- This topic has 27 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 2 months ago by
.
- Topic
Has anyone used this? It says means tested but I can’t find any further info or an application. It seems we need to phone and be able to provide info then. Phone is really difficult so a shame I can’t find info and an application form.
- Replies
Hi Ele, you need to phone the Motability Grants helpline and they will email you a link to do your grant application online. If you cannot do the application online they will send out a form.
I did my grant application online and it was a very simple and quick process. When you speak to the grants department you just need to say you would like to make a grant application because you need help with the advance payment for a vehicle and/or adaptions for a hoist for example. The Motability grants department were very helpful to me and if you need any help completing your grant application I am sure they will do everything they can to assist you.
In regards to the Grant application being means tested Motability require information regarding what benefits you receive e.g. Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance etc, they will ask your household income and how much savings you have. This information will enable Motability to establish if you are eligible for a grant award and how much they can give you. For example they can award the whole amount of the advance payment for a vehicle or ask you to contribute some of your money to it if you have enough savings and/or household income.
They do not give grant awards to people who are ineligible for example if they have a large household income and significant savings. There is a limited amount of funds available to help people that need a grant and financial help is only given to people who genuinely need it.
If you are making a grant application the vehicle and it’s specification needs to meet your requirements of your disability. People making a grant application can’t apply for help with the advance payment for a Mercedes CLA Coupe with an advance payment of £3499 for example just because they want a Mercedes CLA Coupe and like the look of it.
If you are eligible for a grant the make, model and specification of the vehicle needs to be justified. Motability will not award a grant for a vehicle with a high advance payment if there is a vehicle with a much lower advance payment which meets your needs. People who want to get a high specification vehicle with a high advance payment because that is the one they want despite there being lower specification vehicles with lower advance payments that still meet their needs will most likely not be awarded a grant for the vehicle they want.
It is definitely worth making a Motability grant application if you are eligible as I would not have been able to get my Motability car without it. If you have not already done so I would advise you to think about what type of vehicle you need, the features it needs to have to meet the needs of your disability and see what advance payments they have.
I would go and see these vehicles to ensure they are suitable for your needs. It is just so you know what type of vehicle you require and the specifications it needs to have to meet your needs so you are applying for a grant to get the most appropriate vehicle for you.
Here is the link to the information about making a Grant application from the Motability website https://www.motability.org.uk/grants/scheme-related-grant-programmes/grants-for-cars-and-vehicle-adaptations/ If you call the Motability Grants department on 0800 023 4331 they will be able to give you any information or assistance you require in order to make a grant application if you are eligible.
When you call be prepared to hang up & call again to speak to someone else. My experience was awful I was told nothing I consider essential to be able to drive is taken into consideration. Running costs aren’t considered either so if a car is available with a smaller engine but roomier they could say you have to go into that even if it then means you can’t afford to drive it.
It’s worth a shot if you’re on means tested benefits like housing benefit or a passport benefit like income based ESA.
Be prepared for it & if you get someone like that hang up & call back later generally they seem good but just be aware some seem to be a bit unhelpful
I only got told about the grant after I ordered my car so had no idea there was even a scheme that could help me cover the upfront payment so now I guess I have to save save save for next few months 🙁 annoyed the information is not provided prior to you ordering a car and to be told after about the scheme to then call them and be told not to order a car until u hear from them as they search for you. Seams unfair when I have looked at so many and test drive kits and found a car that more than suitable for my needs
I ordered my car and then applied for the grant and it was given. When they asked why I said due to wait times I was advised to. Worth trying anyway all they can say is no
What did you say to get the advance payment made after ordering the car? I have just had 40 mins down the phone to someone telling me to cancel order about 5 times less I have life leading exceptional circumstances. Otherwise they can not start an application if a order is already taken. But if I cancel my order I’m going to have to wait 40 weeks instead pf 27 weeks go get the car and my car is dropping to pieces.
You need to have applied from the deposit grant before you order the car. Exceptional circumstances I think means if you have a limited life.
I applied, but didn’t except the care being offered by them as not suitable. Was told to think about it and would get a call after christmas in the new year. I put an order in 28th december for the car I wanted and when they rang in January I told them I’d order to prevent an increase in AP
Can someone tell me how much do you get for grant for car?
I’ve got a step further than last time I attempted it; it wasn’t a flat no from the initial phone call! Last time I tried, they insisted I extend the lease and apply at the end of the two-year extension, I’ve had my current car just over the 4 year mark now.
