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Hello,
could someone please explain to me how the grant scheme works.
im on benefits and cant afford the ap on any of the cars ive been looking at, I don’t drive, but need something with wide doors, reasonably high roof and no big sills, as I struggle to get in and out of the car, I can only get in the back if again it’s quite spacious.
so if I was to apply for a grant, do I get any input what I consider would be suitable for myself? Or do the grants team take full control? And if I wasn’t happy with what the said I should get, can I withdraw from the grant.
Any advice is much welcomed and appreciated as I have no idea what so ever how the grant scheme works.
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Hi johebr,
I’ve been fortunate enough to get a grant. As far as I remember, if you are on a low income benefits, like Universal Credit and low savings, start the process by calling them before choosing car, as clearly grants are awarded on need rather than what you wish for.
I think it’s complicated if you try to ‘add’ money on top for something better/you want. At the end of the day, it’s a grant. I got a WAV with adaptions, and the new car bonus came to me after delivery.
I did have to talk to several people about my application, as staff changed, and added complication, my WAV wasn’t ordered in time for the 6 month grant award, so I had to have that exteneded. I had several low points due to hiccups in the process, so be prepared it may take more time than simply paying AP yourself.
The overall process took almost 18 months for me to get to delivery, so I was glad I hadn’t got rid of my old private car, and maybe just difficult for WAVs rather than cars.
Good luck!
Can any of us truly afford to pay an AP? I know that I can’t. I have no savings and am on benefits. However we do get full PIP or else how would we be entitled to a Motability car in the first place?
People who need adaptations and have genuine special needs etc are excluded from my rant but otherwise I do not see the issue in a) selecting a car which has an AP you can realistically save up for and b) saving up for it….
The PIP mobility weekly amount is £75.75 or £328.25 per month and this is what you will be paying for your car once it arrives. So….you can save up that amount before you get your car in order to afford the AP.
That’s what I and countless others do. Sure I’d love to get a posh car with a £4k AP but I can’t afford anything like that. My last AP was £750 and the one before it £1k. That’s about my budget and it takes a fair bit of scrimping to save it up.
The grant is from a charity. They have to maximise the number of people they can help and try their best, I’m sure, to get as many people mobile as possible.
What cars have you been looking at?
Skoda Enyaq Race Blue
Currently looking at the Peugeot e3008 and have been quite fortunate to find a dealer that will help with some of the AP, I was just asking out of curiosity and for future reference, as AP is a gamble every quarter, you never know what is gonna be affordable and suitable.
I have had both the e3008 and scenic e-tech and the scenic superior in every way, well except looks. Scenic has big wide doors and tons of leg and head room. The e3008 is definitely not the car you want if it’s room you’re looking for as the cockpit style of it really restricts space.
I would not put anybody of it due to problems I had with the e3008 as I just got a rubbish car. But range is poor compared to scenic e-tech. Boot is bigger mind. Similar ap for different spec. But the e3008 has very little spec anyway.
I have just had an issue with the grant team at Motability Foundation, they approved a Large SUV Estate Auto with Electric Tailgate at £999, and a 40kg hoist at £570. I didn’t apply for the hoist, this was suggested by the case officer dealing with my application.
The car they thought was suitable was a VW ID4 at £999, I can’t do electric, the car I wanted was an additional £800 at £1799, but they only allow you to add an extra £500, and there was nothing prior to 1st April AP changes that was suitable for £1499.
I have complained, and taken it as far as I could with them, but every response back was just generic, despite the initial grant being for a Large SUV Auto, the VW ID4, is a medium SUV according to Motability. They then suggested the Fiat 600 at £999, which is a small SUV, then came other suggestions for electric cars all small SUV’s, before suggesting the Peugeot 3008 which I even referred to as trying but I can’t lift my leg into it!
Whilst I appreciate the grant system has to be careful with money spending, and I appreciated any initial offer of a grant, I feel their responses where boarding on discriminatory towards those with disabilities, especially given I was not allowed to contribute £800, why? What difference to them does me contributing £500 or £800 make if it means I get the car that is suitable, ticks all the relevant boxes, and is likely not to be returned months down the line because it is not suitable for my needs.
The dealership I was dealing with, even asked if they could contribute toward the AP, reducing my £800 contribution to £500, and the answer was NO!
I asked this morning if I could use the grant for the Ford Puma at £1395, and I am waiting for the case officer to get back to me, but the lovely man I spoke to on the phone said, it was unlikely to be approved as it was a small SUV, yet last week they were suggesting a Fiat 600 which is a small SUV! I pointed this out and emphasized that the Ford Puma’s boot was much bigger than the Fiat 600.
