Motability cars - should they be UK made?

[Pandersmum]

Motability cars are currently in the news with suggestions VAT will be added. I realise they are a lifetime to some and a perk to others. They are a huge annual cost to the tax payer.

AIBU to think that all motability car choice should be limited to those manufactured in the UK? This would support British manufacturing worker jobs and increase UK business tax revenue whilst still providing cars for those who need them?

Are you the same poster who was getting in a twist about Motability offering premium brands. You know, like the ones manufactured in the UK?

Disabled people are people like anyone else and should have a choice like anyone else. Next you'll be suggesting people on benefits can only use their money at the "company shop" 🙄

Im actually pro supporting British manufacturing.

@WarmWasabi I thought so. So the scheme helps British car businesses as they maintain the cars and can buy/sell the vehicles and the wide variety of manufacturers means the effect is spread out.

We know from history that one manufacturer providing a government service regularly ends in a corrupt contract that makes dubious individuals wealthy as “mates” get the contract and that a free market helps prevent that.

I am a taxpayer and it doesn’t bother me if the money is spent on taxis or a car. If they are awarding it to people who shouldn’t be awarded it then that’s another issue but considering how often people think that benefit claimants are financially irresponsible, awarding the item rather than giving cash that could go on a giant tv (!!) and drugs is “better”

Apparently they have now said that ADHD can be considered a diagnosis for the arrested or incomplete development of the Brain component under the SMI criteria but of course a diagnosis of ADHD alone won't be enough under SMI they would also have to prove severe mental impairment so like autism most people with diagnosis won't qualify under that criteria.

If you could name me a wheelchair accessible van that is made in the UK and is covered by motability payments let me know so I can tell the young persons carers to sort it for them!

No that wasn’t me. I’m not against choice. But I am pro UK manufacturing because of the societal benefits investing in UK plc would give us.

This is one of the most depressing, ableist threads I’ve read in a long time

I wonder if the people who agree that only British cars should be leased from Motability because it’s “free” taxpayers money (of course omitting the down payments and adaptations costs paid for by the person leasing the car) would argue that everyone in receipt of Universal Credit “free money should only buy British food, clothes, books, furniture, cars, etc.
Pensioners can only buy British equipment, food, travel in Britain made taxis, buy from only British made goods..

@Pandersmum
Do you only buy British made or grown items?

it isn’t just the car though is it? My understanding is that insurance and car tax is paid. As regards it being hard to get it may be in many peoples eyes but I just don’t think the tax payer can afford to fund this for people who have anxiety/autism and sometimes struggle to leave the house! If you’re very physically disabled I get it, if your child is had very advanced needs I get it too.

I do actually try to.
It’s very difficult though British manufacturing has been decimated over the past 30 years. I also try not to buy on Amazon because they do not pay their appropriate UK taxes (in my opinion).

I would like to see public services enhanced and increased tax revenue is key to this.

Maybe the real scandal here is all these disabled people dodging VAT. Before we start asking the wealthy to pay more tax, surely we should start with these chancers ?

I believe UK manufactured cars are Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall, Mini, Jaguar Land Rover plus other prestige marques. Quite a range

None of which had a vehicle on the scheme that was suitable for DS1 when we were looking for the vehicle we collected earlier this year. We didn’t look at vehicles that were not on the scheme, so I can’t comment on them.

Some of them have cars manufactured outside of the UK. For example, Vauxhall’s Frontera is manufactured in Slovakia, I believe.

for people who have anxiety/autism and sometimes struggle to leave the house!

You don’t get enhanced mobility PIP or HRM DLA for sometimes struggling to leave the house.

I think there will be huge reform of the scheme to come in general to be honest, with changes made to the vehicles etc. They don’t need to be £30k cars for a start.

I don't care where my motability car comes from as long as it's suitable for my disabled son and only WAVs are suitable for him. I don't think it should be restricted, people often pay down payments from their own money.

