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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:
TigerRag · 24/10/2026 14:50

OonaStubbs · 24/10/2026 14:39

If people are paying for it, they have a right to know how their taxpayers money is being spent.

Does that include people like me who receive the enhanced mobility component but haven't exchanged it for a car?

OonaStubbs · 24/10/2026 14:52

TigerRag · 24/10/2026 14:50

Does that include people like me who receive the enhanced mobility component but haven't exchanged it for a car?

Yes, absolutely. Taxpayers have a right to know what their money is being spent on.

TigerRag · 24/10/2026 14:53

OonaStubbs · 24/10/2026 14:52

Yes, absolutely. Taxpayers have a right to know what their money is being spent on.

Then you do the same for child benefit and universal credit

XenoBitch · 24/10/2026 14:59

TigerRag · 24/10/2026 14:53

Then you do the same for child benefit and universal credit

And pensions.
And anyone working in the public sector.

pointythings · 24/10/2026 15:22

XenoBitch · 24/10/2026 14:59

And pensions.
And anyone working in the public sector.

Absolutely. All those pensioners shouldn't be spending their taxpayers' money on anything frivolous. No doctors, teachers or nurses should be allowed to have treats, ever. Nobody who has children should be allowed to buy them an ice cream or toys. Worthy things only.

Scarcityvarcity · 24/10/2026 15:26

TempestTost · 24/10/2026 13:03

The reason people feel this is unfair is that many people are unable to afford a car and it seriously makes their lives worse. Including with regard to going to work.

When benefits only help certain people in need, it's bound to cause resentment.

But if you can walk and use public transport then a car isn't such a necessity.

emuloc · 24/10/2026 15:31

LittleMi55Nobody · 24/10/2026 14:32

my daughter is autistic and gets the high rate mobility PIP so shes entittled to get a mobility car but she won't because she has morals..

Eh? She has a choice, to lease a car on Motability, or not. I am unsure where morals come into the equation.

plasticplate · 24/10/2026 15:39

LittleMi55Nobody · 24/10/2026 14:32

my daughter is autistic and gets the high rate mobility PIP so shes entittled to get a mobility car but she won't because she has morals..

Does she donate the money she gets instead, to charity?

plasticplate · 24/10/2026 15:42

OonaStubbs · 24/10/2026 12:50

The modern equivalent would be big enough to carry a wheelchair.

A 3 wheeler WAV. That sounds interesting.

emuloc · 24/10/2026 15:44

plasticplate · 24/10/2026 15:42

A 3 wheeler WAV. That sounds interesting.

😄

emuloc · 24/10/2026 15:49

I honestly think that some posters don't really think about what they are proposing. If they did, they would surely be embarrassed to post such tripe.

TigerRag · 24/10/2026 15:55

Scarcityvarcity · 24/10/2026 15:26

But if you can walk and use public transport then a car isn't such a necessity.

Not always - I have various hospital appointments and am under 3 different hospitals. It takes at least an hour on a bus and for one, I've got to change buses and then walk up a massive hill. I have pain killing injections which affect my ability to walk for about half an hour after. It takes about 1.5 hours to get there v 40 minutes driving

I can get a direct bus to the other two hospitals but again it takes an hour v 30 minutes by car

Brokentoes85 · 24/10/2026 15:59

Omfg ahe got to pick the colour?? How flipping dare she! I would give up my first born son to pick the colour of a car.

Oh and no ones given her a 4 bed house.

Scarcityvarcity · 24/10/2026 16:07

TigerRag · 24/10/2026 15:55

Not always - I have various hospital appointments and am under 3 different hospitals. It takes at least an hour on a bus and for one, I've got to change buses and then walk up a massive hill. I have pain killing injections which affect my ability to walk for about half an hour after. It takes about 1.5 hours to get there v 40 minutes driving

I can get a direct bus to the other two hospitals but again it takes an hour v 30 minutes by car

That situation is quite unusual though.

Jimmyjumpy · 24/10/2026 16:13

Yeah. The riff raff on our estate all drive around in brand new cars!!

TigerRag · 24/10/2026 16:16

Scarcityvarcity · 24/10/2026 16:07

That situation is quite unusual though.

Is it? I live in a big city on the edge of the city centre. One of those hospitals is in the next town. But the other 2 hospitals are on the other side of the city

Dollysfriend · 24/10/2026 16:20

And I'll repeat for @OonaStubbs and the like
Mobility is sponsored by the big four banks. It's a charity. The money paid by disabled people goes back into the charity pot.
Mobility is also used for wheelchairs. You wouldn't get an electric one from occupational health.

emuloc · 24/10/2026 16:20

Scarcityvarcity · 24/10/2026 16:07

That situation is quite unusual though.

It really is not. The specialist hospital that I attend, has people driving from as far as Scotland for appointments. Lots of disabled people have to travel miles for hospital appointments, of which there could be several per month. I am based in the SE.

pointythings · 24/10/2026 16:21

emuloc · 24/10/2026 15:49

I honestly think that some posters don't really think about what they are proposing. If they did, they would surely be embarrassed to post such tripe.

They're motivated by resentment. That's not conducive to actually thinking things through.

Kirbert2 · 24/10/2026 16:21

Scarcityvarcity · 24/10/2026 16:07

That situation is quite unusual though.

I wouldn't say it's quite unusual at all.

pointythings · 24/10/2026 16:24

Kirbert2 · 24/10/2026 16:21

I wouldn't say it's quite unusual at all.

Agree, it's not. DS attends two different locations. On the opposite ends of town. It's very hard to fit in with his job (because hey, people on PIP can work!).

Fortunately for him there are good bus connections. Unfortunately for him, he can't always wheel to them because his shoulders dislocate.

emuloc · 24/10/2026 16:25

pointythings · 24/10/2026 16:21

They're motivated by resentment. That's not conducive to actually thinking things through.

Quite. How sad for them, that they harbour such an emotion, towards a group of people, who are already disadvantaged, without the lens of envy, being directed at them, as well.

Kirbert2 · 24/10/2026 16:31

pointythings · 24/10/2026 16:24

Agree, it's not. DS attends two different locations. On the opposite ends of town. It's very hard to fit in with his job (because hey, people on PIP can work!).

Fortunately for him there are good bus connections. Unfortunately for him, he can't always wheel to them because his shoulders dislocate.

My son is three different locations. 4 if you also include physio/hydro.

One of those locations is 30 miles away. Some people really have no idea.

ThingsAreNotWhatTheyWere · 24/10/2026 16:31

Yes, most of my clinic appointments are fairly local, but I travel to London from the Midlands for two of my clinics.

pointythings · 24/10/2026 16:36

emuloc · 24/10/2026 16:25

Quite. How sad for them, that they harbour such an emotion, towards a group of people, who are already disadvantaged, without the lens of envy, being directed at them, as well.

To be fair, they're fed a lot of it by bad actors in the right wing media. But the fact that they choose to lap it up like gospel does speak to character.