheme caught in Britain’s benefits row

Chief Exec Andrew Miller is the man keeping Motability on the road as welfare cuts bite

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/motability-scheme-benefits-andrew-miller-charity-b2721798.html

Kirbert2 · 18/10/2025 14:38

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:33

Well 15 years ago - yes this did happen. Always the same story - needed it to take granny to hospital. Not sure if requirements have changed since then. But certainly there was a huge difference in vehicle requirements between the genuine claimants and the non genuine. Thing is - I actually support the motability scheme for the people who need it - no need to keep trying to pull apart what I’m saying is there. Unless you have worked in a car dealership and had experience of the different types of people who have come in and their reasons for needing the car, then you cannot possibly comment can you.

Show quote history

Of course you can comment when you know how the Motability scheme works and can say without a doubt that even 15 years ago, 2 seater sports cars were not available.

PennywisePoundFoolish · 18/10/2025 14:36

I think this is a great idea and should be rolled out further. If a person is getting any kind of benefit- UC/child benefit/pension, they should only be permitted to buy products manufactured/grown in the UK. They should have some kind of tattoo, just a small one, so that when they stop claiming it won't cost much to be removed.

x2boys · 18/10/2025 14:35

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:33

Well 15 years ago - yes this did happen. Always the same story - needed it to take granny to hospital. Not sure if requirements have changed since then. But certainly there was a huge difference in vehicle requirements between the genuine claimants and the non genuine. Thing is - I actually support the motability scheme for the people who need it - no need to keep trying to pull apart what I’m saying is there. Unless you have worked in a car dealership and had experience of the different types of people who have come in and their reasons for needing the car, then you cannot possibly comment can you.

Show quote history

Yeah course.it did 🤣🤣😂

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:33

x2boys · 18/10/2025 14:25

This is hilarious ,that you even think it's possible for a young man together a sports car mobility car in their grandparents name 🤣🤣🤣

Show quote history

Well 15 years ago - yes this did happen. Always the same story - needed it to take granny to hospital. Not sure if requirements have changed since then. But certainly there was a huge difference in vehicle requirements between the genuine claimants and the non genuine. Thing is - I actually support the motability scheme for the people who need it - no need to keep trying to pull apart what I’m saying is there. Unless you have worked in a car dealership and had experience of the different types of people who have come in and their reasons for needing the car, then you cannot possibly comment can you.

Overthemhills · 18/10/2025 14:33

@HRTQueen
If Allied Mobility stocks a British made WAV that I can lease from them via the Motability scheme -fan-fucking-tastic.
I’ve no idea how the government views securing contracts with independent charities to benefit certain car manufacturers however. But it’s hardly prime capitalism at work..

Avantiagain · 18/10/2025 14:32

There is nothing UK made that meets my son's needs.

PandoraSocks · 18/10/2025 14:31

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:23

Actually I didn’t work on the sales side so no commission at all. But what I will say is I know for a fact that motability don’t act on reports of fraud either.

Show quote history

But you still could have reported abuse of the scheme.

What exactly was your role if you didn't work on the sales side? You said you "loved helping these people" and you were brought to tears etc.

Motability cars - should they be UK made?

Kirbert2 · 18/10/2025 14:30

HRTQueen · 18/10/2025 14:19

Yes they should

What is wrong with having a Vauxhall or Ford (as examples of lower to mid range cars)

why are larger higher range BMW’s and Mercedes even on the list

and there is plenty of PIP fraud what there is also is people who are desperately needing the extra support not quite reaching the threshold which they absolutely should do and having to fight for it

the PIP system and benefits in general is a mess

we have 1 in 4 young adult’s on long term sick with a huge increase in PIP applications/payments of course something is very wrong

I have a large Mercedes because it's a WAV and big enough not only for my son's wheelchair but all the other things we often need to have in the car due to his disability.

My son would receive high rate mobility and it would be the exact same amount either in my bank or going towards a motability car no matter if it's a Ford or a Mercedes. I paid the advance payment from my own money.

Overthemhills · 18/10/2025 14:29

sorry lease holder not leader

Overthemhills · 18/10/2025 14:29

@FallingIntoAutumn
Thatd my point - why is it the leaders issue if the charity receives just £77 a week per car. The charity has set itself up to operate as it does and is profiting from it.

