Motability Operations statement

[Overthemhills]

..means the scheme is very unlikely to work any longer for a significant number of people who have relied on it?

This is the statement:
A more sustainable scheme
The Scheme has been impacted by many external influences in recent years such as rising costs, fluctuating second hand car pricing and the large-scale introduction of EVs. Today, the Government has confirmed that VAT will apply to Advance Payments and Insurance Premium Tax will apply to Scheme leases which will take effect from July 2026. These tax changes will mean the Scheme will become more expensive for disabled people but will remain sustainable with a choice of affordable vehicles.

Evolution
As confirmed earlier this week, premium brand vehicles have been removed from the Scheme. The Scheme will focus on vehicles that meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose, while still harnessing competition between manufacturers to get good value.
We recognise that any increase in the cost of a lease could have a significant effect on disabled people’s independence and daily life. To minimise price increases for customers taking out a new lease, the Scheme is considering a range of other changes across the leasing package including mileage, overseas breakdown cover, increased use of telematics for insurance purposes and other services. Detail will be confirmed only when the impact to disabled people has been fully assessed. The tax changes will increase the cost of a lease on the Scheme and we anticipate the average Advance Payment (upfront cost) of a vehicle, will increase by around £400 over the three-year package. We will continue to provide a range of around 40 to 50 vehicles available to lease with no upfront payment.
Changes to the Scheme’s package are expected to be introduced from July 2026. Motability Operations, which runs the Scheme, will begin engaging with customers about the proposed changes in spring 2026. Proposed changes to the leasing package will undergo disability impact assessment by the Motability Foundation, which oversees the Scheme, before any changes are approved, announced and implemented. As the Scheme evolves and we fully understand the impacts changes may have on disabled people, the Foundation will also need to consider how its grant programmes best support those most in need.
To more strongly combat the issue of misuse, the Motability Scheme is creating a new Special Investigations Unit. While the overall rate of misuse has remained stable, and the vast majority of customers use their vehicles in the way they are intended, the growth in customer numbers means more cases are being investigated. There are now around 80 people who are dedicated to tackling misuse of Scheme vehicles who join the newly formed Unit. Motability Operations also plans to strengthen data-sharing arrangements with government and police agencies to enable quicker, more effective action where misuse is identified.
Commitment to disabled people
While some change is necessary to ensure future longevity, the Motability Scheme remains committed to our core purpose – providing mobility to disabled people, many of whom have no choice but to use private transport because of inaccessible public transport and infrastructure across the UK. The Motability Scheme commits to:
No changes for customers in current leases. Changes to the Scheme would relate to new leases.
Continuing to provide a range of around 40 to 50 vehicles available to lease with no Advance Payment
Motability Foundation and Motability Operations will continue to subsidise and provide grant funding for the ongoing provision of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, while also funding adaptations to support over 82,000 customers with essential mobility solutions.

Motability Foundation will continue to provide grants to support people with the most profound needs to access the Scheme, having awarded £59.3 million in 2024/25 to help over 10,000 customers benefit from essential mobility solutions.
Nigel Fletcher, Chief Executive of the Motability Foundation, said:
“We understand the challenges disabled people face in accessing reliable and accessible transport, and how important a Motability car is to Scheme customers. The changes to tax reliefs imposed on the Scheme in today’s budget statement mean the Scheme will need to evolve. We are working hard to minimise price increases for customers and are taking steps to assess the impact of potential changes to the leasing package. Our focus remains firmly on protecting the Scheme for those who need it most.”
Andrew Miller, Chief Executive of Motability Operations, said:
“An evolved Motability Scheme will continue to put the disabled people we serve at the heart of everything we do. Changes to evolve the Scheme will involve understanding what matters most to disabled people, working closely with Motability Foundation.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
About the Motability Foundation:

The Motability Foundation is a registered charity set up in 1977.

We fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.
About Motability Operations:
Motability Operations runs the Motability Scheme, which gives disabled people a lifeline, connecting them to life-changing independence and freedom.
Through the Scheme, disabled people receiving a qualifying disability allowance can choose to exchange their allowance for a good value, accessible vehicle lease.
We play an essential role in supporting disabled people with accessing work, healthcare, education and training, keeping them connected and improving their chances of getting a job and staying in the workforce.

