Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel horrified at the number of Motability vehicles being provided?

646 replies

DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 19:36

Just read this in the Telegraph about what the Americans think of our welfare spending:

“It also shocks Americans to learn that almost one in every five new cars sold in Britain is provided through Motability, the taxpayer-backed car scheme. The equivalent in the United States would be every Chevy, GMC, Buick and Cadillac sold through welfare. Or every Ford”

One of my friend’s daughters, aged 27, who has never worked, has several children with various diagnoses and is a single parent recently received a top of the range car, got to choose the colour and was given a ‘big reveal’ at the garage when she collected it. She has now been given a new four bedroomed detached house, something my own hardworking children could never manage.

Something is very, very wrong in this country.

OP posts:
Comtesse · 22/10/2026 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Greenismyfavouritecolournow · 22/10/2026 20:32

3 children and all diagnosed with adhd and she’s never ever had a job? Chances are she’s playing the system.
Hopefully she’s on long term contraception. No point in her having any more children if she can’t raise the three she already has. We don’t need more burdens on the state either.

Those who don’t believe parents lie all the time to get a diagnosis for their child have never worked in education. I have to return a phone call to the local occupational health team tomorrow to inform them how pupil ‘A’ has adapted to his ‘new mobility aid’. Said pupil has never used a mobility aid and is partaking in the DOE. You couldn’t make it up.

MyrtleLion · 22/10/2026 20:31

TeenLifeMum · 22/10/2026 20:27

Those on benefits are statistically less likely to visit historic buildings, museums, highbrow culture so it’s to encourage that.

And more importantly, it is the attraction or museum that pays, not the government. The entry fee is not the way they make money. Snacks, drinks, merchandise etc which are not subsidised make far more money for these companies than entrance fees.

We are NOT paying for people on benefits to go to Alton Towers.

DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 20:31

I should have put ‘provided’ with a new house for which she receives housing benefit

OP posts:
Raindropskeepfallingon · 22/10/2026 20:29

x2boys · 22/10/2026 20:26

😂😂
What a load of nonsense they just get you to sign some paperwork and give you the keys.

Nope. Quite common to have it under a wrap or a bow. Had it a couple of times on (non motability) new cars - I now ask dealers not to because it’s absolutely cringe. I know what the car looks like, I bought it! But I guess some people like the “special moment”.

Seymour5 · 22/10/2026 20:29

maggisimpson · 22/10/2026 20:19

You'd be SHOCKED to know how much housing benefit goes to private landlords.

I do know, and it’s appalling. People on low incomes who only get part of their rent covered, often for a property that is of poorer standard than social housing, and with no security of tenure.

TeenLifeMum · 22/10/2026 20:29

WiddlinDiddlin · 22/10/2026 20:27

So... if they didn't have the Motability lease car... they'd still get the exact same money as part of their PIP claim, saving you, the taxpayer (one assumes) nothing.

Which means what you're mad at, is that there is a scheme whereby disabled people have access to affordable vehicles.

They are new vehicles because supplying second hand vehicles would cost more in maintenance than it is worth, and would be a royal pain in the arse, and new vehicles handed back, are then sold on, the funds then going back into the Motability charity, and the second hand vehicles benefiting the general economy and the second hand car buyers.

This is important because disabled people generally have fewer transport options, can't access public transport reliably, may well need to visit hospitals more often and so really need a reliable vehicle.

Should it be means tested? No, because those who really do earn so much that the PIP payment or childs DLA payment makes no odds, will be paying back far far more in tax than they're costing.

For everyone else, they need it, being disabled is expensive and means testing would cost significantly more than it would ever save.

Bottom line, you are jealous of disabled people. Sit with that. You're jealous, why are you jealous? Do you think disabled people don't deserve help? Do you think they're getting a better deal than you? Do you think you, a fit healthy person should, by rights be doing better than a poor sad broken disabled person who is of no real benefit to society... perhaps?

1 - Motability do not GIVE people cars, they lease them, you pay a lot for them in advanced fees and monthly lease fees, you give it back after 3 to 5 years or 5 to 7 years for WAVS, and you start over, finding another advanced fee (if you don't qualify for a grant, and few do).

2 - Grand reveals, never heard of that happening unless you mean a car salesperson chuffed at making a sale hands you the keys and goes 'ta daaaaa' and does jazz hands (none ever have but I guess they could).

3 - A big charity in the UK buying cars, maintaining them and selling them on to the public is a really fucking good thing for the economy and second hand car buyers. What do you think losing 1/5th to 1/7th of car sales, new or second hand, will do, how will that benefit anything?

