Luxury cars removed from the motability scheme

[AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers]

https://news.sky.com/story/luxury-cars-removed-from-motability-scheme-ahead-of-budget-13475029

too little too late. As a full time worker I can’t afford to run a car, let alone a luxury car. Motability should be a standard car - available in automatic and manual, an option for wheelchair users, and that’s it.

Said from a privilige of not havng lost your legs 🙄
Would yoy even be able to get a wheelchair, mobility scooter wtc in a Nissan Micra 🤔

I was paying £750 a month for a Volvo XC40 on the salary sacrifice scheme/Tusker.

A car? His power chair wouldn’t fit in any car available on the market. Why do you think someone in a powerchair isn’t benefiting from their motability vehicle?

In that case I’m sure there are bigger models of Nissan that would still work. Doesn’t need to be an Audi or a bmw.

And it wouldn't be unless you pay the extra up front. Yourself.

I've had a few clients who have bridged the gap between the cost of the car and their PIP mobility payments by using PI or birth accident damages that have been placed in trust, or income from such a trust. In one case, a client's parents paid the top-up, but where the top-up is a small amount, the client has managed to pay it from their other benefits.

My DNiece has recently got quite a posh car (Volvo XC60) using her PIP mobility element plus top-up from her partner's earnings, and the deposit was paid with the money she and her partner got from selling both their previous cars. She's a wheelchair user with a toddler, and it was really hard for them to find a car that would accommodate her wheelchair, buggy, child seat and all the baby stuff, plus luggage if needed, and that she could get in and out of relatively easily.

If it were a scheme to have 50% UK built cars then yes - but it may well exclude cars that we all think are British ie Minis.

I can understand this.

But it's also quite hard to define a British built car. Is it value of content? Final assembly? Is it British ownership of the company?

If the move is fuelled by optics - not a good look to have the disabled 'owning' premium makes of car. (shades of wanting to get them back into the old pale blue Invacars)

Then it's less good.

Some premium brand cars are a good buy overall. Depends on how you look at the finances.

This is demonstrated by the rates - often cheaper to get a BMW 1 series on PCP than a Ford Focus etc. A 3 series cheaper than a Skoda Superb.

Similar, behind the scenes, costings will apply to motorbility cars.

As others have said the deposit payable varies with the car. I'm all for people having a choice - their choice is not going to affect, worry or inconvenience me.

But they certainly don’t need a BMW or a Merc to get around and I say that as a disabled person.

Even if that was the case what's it got to do with mobility cars?

Which you would have to pay a non-refundable deposit for, you would also need to pay for any adaptions and pay for them to be removed every 3-5 years when the lease ends. If you need anything but a very basic wheelchair you have to pay for that too, as you chose to use the mobility component of your PIP on a vehicle, rather than a wheelchair.

On choice of cars my late Mother could only walk very short distances and then with a frame.

She got into cars by shuffling backwards until the seat was touching her legs then lowering herself onto the seat and swing around to face forward.

In our 2013 Citroen Berlingo the seat was inset a bit from the cill and also a quite high meaning she couldn't get in to it at all.

The only thing that could take my friends powerchair was a mercedes van, so many makes now favour lower or slopped roofs.

Your friend is the perfect example of what the scheme is meant for. If a Merc is the only brand that can fit all his kit then fair enough. This is why the benefits system needs overhauling so the money goes where it’s genuinely needed. If people don’t want to pay more tax- and all due tax- then there needs to be less withdrawn from the system, can’t have it both ways.

The quality of MN comments these days. Fuck me.

This ... the bitterness and hatred towards people living with disabilities is shocking
Surprised ableist folk on here aren't calling for the robin reilant to come back

Yeah, you’re not getting a wheelchair in a Micra. Looks like you’ll be happy to be housebound.

I think your mum needs to look at what she is paying for a car. Google car leasing and pick any site. I just done it and can get a decent Audi for under £250.

Many people don't seem to understand how car leasing or the motability scheme works and believe some of the nonsense going on around it.

Divide and conquer are words that come to mind. Society is a cess pit nowadays.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15240421/amp/blue-three-wheelers-motability-Reform-benefits.html

People with mind anxiety and adhd should not be getting a car and yes I do know someone in this situation

Could you enlighten us as to how someone you know received high-rate mobility for 'mild anxiety and ADHD'?

I'm still not getting why people are arguing my sons mobility car is a peogeout 2008 it didnt need adaptions and we don't have the money for an advance payment, so the £77 HRM alone pays for it
It suits his needs so all good
But if we did hsve the money for large cars with expensive advance payments it would still be paid for with the £77 HRM the rest i would personally pay for so what exactly are peoole arguing about?

Not even a Caterham 7?

I'll be really disappointed if they're not British on the inside as well as the outside.

so what exactly are peoole arguing about?

Jealousy. The nastiest kind.

Caterham has been owned by the Japanese I'm afraid, since 2021...

People pay the excess of thousands of pounds for these cars. Why should a disabled person not drive whatever the f they want?!

I’m so sick of people with no physical disability, crying about disability benefits.
Count yourself lucky for your good health OP,
100% of people with a disability would chose good health over the ‘luxury’ of a car. Remember that 👍

And I wish my severely disabled daughter could work . She will never even live independently