On average, Scheme users are able to work an additional two days per week and for every £1 of disabled people’s allowances spent on the Scheme, there is £1.50 of benefit for the UK's economy, including supporting 34,000 jobs across the UK.
We negotiate with manufacturers and partners to provide users of the Scheme with affordability and choice. On average, the Scheme is cheaper than alternative options, and includes insurance, breakdown, tyres and servicing.
Scheme changes
In Spring 2026, we will engage Motability Scheme customers about how the Scheme’s proposition (the features of the package) will change. We will look at all features to understand what matters most to disabled people and meets their mobility needs. We expect that any changes will be in line with the wider retail market – what most people could access privately.
Key facts about the Motability Scheme
Disabled people who use the Scheme:
860,000 disabled people exchange their enhanced mobility allowance to lease cars, wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) or scooters on the Scheme
Median income is £18,400 – around half the UK average.
The average age of people who use the Scheme is 52 and around 60% are female.
56% of customers use, or have used, a wheelchair to be mobile. 35,000 people use WAVs (converted vehicles) and a further 60,000 have adapted vehicles.
Not all of our customers choose to drive the vehicle themselves. A fifth (20%) do not drive and 43% rely on another driver - typically a family member or carer.
Addressing barriers to mobility:

87% of disabled customers on the Motability Scheme believe they would face barriers to getting car finance without the Scheme.
Almost half (48%) of those who have tried to access insurance privately have been priced out - quoted premiums they could not afford.
Impact of the Scheme:
Contributes £4.3 billion to the Uk economy, meaning for every £1 of disabled peoples’ allowances, £1.50 of economic benefit is generated.
Scheme supports 34,000 jobs in communities across the UK.
One in five people say their Scheme vehicle improved their job opportunities, and it allowed them to work two more days a week on average.
Tax reliefs: all tax reliefs are passed through to customers, pound for pound, and are factored into the total cost of the lease over three or five years.

What proportion of Motorbility vehicles are converted or adapted - the fact that the number not percentage given suggests they are trying to conceal that this is less than 10% - the reality is most people who use Motorbility vehicles do not have a disability which prevents them from driving or accessing a non adapted vehicle. The minority that do need this are massively disadvantaged as they pay for the adaptation/conversion (and now VAT on this) and won’t be able to use the basic no Advance Payment models.
Removing premium vehicles from the scheme is spite and optics. If a disabled person wants to pay money from their own pocket for a swish car, why shouldn’t they? Non disabled people have this right.

I hope the frothing fuckwits are happy with themselves.

The WAV I lease had an advance payment of £4085 in October. It’s now showing £6,000 upwards.

“If a disabled person wants to pay money from their own pocket for a swish car, why shouldn’t they? ”

Sure, then they can lease or finance a “swish” car privately, like everyone else does, instead of expecting a charity to procure one.

No reason why they can’t use their PIP towards a PCP/HP car.

The fact that out of 860,000 Motability cars, only 95,000 have been converted or adapted should tell us everything we need to know.

The bit that needs fixed is WAVs costs - there shouldn’t be a cost for such an essential adaptation and given a very small proportion require this type of adaptation the costs would be manageable. For everyone else there are choice of cars that don’t need an advance payment, or higher spec models if they choose. I don’t think the tax payer should be funding prestige cars though.

If they can pay to go for a swish car, they don’t need benefits. They can pay for a basic car with their own money. Like everyone else does.

And like PP said, only 95k adapted cars show you the rampant abuse of public money through benefits claims.

As demonstrated above, the changes won't satisfy those who see disabled people as not deserving of support to live their lives as fully as possible.

Up until relatively recently my DH, who is a wheelchair user, was able to use an automatic, unadapted car. What does that tell you?

He now uses hand controls as his condition has deteriorated further. Does that now make him a deserving recipient in your eyes?

