Motility Cars

[ChocoChocoLatte]

Anyone have any experience of this please? I've only just been awarded the necessary to investigate but I am finding it a LOT of information.

We've spoken to a few dealers and test drive a car yesterday however I am not notorious for making good choices.

I am worried about making the wrong choice.

There are options for vehicles which will insure <25yr olds which would be great (dependent on size of engine). We have 3 DC, two of driving age.

There are options to get a bigger family car with a non returnable down payment - we confirmed with the garage yesterday, if something happens to be during the 3yrs - that money is not returned when the car is etc It's considered the down payment for the vehicle (fair enough, it's a great scheme and we're not complaining) so if I pass within the duration, DH has to hand back the car and looses the cash.

My head is burst and I'd be grateful for any advice from those already using the scheme.

i wouldn't worry about the down payment. we have had to pay that every time (on 5th ) and just see it as part of the cost.

But it's a considerable amount of money when my mortality is in question.

I don't want to pay £8k on a vehicle if we only get 6-12 months use from it and DH then has to hand it back.

We'd be better getting a smaller vehicle with a lesser / no down payment for our second car. Just in case it has to be returned......

Am not a pessimist, just trying to be realistic and a little more money savvy than usual.

I'm on Motability car 7, the scheme is wonderful.

Have a think about what you really need it for, realistically.
My last car had a £5k AP, but for me, it's worth it as I do a lot of miles, use it every day. It's the family car. A workhorse!

If you're just going to be pottering about to the shops etc,then consider one with a smaller AP.

Not all cars have down-payment
And some downbpayments are a few hundred .

Are you likely to die in the next three years? I mean, if you have a life limiting illness, and your DH would need the money, then don’t put down a huge down payment. Otherwise, well you can’t live your life making decisions like this on the premise you might die. Enjoy the life you have now.

My mum had maybe five or six motability cars before she died - my dad had about a month to hand back the car which gave him time to find a replacement. Yes, the deposit wasn’t repaid but my mum really enjoyed the cars she chose.

Also, take your time and shop around - lots of dealerships have special deals on one particular car so there isn’t a huge down-payment one month when there would be on the same car a month or so later. My mum had two Mercedes A Class motability cars with no deposit.

I believe you can only register 3 people to drive the vehicle (only 1 of them can be under 21 and the driver of the car has to be using it for the disabled person’s benefit so I’m not sure it can be used by others to make trips without you/not for your benefit but I don’t know how they define that clause

I can't afford a down payment so both times gone for one with no advance payment. Both the cars I've had have been/are great. I'm not into cars, just want something that will get us where we need to go, nothing fancy. I've had a Dacia Duster and now have a Skoda Kamiq.

I didn't really shop around either, other than look on the motability site.

Both dealers were great and sorted out any problems quickly.

@WolfFoxHare while I am currently stable, I have terminal cancer so it's always a consideration and while I am trying to live life to the full, I do so sigh the well being of my family in mind.

We have 2 motability cars (2 disabled dc) and I think I’m the policy holder on both. Yesterday dh phoned up and added business use for it. The motability cat can be used as the family car and using it this way is perfectly acceptable. Dh uses it to get to work and works in random offices. We both use it for our own social needs. This DOES benefit the dcs. Anything that helps us, helps them.

Motability are really flexible on what the vehicles are used for. They draw the line at taxis and delivery drivers.

We currently have a 1l golf that required very minimal down payment (if any). Honestly we love it and fight over who’s going to drive it 🤣

we’ve got three young adult dc and getting all of us in the car is a bit of a squeeze but ok for a short journey.

If you already have one family car, do you really need another? The cost of a motability car is deducted from your PIP. If you are only going to use it for the odd trip to the supermarket or theatre/cinema for example, would you be better off having the cash instead as part of your PIP and just getting your shopping delivered and a taxi to the theatre etc.

Got to love dealers who give out false information. If for any reason the lease terminates before then end of the lease then the advance payment is returned pro-rata subject to an admin fee.

https://www.motability.co.uk/get-support/faqs/cancel-lease-or-return-vehicle-early/

Insurance rules also vary so spouse of the applicant can have different uses to and children use.

@Keepingittogetherstepbystep they mentioned the good condition clause but not the rest, thank you.

@Scentsless we hope to go to one but there are 5 of us and live somewhere completely unreliable for public transport.

For us to have just one vehicle, it needs to be a big car which means a decent advanced payment.

I just don't want to make a mistake - which I seem to have a habit of doing.

Chronic indecision is a horrible affliction indeed.

If you go onto the notability website there’s a what car is right for me function where you can put in your specifics eg under 25 driver, boot space for up to 5 cases etc. I wouldn’t be bothered with a down payment unless it came under the £750 payment you get when you get a car - you need to google that one. Also any adaptations you need must be ordered at the same time as ordering the car. In Scotland delivery time is between 8 and 21 weeks.

@Whatevershallidowithmylife we've been told delivery depends on available models and varies between individual dealerships / makes / models etc so am doing a lot of phoning about lol

We're in Scotland too

I'm pretty sure you get a percentage of the advanced payment back if you have to hand the car back early - or at least you used to.
We've handed 2 Motability cars back early - the 1st one was an unadapted people carrier which we handed back because we needed to get a wheelchair accessible vehicle instead. The wheelchair accessible vehicle was then handed back early when the user died. We got a portion of our downpayment back as obviously the value of the car was higher than it woukd have been if we'd kept it for tge full term of the lease. This was a few years ago though so I'm not up to date with any changes to the scheme.
My best advice would be to speak to Motability themselves and discuss your worries about this scenario.

Thank you @ohtowinthelottery that's good to know.

Have you looked on the website ? Not all cars require a down payments and I think Motorbility gives you £750 towards your down payment too.

We’re on motability car no 9 and it’s been such a massive help and peace of mind. Get some help from Motability not the car dealers ( they never know up to date info) Go to the website and use the car search to find a vehicle, then you can contact a dealership. If you have difficult circumstances speak to motability and they can help with loans etc for cars that may be out of your price range. There’s loads for £0 down payment. I can’t fault motability customer service.

@PrettyPines yes am all over the website like a bad rash.

@GoldenGumballs that's great to hear thanks. Just visited another show room and they can source something in just 4 wks which is great to hear!

We have a Toyota Bz4x as we are 4 adults and our down payment was under 2 grand, at the time. They also installed a charger at home for us.

That's great @PickAChew ! I'd love a fully electric one but we can't have a charger where we live . I have access at work but am only very part time

Also, if you're on certain low income benefits, you may be eligible for a grant for the AP.