Motability cars - should they be UK made?

Also if you restrict the available cars you restrict the resale market afterwards meaning that they can’t make as much money back at point of resale.

Ridiculous suggestion. If you are in a power assisted wheelchair you need a large capacity car as the batteries make power assisted wheelchairs bigger than standard. You may need a winch or tail lift - depending if you can self transfer and drive or you are being driven while in your wheelchair. The types of vehicles that can accommodate this type of set up are small. It is just not feasible that a UK manufacturer will do this unelss you had a nationalised one. They will make what profits them. Even non power assisted wheelchair you might have to think about things like is the gear and handbrake paddles/buttons as standard (there fore not needing adaptations).

People can "top up" their motability payment with an advance payment from their own money to increase choice. They dont ger this money baxk when they hand the car back. Some have to apply for grants for adaptations. If you have specialist needs you have to evidence already for the grant that this is the cheapest vehicle that meets your needs. Some disabled people end up paying out of pocket for adaptations and then having to pay again when the lease expires and they have to swap the vehicle.

I think the motability scheme should be designed by disabled people for disabled people.

I don't agree with your second paragraph, the whole point of the scheme is that Motability have the knowledge and staff to organise and make the adaptations needed to the car at a reasonable cost. While technically yes someone could source a car from elsewhere, they would then have to find someone to do the adaptations privately for a reasonable cost, and they might not even be able to find someone to do the adaptations.

Having said that, I do agree with the principle that this is a service provided, and that if the service provides a car, it is reasonable that the providers have a set range of cars to provide. I suspect there may also be a technical element around adaptions being done better if the technical teams are doing each adaption many times on each possible type of car, instead of keeping on having to work out how to do things on different cars.

My sister in law has a motability car. She worked all her life until she had a stroke - she lost her job, can't drive. My brother has retired to be her carer. They have very particular requirements for a car as it has to be one she can get in and out of - some are too high - and can take all her equipment. IlThere is only ever a selected range of cars available at any given time - it's not like you have a free choice of any car on the market - and I think there was only one car that worked for them. And they had to put down £4k for it. And make a monthly payment of her PIP mobility money. If she had been restricted to a UK made car there might have been nothing suitable.

It is perfectly legal to be in the position of claiming PIP, and being able to go to the gym. Some people are actually prescribed classes through their GP, so nothing particularly exciting to see there, imo. Have you reported these people, for their 'fraud' though?

Oh and it's not always about physical mobility my son can walk and run for miles in fact he never stops moving but currently gets HRM under SMI ( DLA) and I don't anticipate that changing when he transfers to PIP.becsuse he has severe autism and learning disabilities and can't speak at all so would be unable to travel anywhere independently or plan a journey

My DH is a wheelchair user. He used to go to the gym.

Yeah posters on here always claim to know someone claiming PIP who shouldn't be
You must think all assessors are completely thick.

So presumably you have reported them to the DWP if you are so sure and have so much evidence?

I agree with you about everything except about Pip fraud being zero. I’m one person and I personally know 2 people who claim to be disabled, turn up to interviews hobbling with a stick etc and claim PIP but are gym goers, one woman claiming to be suffering from fibromyalgia does cash in hand cleaning and runs 5k daily.

Do you really think that the GBR population are that honest? 😂😂😂

No, they need to be able to chose what is most suitable from all the available options.

I’d love to know how much Motability boost the economy. From supply, servicing and parts, to end sale at auction and a second hand car on the forecourt.
They go a long long way in supporting the motor trade

I remember one poster saying that Motability cars should have a symbol on them so that people would know they were "free" cars.

Limiting the choice of cars won't save any money.

Motability makes a good contribution to the economy and Treasury. But some people can't see beyond their own spite and resentment.

There is a whole spectrum of disabilities that require different types of car, so you need quite a wide range to facilitate that, and it wouldn't be helpful to limit choices. E.g. the needs of a wheelchair user are different to those of a blind person who has a Motability car so family or a carer can drive them and needs room for their guide dog in the boot.

none of those will come in at £308 a month.

Loads of cars are UK made. Jaguar Land Rover (Solihull), Toyota (Derby), Mini (Oxford), etc etc. I think pp are confusing British heritage brands with actual manufacturing/assembly.
However I agree that it shouldn't be the main consideration. If people want to support British manufacturers then they should, erm, buy one themselves.

Yep we are mobility car number two for my son ,neither have required a deposit but there was a very limited choice, I'm not complaining as my son gets HRM under SMI so we just need a reliable car.

Exactly but the media always fail to put this in there. You dont get that advance payment back neither.

Or we could just issue everyone with an inva car
I think that would make some posters happy 🤔

Most cars on notability have an advance payment. Depending on the car that can be £1000s. If people decide to top up to get a better car that is their choice.

If people are only able to use the notability element for their car then the selection is very limited.

Ok let’s explain motability payments

its Really very hard to obtain the motability part of PIP or UC. But, if you qualify you get an extra £77 a week. You can use this payment to go towards taxis, a second hand car, a new car whatever. Or you can use it to get a car through the Motability scheme.

Motability have loads of cars for lease, these often have the servicing and insurance built in to the monthly cost.
Now £308 a month doesn’t get you very much these days, so you’ll probably find if you need something of a decent size you’ll have to top it up yourself and maybe put an extra payment up front e.g £3000.

at the end of the term you have to hand the car back, it has to be in really good condition or they charge you. You need to keep the mileage to what’s agreed, or they charge you. That extra down payment you paid, you’ve lost it. That extra monthly payment you’ve made, you’ve lost it. Had the car adapted, you’ve lost that money too.

for many, the scheme is just too expensive so running a second hand car is better.

The op will be quickly googling

no, the user should be able to pick a car that is suited to their needs. Thats the whole point of motability.

What is the list of cars currently fully manufactured in the UK OP?

Maybe those who qualify for motability would love choosing a Caterham or Aston Martin though, I guess. Or a Bentley. Or maybe an Ariel.

Because they're being subsisided. Of course people who pay for their own car have more choice.

Mumsnet love to say there's no PIP fraud when there absolutely bloody is.