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Original poster

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:
NotPerfectlyAdverage · 22/10/2026 20:20

My friend has a brand new car via mobility scheme. But as she didn't want a very basic car she paid thousands in deposit for mud range car she doesn't own and be reclaimed within the week if her husband dies of his disability.

She was "given" a house? Does she own the house and the car? Because you dont own either. I could get a BMW on my sons DLA but I'd pay thousands on top on also loosing his DLA payments for a rental car i would never own.

But dont panic because my severely disabled son lost his dla at his last review. Which proves to me I cant fanacaily support him past 18 and he will go into supported living. I wont get any benefits for him then. But someone will be paying for his care, not me. I was using his dla to get help for him to learn to read and write. That's stopped. My car is 12 years old. All this hatred for disability benefits just cements my thinking that he is safer in state care going forward. Less likely to be kicked out of a care home then have all his benefits stopped on the premise that someone who cant read, write with a learning disability and a genetic condition can earn enough to live independently. I guess if he was a girl he could be a useful sex worker eh?

BluebellBeth · 22/10/2026 20:20

Aliceisagooddog · 22/10/2026 20:11

I am a true lefty, but honestly this blows my mind. In my own area the number of cars with the disabled badge has rocketed and they are all brand new flash cars!!

How can you possibly know this?

vodkaredbullgirl · 22/10/2026 20:19

CantBeArsedToThinkOfAName · 22/10/2026 20:18

Ooohh so exciting. Hope we get that with the lovely new car we've just ordered!

Do you think we can choose the wrapping - maybe rhinestone encrusted?

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My brand new car wasn't allowed wrapped up 😢.

maggisimpson · 22/10/2026 20:19

Seymour5 · 22/10/2026 19:46

20+ years ago I worked in social housing. You might be surprised to know that quite a lot of tenants never paid any rent, it was all covered by housing benefit.

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

CantBeArsedToThinkOfAName · 22/10/2026 20:18

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

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Ooohh so exciting. Hope we get that with the lovely new car we've just ordered!

Do you think we can choose the wrapping - maybe rhinestone encrusted?

LindaJonesJustCantLiveMYLifeNSoul · 22/10/2026 20:18

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.

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Like the houses and cars 🤣🤣🤣.
Just another Ill informed piece of rage bait pish.

Seymour5 · 22/10/2026 20:17

moonraker0 · 22/10/2026 19:48

Those days are long gone.

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Really? Housing benefit is still paid to local authorities unlike the situation for private tenancies. It will cover all the rent in many cases, if the house is the right size for the household. It is reduced if a working age tenant is in too large a property for the size of their household. AKA Bedroom Tax.

Original poster
DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 20:17

Newkicks · 22/10/2026 20:15

Absolute rubbish. This did not happen.

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It absolutely did and I’ve seen the photos myself, otherwise I would have struggled to believe it too

OP posts:
x2boys · 22/10/2026 20:16

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.

If shes got a top of the range car with all bells and whistles then shes paying a huge deposit out of her own money.

WhereverIlaymycatthatsmyhome · 22/10/2026 20:16

bryceQ · 22/10/2026 20:12

I truly don’t get how people are getting motorbility cars so easily. It took me 4 years to get my son on the high rate mobility, I had 150 pages of evidence from professionals. He has about 5 diagnoses and goes to a specialist school. How do you get a car without significant need? I am confused.

They’re not.

Original poster
DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 20:15

emuloc · 22/10/2026 20:14

Don't be confused, you don't get a car, without significant disability.

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Three able bodied children all go to mainstream schools, ADHD

OP posts:
emuloc · 22/10/2026 20:15

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

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Oh stop it, my sides are hurting from laughing!

TeenLifeMum · 22/10/2026 20:15

AuraBora · 22/10/2026 20:04

Apparently almost 50% of people disagree with you.. not sure why.
I was flabbergasted to see today that you cam go to Hampton Court for £1 if you are on any kind of benefit. Meanwhile costs the rest of us some £70 quid for q adult and 2 children. Needless to say i wont be going...

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

Newkicks · 22/10/2026 20:15

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

Show quote history

Absolute rubbish. This did not happen.

CantBeArsedToThinkOfAName · 22/10/2026 20:14

HoppityBun · 22/10/2026 20:05

I’m a firm supporter of both Pip and Motability. I know people for whom PIPs have been transformative and I also know people who clearly qualified but were refused.

otoh, I also know of someone who didn’t genuinely qualify for Motability but who bizarrely got it year after year. He also could easily have done IT work from home, as he’d taught it, and he could have earned a good salary but for reasons best known to themselves the assessors never realised that.

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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.

YourLoftyCyanZebra · 22/10/2026 20:14

Do one.

FlipFlopSocks · 22/10/2026 20:14

I think a lot of people are confusing 1 in 5 new cars with a fifth of all car drivers. Remember most of our car market is second hand, this is a tiny proportion.

Original poster
DawnRaiderNight · 22/10/2026 20:14

emuloc · 22/10/2026 19:47

🥱 What was the 'big reveal' that she got at the garage, when collecting the car? Asking for a friend, who is bored, on her shift at Wendy's.

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

OP posts:
emuloc · 22/10/2026 20:14

bryceQ · 22/10/2026 20:12

I truly don’t get how people are getting motorbility cars so easily. It took me 4 years to get my son on the high rate mobility, I had 150 pages of evidence from professionals. He has about 5 diagnoses and goes to a specialist school. How do you get a car without significant need? I am confused.

Don't be confused, you don't get a car, without significant disability.

Aliceisagooddog · 22/10/2026 20:13

Aliceisagooddog · 22/10/2026 20:11

I am a true lefty, but honestly this blows my mind. In my own area the number of cars with the disabled badge has rocketed and they are all brand new flash cars!!

Also, this is a huge prop to the car industry so the taxpayer is propping up the car industry. Very similar to the way help to buy gave billions to the house developers

AuraBora · 22/10/2026 20:13

emuloc · 22/10/2026 20:09

That is your choice, of course. It is sad that some people are willing to cut off their nose, to spite their face like that, if they can afford the entrance fee.

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It's not my choice. I can't afford it.. thats why im not going. Can't afford most days out anywhere now tbh - walks in woods with a flask of tea is what we do most weekend. It'd be nice as two full.time workers to be able to experience the odd but of cultural heritage without it costing £70 odd quid.

TigerRag · 22/10/2026 20:13

Aliceisagooddog · 22/10/2026 20:11

I am a true lefty, but honestly this blows my mind. In my own area the number of cars with the disabled badge has rocketed and they are all brand new flash cars!!

You know that joy everyone with a blue badge is driving a motability car? I'm entitled to both but don't have a car because for me as a non driver it's not worth it

Lomonald · 22/10/2026 20:13

AuraBora · 22/10/2026 20:04

Apparently almost 50% of people disagree with you.. not sure why.
I was flabbergasted to see today that you cam go to Hampton Court for £1 if you are on any kind of benefit. Meanwhile costs the rest of us some £70 quid for q adult and 2 children. Needless to say i wont be going...

The website says £24 for seniors and people with disability I can't see the £1 admission. I found it you have to apply through a scheme. Which sounds great tbh

Newkicks · 22/10/2026 20:13

Boring!

bryceQ · 22/10/2026 20:12

I truly don’t get how people are getting motorbility cars so easily. It took me 4 years to get my son on the high rate mobility, I had 150 pages of evidence from professionals. He has about 5 diagnoses and goes to a specialist school. How do you get a car without significant need? I am confused.

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