Someone from their complex solutions is apparently calling me tomorrow to go through things as I need something to help me get in and out as well as help with the advance payment.
I’d stopped trying when my award was nearing the point of being reviewed but in the post today, I received the review decision, an ongoing award with no contact before 2032.
I applied for a grant and hav been assured gender a case manager who I f el has dismissed me disabilities and my application. So far iv b en told him o buy a revers camera for hat is a necessity for me as I have hay spine issue and can’t turn my head around either side enough to be able to see and do reversing I’ve been told to get a car with zero advance. I’ve looked at many cars one of the My needs is a power tailgate. Even adaption was not good for me as I couldn’t pull the door down, so I was told that they would look into putting a power tailgate, depending on the manufacturer I went to A manufacturer that did this which would cost £760. I passed this information on as I decided on a car that already had the power tailgate thinking that they would be willing to put it towards a car that already had that plus heated seats and steering wheel which would help Reynards disease that I have in my hands, but I was told that they didn’t want to give it to me because I don’t know if they assumed that the heated seats and heated steering wheel was a luxury as opposed to my needs. I find that I’m hitting my head against a brick wall as it seemed obvious. I’m not gonna get any help at all even though both my disabilities and financial status fit the bill so to speak. I am very upset and stressed out with the whole process in fighting to get some help. After all that’s what it’s all about, and yet no matter what my situation is.
I applied for a grant and hav been assured gender a case manager who I f el has dismissed me disabilities and my application. So far iv b en told him o buy a revers camera for hat is a necessity for me as I have hay spine issue and can’t turn my head around either side enough to be able to see and do reversing I’ve been told to get a car with zero advance. I’ve looked at many cars one of the My needs is a power tailgate. Even adaption was not good for me as I couldn’t pull the door down, so I was told that they would look into putting a power tailgate, depending on the manufacturer I went to A manufacturer that did this which would cost £760. I passed this information on as I decided on a car that already had the power tailgate thinking that they would be willing to put it towards a car that already had that plus heated seats and steering wheel which would help Reynards disease that I have in my hands, but I was told that they didn’t want to give it to me because I don’t know if they assumed that the heated seats and heated steering wheel was a luxury as opposed to my needs. I find that I’m hitting my head against a brick wall as it seemed obvious. I’m not gonna get any help at all even though both my disabilities and financial status fit the bill so to speak. I am very upset and stressed out with the whole process in fighting to get some help. After all that’s what it’s all about, and yet no matter what my situation is.
The grants department aren’t worth their weight in salt these days I’m afraid. There main objective is to put you into a catorgory of car in the cheapes’t way possible and not alway’s taking into account your best intersts. Some grant managers can be quite rude depending who you get or what side of the bed they woke! A search on the forum will return many cases like yours, seemingly only worsened after the pandemic but, one only has to think it is banks who are awarding these grants!
What catorgory/list of vehicles and grant amount have you been awarded?
You can add up to a maximum of 50% to your award ou of your own financies if you have the means to do so.
You also need to be realistic with the choice of vehicle – one that will fit your needs and not necessarily all the bells and whistles or be picky over the make or fuel type!
If you look at manufacturers like MG, possibly Hyundai/Kia you may find a vehicle that suites your needs 🙂
Out of interest what type of vehicle were you hoping for?
I gave up with a grant the person I spoke to was rude, dismissive and clearly just wanted an argument.
Everything I said I needed I was told we don’t consider that which included a high driving position, heated seats, heated steering wheel if possible nothing ridiculous everything I was told wasnt something they consider essential.
They won’t even consider fuel and force you into whatever they want you in. Told them it was to be an EV as getting fuel here is too much of a pain as petrol stations always run out and it’s 12 miles to nearest petrol station.
I even said so you’d rather a car was sat on the drive with me unable to afford to drive it and they said yes.
Maybe if you get a bad experience hang up and try again but it took a lot for me to suck up the courage to make that call and I was humiliated. I was only after help towards £199 at the time.
Good luck to anyone applying. I will probably try again next year given how high APs are now.