@Cherry8809 do you understand why people qualify for the mobility part of pip? It can either be because they are unable to walk a certain distance or it can be because they are unable to use public transport or get around without a carer. Those in the later catagory won't need any adaptations because they probably wouldn't be able to drive the car them self anyway.
I assume that most mobility cars are for severely disabled adults who have significant learning disability.

Lovely… hope all the jealous fuckwits who caused this break their legs and loose their motability and have to see how fucking difficult it is to be disabled. Fuck sake.

It doesn’t tell you anything unless you believe that the only people needing PIP or a Motability vehicle are those with physical disabilities that require an adapted car.

I’m thankful at least some people are able to think about this in a more reasoned way.

Then perhaps Motability need to limit their criteria to PIP recipients that require an adapted or converted vehicle?

There’s quite literally thousands of car finance companies that accept benefits claimants - except it’s simply not as desirable, is it? Because then you’d be expected to pay insurance, tax, servicing, maintenance, and breakdown cover, like every other driver on the roads.

The scheme is simply not sustainable, and it’s probably long overdue an overhaul.

What does it tell you? Why is it difficult for some people to understand that not all disabled people need the same things? Should only those who need adapted cars etc, only be served by the Motability scheme? Why?

Well yhe scheme is sustainable. You need to do some research. In 2022/23 it contributed £4.3 billion to UK GDP.

But I know I am wasting my time so hiding the thread now.

"For everyone else there are choice of cars that don’t need an advance payment, or higher spec models if they choose. I don’t think the tax payer should be funding prestige cars though."

My son doesn't need an adapted car but there is no car without an advance payment that meet the needs of his disability.

Forgive me for my lack of knowledge on the subject, but why cant dealerships offer all customers the same price and terms as motability customers?
Clearly the motability scheme is profitable as a charity and the dealerships are not hiring these cars out at a loss?
So why can't dealerships offer the same non adapted vehicles at the same prices with the same terms and conditions as the motability customers?
Wouldn't that go a long way to eradicating the negativity that some people feel towards the motability scheme?

@LiveLuvLaugh

If a disabled person wants to pay money from their own pocket for a swish car, why shouldn’t they?

Indeed they should. But they should pay VAT on the extra, just like a non disabled person has to pay VAT on their car purchase/lease. The VAT exemption should only be for the basic models. Everyone thinks VAT is a "luxury" tax, so indeed, if someone wants a "luxury" car, then they should pay VAT on the extra.

"The fact that out of 860,000 Motability cars, only 95,000 have been converted or adapted should tell us everything we need to know."

Many people have to have their motobility car driven by others because they themselves cannot drive.

It's mostly the VAT exemption for the motability cars. Basically, a private lease to a non disabled person is going to cost 20% more than the motability lease due to the VAT.

It absolutely astounds me that people cannot interpret data - even spelled out. They see numbers of people who use the scheme and make enormous and utterly absurd statements. Motability doesn’t adapt cars automatically. The adaptations are paid for very often by the leaseholder (usually in fact) and agreed with Motability.
Because not every disabled person is the same for the love of motherfucking sanity!!!
Also (for those at the back) CHILDREN cannot drive but still have DLA and qualify therefore for Motability cars.
Aldi for those at the back - the “swish” cars are gone!!!
Habds up who can think of another completely stupid to say without thinking? Have we had the taxpayers and the ordinary workers yet?

Not until they see the applicants for the scheme using a wheelbarrow or a Reliant 3 wheel car. Somehow the fwits believe BMWs and Range Rovers are being provided free. Look at her at number 37! Got the heated seats and metallic paint. Nothing wrong with her! Meanwhile here we are, £150k pa and being squeezed.

@UNDERCOVERELEPHANTINTHEROOM
Because they don’t want to have their cars adapted might be one reason.

The obvious one is they aren’t a charity that supplies goods for disabled people which is why Motability had tax emption (now gone).

Charities have tax exemption all the time (google it if you don’t believe me) and direct subsidies (Motability doesn’t have direct subsidies because it is highly profitable).

@taxguru well the tax exemption is going or gone.

Today I learned that Britain has been handing out free cars since the late 1970s.

🥱