FallingIntoAutumn · 18/10/2025 14:28

Overthemhills · 18/10/2025 14:26

Do people think the taxpayers are paying for Motability to exist…??
I don’t mean for an individual to lease a car (as that’s them spending their benefits given for mobility difficulties plus adding additional money to make advances payments when necessary).
Does no-one understand how a charity operates?

Apparently not. They think it’s all tax payers money and anyone can ring up and get a free car

BashfulClam · 18/10/2025 14:28

My dad had motability, he lost part of his DLA to fund it. He worked for. The age of 15 and paid into the system until he developed MS.it it free you lose part of your benefits to have it. There is a basic range that you can find completely within and extra fee, you need to pay extra for anything outwith that range and you still pay for fuel. As it’s a lease scheme though they do service and insure it.

Overthemhills · 18/10/2025 14:26

Do people think the taxpayers are paying for Motability to exist…??
I don’t mean for an individual to lease a car (as that’s them spending their benefits given for mobility difficulties plus adding additional money to make advances payments when necessary).
Does no-one understand how a charity operates?

FallingIntoAutumn · 18/10/2025 14:26

Overthemhills · 18/10/2025 14:24

@FallingIntoAutumn
Well that’s Motability’s issue!They buy the cars and lease them (at the rate of the relevant benefits) until they take them back and SELL them again. Are you worried about the charity losing out because they are sitting on £4billion profits

What’s their problem?
I’m confused

having rock solid residuals? That’s a bonus for Motability and the PIP recipient. Like any lease deal it means your monthly cost is less as it will be worth more at the end.

x2boys · 18/10/2025 14:25

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:06

I think like anyone else, disabled people need a choice of vehicles and using British manufacturers only may not provide those choices. Why should they be restricted to just certain manufacturers?

I worked in a German branded car garage briefly years ago - we had some severely disabled people who came in and I was thrilled to see that they were getting the vehicles they needed. There were some families who literally brought me to tears with their happiness at finally getting a car that suited their specific requirements. I loved helping these people.

There are however sadly some people who do abuse the disability payments - for example there were many young lads who came in and were getting a car in their grandmothers name for the purpose allegedly to take her to hospital appointments. It was always the same story. Now if they had been getting a suitable ‘regular’ vehicle I may not have batted an eyelid, however when they were getting a very low, 2 seater style higher powered sports car that would be very difficult for an elderly or infirm person to get in and out of - and also barely room for a pram let alone any walking device or wheelchair to go into it, then I very much doubt these cars were being used to ferry their grandmother around. Granny probably never saw the interior of them!

I think this is predominantly where people will have a negative view of the scheme. For others though who really need it, it’s an absolute lifeline for them and literally the only way they can live an as normal and independent life as possible. The issue isn’t the motability scheme - it’s the benefits system and their inability to police fraud.

This is hilarious ,that you even think it's possible for a young man together a sports car mobility car in their grandparents name 🤣🤣🤣

FallingIntoAutumn · 18/10/2025 14:24

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:23

Actually I didn’t work on the sales side so no commission at all. But what I will say is I know for a fact that motability don’t act on reports of fraud either.

Show quote history

I did see them take action on fraud and against people who trashed the car

flawlessflipper · 18/10/2025 14:24

The options for drivers under 25 are limited.

Overthemhills · 18/10/2025 14:24

@FallingIntoAutumn
Well that’s Motability’s issue!They buy the cars and lease them (at the rate of the relevant benefits) until they take them back and SELL them again. Are you worried about the charity losing out because they are sitting on £4billion profits

FallingIntoAutumn · 18/10/2025 14:24

Cantbleedingcope · 18/10/2025 14:18

To be specific - sports models of certain vehicle - think VW Scirocco. Very popular in the day. Not suitable for elderly though. You could get the more powerful engine.

Show quote history

Not a sports car. Literally a golf / a3 / beetle / q3 in a different shell.

still the recipient would only have got the monthly payment, if it cost more on lease, which actually, it may not have as the residuals were rock solid on them. If it cost more than their allowance, than the recipient would have paid the shortfall.

when I did the Motability course, we were often advised to make sure people try three door cars because the doors opened wider meaning access was easier.