4 - No one is GIVEN a house by the local authority - they are given tenancies for which they pay rent. Where that rent comes from varies, but if they stop paying it they will lose their tenancy, same as anyone else.

Loads of car dealers wrap bows around or wrap cars for collection. I find it awkward and cringy but I’m sure others love it so why not? Who does it hurt apart from op apparently?

HoppityBun · 22/10/2026 20:29

CantBeArsedToThinkOfAName · 22/10/2026 20:14

What ARE you on about? PIP is not means tested so what he could have earnt is irrelevant.

If you don't qualify for a Motability car, you can't get one.

The 'qualifier' is the enhanced mobility rate of PIP or DLA which makes you automatically eligible and you either get awarded that or you don't.

Such nonsense being bandied around by ignorant people. Google is free you know.

I think that you have misunderstood my post. You have run two of my sentences together. Perhaps I wasn’t clear.

I know that PIP isn’t means tested.

I have known people who should have got PIP because I knew their disabilities.

The person who got the Motability car acknowledged that he had no essential journeys that he had to make. He was assessed every few years and always expected to be refused but never was. I should add that I benefited from lifts that he was able to give to my friends and to me so I had no interest in him being refused.

My comment about his ability work was not related to PIP or Motability and perhaps I should have made that clear.

He could have worked but never did. The assessor that I referred to was at the Jobcentre. I thought that talking about work, it would be clear that the assessor was at the JobCentre but clearly not.

YourLoftyCyanZebra · 22/10/2026 20:28

@MNHQ care to explain why day after day threads like this are allowed to stand? What is it about the disabled, SEN children and benefits that are in the spirit?

TeenLifeMum · 22/10/2026 20:27

Seymour5 · 22/10/2026 20:24

The rich can afford it!

However, in reality it can often mean that a working family with high housing and commuting costs can have less disposable income than a family to whom those discounts apply. It can seem a tad unfair perhaps?

Those on benefits are statistically less likely to visit historic buildings, museums, highbrow culture so it’s to encourage that.

WiddlinDiddlin · 22/10/2026 20:27

revealall · 22/10/2026 20:00

They aren’t means tested though. PIP is additional money to the household expenditure.
I personally know of two young people with motability cars where one has just bought a house at 25 and the other lives in a high income home. Not saying they shouldn’t have access to a car but being able to get a brand new showroom car from a state benefit is taking the piss.

So... if they didn't have the Motability lease car... they'd still get the exact same money as part of their PIP claim, saving you, the taxpayer (one assumes) nothing.

Which means what you're mad at, is that there is a scheme whereby disabled people have access to affordable vehicles.

They are new vehicles because supplying second hand vehicles would cost more in maintenance than it is worth, and would be a royal pain in the arse, and new vehicles handed back, are then sold on, the funds then going back into the Motability charity, and the second hand vehicles benefiting the general economy and the second hand car buyers.

This is important because disabled people generally have fewer transport options, can't access public transport reliably, may well need to visit hospitals more often and so really need a reliable vehicle.

Should it be means tested? No, because those who really do earn so much that the PIP payment or childs DLA payment makes no odds, will be paying back far far more in tax than they're costing.

For everyone else, they need it, being disabled is expensive and means testing would cost significantly more than it would ever save.

Bottom line, you are jealous of disabled people. Sit with that. You're jealous, why are you jealous? Do you think disabled people don't deserve help? Do you think they're getting a better deal than you? Do you think you, a fit healthy person should, by rights be doing better than a poor sad broken disabled person who is of no real benefit to society... perhaps?

1 - Motability do not GIVE people cars, they lease them, you pay a lot for them in advanced fees and monthly lease fees, you give it back after 3 to 5 years or 5 to 7 years for WAVS, and you start over, finding another advanced fee (if you don't qualify for a grant, and few do).

2 - Grand reveals, never heard of that happening unless you mean a car salesperson chuffed at making a sale hands you the keys and goes 'ta daaaaa' and does jazz hands (none ever have but I guess they could).

3 - A big charity in the UK buying cars, maintaining them and selling them on to the public is a really fucking good thing for the economy and second hand car buyers. What do you think losing 1/5th to 1/7th of car sales, new or second hand, will do, how will that benefit anything?

4 - No one is GIVEN a house by the local authority - they are given tenancies for which they pay rent. Where that rent comes from varies, but if they stop paying it they will lose their tenancy, same as anyone else.