Hello. I did not have a vehicle in mind when I applied for a grant. I did order a Skoda whilst waiting for a decision since it had everything I needed even though it was a little bit too high for me. Then I heard that they had awarded me a grant. I was still searching for the right vehicle and found one that was perfect in every way for me. However, the AP was high and with the £750 this meant that the amounts we had to add would be EVRI, the 50% as a grant, even though my children are paying for it for my birthday and Christmas, and since it’s very hard for me to find a car there like in with the power tailgate, you think that be a little bit more flexible and compassionate instead of being so rigid. I ordered the vehicle and I’ve just found out that my case manager refuses it. When I spoke to my case manager, he said it would put in a complaint about this and that somebody would contact me within a few days. This didn’t happen. The iPlayer has now increased even more by £500. Before I ordered the car, this is now been cancelled. Expect somebody at the grants team informed me that it’s going to take the complaints team 30 days only to come back to me to tell me Im not allowed to add more than 50% of the grant awarded. I can honestly say that the whole process from start to date has caused me nothing but stress and it’s certainly not in my house. Any good.
I can’t sleep at night my health has deteriorated the pain has increased. I feel like giving up I can’t find a suitable car so what’s the point? Amazing how compassionate and understanding the motability team are but I can’t say the same for most of the grants team. Although I was told that someone would get back to me from the complaints team within a few days I’m then told that they need 30 days to get back to me although they won’t accept more than 50% towards the AP with such high costs surely the rules need to be reviewed. In my previous message there is an error house = health.
I can’t sleep at night my health has deteriorated the pain has increased. I feel like giving up I can’t find a suitable car so what’s the point? Amazing how compassionate and understanding the motability team are but I can’t say the same for most of the grants team. Although I was told that someone would get back to me from the complaints team within a few days I’m then told that they need 30 days to get back to me although they won’t accept more than 50% towards the AP with such high costs surely the rules need to be reviewed. In my previous message there is an error house = health.
Sorry to here of your trobles with the grants team. Sadly if you add more than the maximum 50% to the award it will be a categoricaly no no and tha if you can add more than 50%, do you actually need a grant.
From some of the horror stories on here and elsewhere asking for a grant is becoming more like a WCA where they will find any way not to award it.
Theres plent advice on the forum regards grants and don’t discount your M/P if your really at a dead end .
Yes I do need it since Ive worked most of my life but things happen I have no savings. The reason we can add more towards the high advance cost I my children saw how the car is perfect for my needs etc and since it’s my birthday next month and Xmas they wanted to help.
We were very disappointed with our grant being refused. We were told to extend the vehicle by the 2 years allowed and then try again.
Something for everyone to be aware of is that they will not award a grant for just an adaptation. We wanted to use the £750 new vehicle payment for the car advance payment which would have covered it in full but the adaptation we needed (person lift) was £795. After speaking to 3 different people on the grants phone line and none of them mentioning it, 4 weeks later the case manager phoned and told us they don’t provide grants for adaptations on their own. They have to fund the car and the adaptation together. They asked if the current car was still suitable to which I explained the difficulty my partner has with her pain and not being able to adjust the passenger seat. I would have to find somewhere to pull over, get out and adjust it for her. This could be repeated numerous times on a journey. The car we wanted this time had an electric passenger seat which was her one and only requirement with renewing this time so we were happy to find one that was covered by the new vehicle payment. Unfortunately this was dismissed as not a reason to be unsuitable, it is perfectly acceptable to have to do this apparently.
We emailed the complaints email address and a few days later had a reply to say the case manager was wrong in their decision and they were overturning the decision and now funding the car and adaptation in full. This also means she doesn’t have to use her new vehicle payment and will instead receive it in her bank account.
We emailed the complaints email address and a few days later had a reply to say the case manager was wrong in their decision and they were overturning the decision and now funding the car and adaptation in full. This also means she doesn’t have to use her new vehicle payment and will instead receive it in her bank account.
Excellent news! It just goes to show if you take matters further the outcome can be somewhat different.
The only part of Motability with any level of competence and care is the complaints team. Imho the rest of them are useless or worse than useless.
When my car broke down and there wasn’t any hire cars nearby they refused to get them to drive one from another location and in the end said we’ll pay for taxis, said taxi company is based 30 miles away so a 2 mile journey from home to garage cost £80.
They nearly had to pay for taxis from Norfolk to Alton towers and back too.
I’d rather get a payday loan than speak to the grants people whom I assume are ex DWP employees given the level of care and understanding they have and the way they jealously guard their hoard of gold too. Apparently heated seats, heated steering wheel are unnecessary for a disabled driver when they don’t even know what’s wrong with you.