@1apenny2apenny
Are you alleging that Motability is a tax paid enterprise?
Are you saying that a charity cannot fund whatever it leases (within its stated remit)?
Are you one of the many who think the cars are fully paid for by taxpayers and given to the driver/leaseholder for free?
As numerous people have already pointed out on this thread the cars are not given to people as this line of thinking implies- the mobility component of DLA or PIP (the benefits part) is exchanged for the use of the car for 3-5 years. The user has to pay down payments for most cars. Motability/the car provider then takes that car back and sells it.

Motability is being targeted by Reeves ad it’s reported to be 4 billion in profit - clearly the charity is not losing money by taking the mobility component to a) lease the car b) maintaining it va service of repairs and c) providing insurance.

The insurance is paid for by Motability not the fucking taxpayer on top of the taxpayers paying for the DLA/Pip.

If someone in receipt of DLA spends every penny of their mobility component on squishamals because they can’t no longer go out as their parents can’t get a suitable car - is that ok? No? Why not..?

If the scheme was restricted to cars with a value of under 30k it would save exactly nothing.

Maybe read up on the scheme

I think like anyone else, disabled people need a choice of vehicles and using British manufacturers only may not provide those choices. Why should they be restricted to just certain manufacturers?

I worked in a German branded car garage briefly years ago - we had some severely disabled people who came in and I was thrilled to see that they were getting the vehicles they needed. There were some families who literally brought me to tears with their happiness at finally getting a car that suited their specific requirements. I loved helping these people.

There are however sadly some people who do abuse the disability payments - for example there were many young lads who came in and were getting a car in their grandmothers name for the purpose allegedly to take her to hospital appointments. It was always the same story. Now if they had been getting a suitable ‘regular’ vehicle I may not have batted an eyelid, however when they were getting a very low, 2 seater style higher powered sports car that would be very difficult for an elderly or infirm person to get in and out of - and also barely room for a pram let alone any walking device or wheelchair to go into it, then I very much doubt these cars were being used to ferry their grandmother around. Granny probably never saw the interior of them!

I think this is predominantly where people will have a negative view of the scheme. For others though who really need it, it’s an absolute lifeline for them and literally the only way they can live an as normal and independent life as possible. The issue isn’t the motability scheme - it’s the benefits system and their inability to police fraud.

@SerendipityJane
I hope that’s sarcastic!
Please please tell me you don’t think disabled people avoid VAT? Do you mean that VAT free disability equipment shouldn’t be VAT free? Which of course very little is

there were many young lads who came in and were getting a car in their grandmothers name for the purpose allegedly to take her to hospital appointments

It was always the same story. Now if they had been getting a suitable ‘regular’ vehicle I may not have batted an eyelid, however when they were getting a very low, 2 seater style higher powered sports car that would be very difficult for an elderly or infirm person to get in and out of - and also barely room for a pram let alone any walking device or wheelchair to go into it, then I very much doubt these cars were being used to ferry their grandmother around. Granny probably never saw the interior of them!

Presumably you reported these abuses to Motability? Presumably you refused contracts to these young men who either turned up without their grandmothers or who were clearly coercing them?

Or perhaps you were happy to accept the contracts and the commission you made? Shameful.

No sports cars are available through motability.

You realise autism is a huge spectrum ?
My child is autistic and gets HRM under SMI, he's 15 but cognitively around 2 or 3 he's totally non verbal goes to a special school for children with severe and profound learning disabilities has extremely challenging behaviour needs 1:1 supervision at all times
When he transfers to PIP next year he will still qualify because he can't travel anywhere independently, and there, s not a cat in he'll, s chance he would be able to plan a journey independently, people don't just get it for autism they have ro meet very strict criteria.

It's all a load of rubbish.

Those cars aren't available on Motability. You can even go through car searches on the Motability website and clearly see that no 2 seater sports cars show up.

This is a good point.

@Cantbleedingcope could you please share the make and model of two seater sports car you are referring to?