Zoflorabore · 22/10/2026 20:26

You all missed the word “new” in regard to the 4 bed detached house!

so I’m on the way to a full house on MN bingo- not only am I fat, I am also disabled and get pip at enhanced rates on both but don’t drive so don’t have a new Tesla on Mobility.

my 2 lovely children are also disabled and one claims pip as he’s 23 and I’ve finally applied for dla for my Teen dd after putting it off for years as the process is brutal. She’s home educated due to agoraphobia and is a nervous wreck. I would love her to be a “normal” 15 year old but it is what it is and we get on with life with loads of love and laughter and I give zero fucks what people think after a lifetime of worrying what others think.
Walk a day in my shoes and all that.

nothing in this life is given for free. These threads are pathetic and demonstrate how some people still believe the propaganda that benefits are “handouts” to lazy bastards. I may be disabled but I still contribute to society and my life has purpose.

now where do I sign up for a new house? This shabby old thing was built in 1993…

x2boys · 22/10/2026 20:26

DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 20:14

It was all wrapped up by the Dealership and she was asked to remove the wrapping with a flourish

😂😂
What a load of nonsense they just get you to sign some paperwork and give you the keys.

Simonjt · 22/10/2026 20:25

DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 20:14

It was all wrapped up by the Dealership and she was asked to remove the wrapping with a flourish

Most dealerships do this for new cars, many do it for second hand as well. I don’t own a car anymore, but every dealer I have bought one from did this.

Seymour5 · 22/10/2026 20:24

TeenLifeMum · 22/10/2026 20:15

It’s an attempt to narrow the gap between rich and poor. Why would that make you angry?

The rich can afford it!

However, in reality it can often mean that a working family with high housing and commuting costs can have less disposable income than a family to whom those discounts apply. It can seem a tad unfair perhaps?

TeenLifeMum · 22/10/2026 20:24

Imagine being jealous of people with disabled children! My uncle gets pip. You wouldn’t know to look at him but in reality it’s a miracle he’s alive. He doesn’t have intestines and has a stoma bag. Isn’t it fantastic we genuinely live in a Christian country that supports those in need? Unlike America which preaches about being Christian but lets poor people die when they can’t afford healthcare or wheelchairs etc.

YourLoftyCyanZebra · 22/10/2026 20:23

AuraBora · 22/10/2026 20:10

No real need for.MNHQ to do that when 90% of such threads are jumped on by all those claiming our benefits system is totally fair and how dare anyone question it in any form whatsoever..?

I think there is a real need to ram home the absolute bullshit that some posters spout. A real need to make this as socially unacceptable as racism. Time to bite back at those who pretend they are whiter than white. Shitting on those that are vulnerable won't make those that are shitting on them any better.

Raindropskeepfallingon · 22/10/2026 20:23

DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 20:14

It was all wrapped up by the Dealership and she was asked to remove the wrapping with a flourish

You know dealers do that for most new cars (unless like me you ask them not to) and it’s free? Exactly what is your complaint about this?

BluebellBeth · 22/10/2026 20:23

DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 20:15

Three able bodied children all go to mainstream schools, ADHD

So. Every child has a right to mainstream education if that's what they want.

Simonjt · 22/10/2026 20:23

socialbatteryisdead · 22/10/2026 20:21

Yes. Because she’s never worked. So she won’t be paying any rent.

Surely she can just sell it in that case?

AuraBora · 22/10/2026 20:22

TeenLifeMum · 22/10/2026 20:15

It’s an attempt to narrow the gap between rich and poor. Why would that make you angry?

Because im not rich and cant afford it!

What i was trying to highlight was that there are a lot of middle income households for whom many things are becoming totally unaffordable and yet there seems to be this feeling that if you're not receivng any kind of benefit then you can afford all these things!

(Actually that also happens to include a car for us once our old banger fails its next MOT).

Anyway nevermind.

JockTamsonsBairns · 22/10/2026 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

socialbatteryisdead · 22/10/2026 20:21

KermitsABadInfluence · 22/10/2026 19:40

Given a house?

Wow, thats amazing.

Yes. Because she’s never worked. So she won’t be paying any rent.

Bubbaliciousss · 22/10/2026 20:21

emuloc · 22/10/2026 19:40

Sure she has. I shall get my disability bingo card out. I will be back in two ticks.

Why is a motability car and a council/housing association house so difficult to believe?

Lifeomars · 22/10/2026 20:21

how do you get given a house? every single person I know rents or has a mortgage, even the people I know who have had significant health problems pay full market rent. "given" seems to imply that there are no costs attached. Please enlighten me

Swipe left for the next trending thread