They refuse to consider any choice of fuel. I literally said to them so you’d rather I have a car sat on the drive I cannot afford to use and they said YES
Everytime I said I need a big hoot with low sill it was qashqai, qashqai, qashqai like I was talking to a Nissan salesman. This is exactly why I hate doing stuff like this over the phone it’s too easy to bully you.
I know some have had a good experience with grants but my experience is all I can relate to.
Good luck one and all
I just want you all to know that I am extremely grateful that we have charities like motability to help us as without these some of us would be in dire straights however, it’s the people who work on their behalf that can make it difficult. If I’m leasing a car through motability why can’t I choose the car that is the most suitable for the me? Ive looked at even more cars like Kia, Renault, Mazda which I was told to check out since awarding me the grant which I am grateful for. The cars with a power tail gate which is a need are too high I have great difficulty getting into the car. The cars that are lower and are suitable for getting in and out doesn’t have the power tail gate adapting the door is no good as I don’t have the strength to pull it down. It may sound ungrateful but truly I’m not in fact I’m very grateful I’m just extremely frustrated I wish that the rules were flexible and that each case was based on its merit.
@Sophie,
Go back to the Grants team and explain, as you have here, the reason why the cars suggested are not suitable.
If there us a car that would suit, but a powered tailgate us extra, tell them this, if there us a car around the same AP that would suit, also tell them that too.
They can be really supportive
Unfortunately they are proving very challenging with myself too. Initially had the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which they extended to 2 extra years, but vile thieving rats stole the car before Christmas, which really annoyed me as i really liked having that car.
It took them 3-4 months to finally contact me and let me know i can finally look at getting another car as they’ve acknowledged its not coming back.
Tried calling up 3 times today to say i have looked around and the most practical and comfortable one is the Skoda Enyaq as fuel is too costly nowadays, and electric is the most cheapest viable option.
They kept trying to throw other brands around or give me the lowest spec enyaq which would confine me around the London area only which is not fair, nor practical.
I can’t understand why they advertise models of vehicles if they wont fund it. There’s advanced payments that goes beyond £3000+. All I’m asking is the mere £1700 model as it has everything that’s required and better mileage. its not like I’m asking for a Polestar or Tesla!
Unfortunately they are proving very challenging with myself too. Initially had the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which they extended to 2 extra years, but vile thieving rats stole the car before Christmas, which really annoyed me as i really liked having that car. It took them 3-4 months to finally contact me and let me know i can finally look at getting another car as they’ve acknowledged its not coming back. Tried calling up 3 times today to say i have looked around and the most practical and comfortable one is the Skoda Enyaq as fuel is too costly nowadays, and electric is the most cheapest viable option. They kept trying to throw other brands around or give me the lowest spec enyaq which would confine me around the London area only which is not fair, nor practical. I can’t understand why they advertise models of vehicles if they wont fund it. There’s advanced payments that goes beyond £3000+. All I’m asking is the mere £1700 model as it has everything that’s required and better mileage. its not like I’m asking for a Polestar or Tesla!
You can top up the award by 50% if you have the funds to do that.
have to agree to most of it , the Complaints team are very good , I’ve been doing the grants thing since September , Manger for my case insisted on same car from start to finish , despite me sending him pics of my knees not fitting around or under steering wheel or steering column which he asked me to send (at one point wanted a video that I refused to degrade myself doing) felt degraded enough as it was 7 or 8 cars I had to send pics of , one car I was totally stuck , managed to crawl out on hands n knees
Put a complaint in ,it was reviewed n apologies all round from complaint department was able to order car that required , but the guy we complained about rejected it as it was £100 over the total price could pay
plan B LOL went to order a lesser spec car from same dealer which was cheaper , and whilst there the salesman pointed out the new electric Kona ( was extremely surprised I could fit in it with ease )Chatted to Motability again a really nice guy Barry, I asked him what I could spend as a max on new advanced payment inc my contribution to which his reply was £xxxx on any car
So off I go back to Hyundai dealer n test drive the Kona loved it basically so ordered it before we left show room
well car took 3 weeks to arrive in the 3 weeks had hoist fitters contact us Motability chatted about BP pulse card n the amount of the £750 we’d get back
Day of collection came ,,,,,, n hey presto the original manager we complained about removes grant from car
Guessing he don’t like me much
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.