Anyway, I think I have decided, I will purchase the car I want and need and pay the AP myself, I have thought long and hard about going on the scheme, and looked at every local car dealership possible, took cars for drives, weighed up the pros and cons, and I don’t feel happy with the Motability Foundation pushing an unsuitable car on me because they won’t allow me to contribute £800 towards the AP, is right.
They seem to have an underlying agenda to only offer EV’s.
I have just had an issue with the grant team at Motability Foundation, they approved a Large SUV Estate Auto with Electric Tailgate at £999, and a 40kg hoist at £570. I didn’t apply for the hoist, this was suggested by the case officer dealing with my application. The car they thought was suitable was a VW ID4 at £999, I can’t do electric, the car I wanted was an additional £800 at £1799, but they only allow you to add an extra £500, and there was nothing prior to 1st April AP changes that was suitable for £1499. I have complained, and taken it as far as I could with them, but every response back was just generic, despite the initial grant being for a Large SUV Auto, the VW ID4, is a medium SUV according to Motability. They then suggested the Fiat 600 at £999, which is a small SUV, then came other suggestions for electric cars all small SUV’s, before suggesting the Peugeot 3008 which I even referred to as trying but I can’t lift my leg into it! Whilst I appreciate the grant system has to be careful with money spending, and I appreciated any initial offer of a grant, I feel their responses where boarding on discriminatory towards those with disabilities, especially given I was not allowed to contribute £800, why? What difference to them does me contributing £500 or £800 make if it means I get the car that is suitable, ticks all the relevant boxes, and is likely not to be returned months down the line because it is not suitable for my needs. The dealership I was dealing with, even asked if they could contribute toward the AP, reducing my £800 contribution to £500, and the answer was NO! I asked this morning if I could use the grant for the Ford Puma at £1395, and I am waiting for the case officer to get back to me, but the lovely man I spoke to on the phone said, it was unlikely to be approved as it was a small SUV, yet last week they were suggesting a Fiat 600 which is a small SUV! I pointed this out and emphasized that the Ford Puma’s boot was much bigger than the Fiat 600. Anyway, I think I have decided, I will purchase the car I want and need and pay the AP myself, I have thought long and hard about going on the scheme, and looked at every local car dealership possible, took cars for drives, weighed up the pros and cons, and I don’t feel happy with the Motability Foundation pushing an unsuitable car on me because they won’t allow me to contribute £800 towards the AP, is right. They seem to have an underlying agenda to only offer EV’s.
It use to be, you could add a aximum of 50% to theaward from your own money and you you could choose any car to that value as long as it was in the catagory awarded.
I struggle to get in and out of the car
Well worth looking at a transfer plate. I don’t use mine all the time, but when I do, it really helps. Get to one of the Motability shows and try them if you can. Or a local adaptation company may have one for you to try.
Skoda Enyaq Race Blue
I’m experiencing the same issue. Although the dealer reduced the cost to within 50% of the grant when I covered the remaining amount myself, they still won’t allow it because the Motability advanced payment exceeds the grant value plus 50%. They mentioned that a change last year now prevents them from approving such discounts or dealership deals.
I personally think that for standard non adapted cars that there is a bountiful choice of vehicles up to £1000AP.
There in even just under 60 which have zero AP. Remember grants are there to assist you into obtaining transport to which they deem meets your needs, not you wants.
A £1500 AP is only saving just under a £1.50 a day for the duration of your lease.
Electric will be the norm very shortly, 2030 is only 57 months away. I also believe that by 2028, that Motability choice will be nearer 80% Electric , as manufacturers wind down all petrol and diesel, inc standard hybrid models.
All current plug in hybrids and diesels are all over £2000AP.
Financial suicide to develop and bring a new model into production for a very short period of time.
Driving Electric just takes a bit of journey planning.
What’s the point of Motability foundation offering to assist someone with a car which is deemed to meet the disability, only then for the applicant to state, this one suits me better and I want that one.
If they are giving someone say £1000 for certain cars and you I prefer one with an additional AP of £800 and you are willing to pay that, I would question the given grant and reduce it £800, as you have found the mechanism to find more funds.
We cannot be expected to get everything handed on a plate to us and also this is probably the cheapest lease scheme in Europe, by far.
There is and never have a compulsion to use the scheme. If it doesn’t suit for any reason, buy a used car using your given benefit.
Just because you can, does not mean we must.
I personally think that for standard non adapted cars that there is a bountiful choice of vehicles up to £1000AP. There in even just under 60 which have zero AP. Remember grants are there to assist you into obtaining transport to which they deem meets your needs, not you wants. A £1500 AP is only saving just under a £1.50 a day for the duration of your lease. Electric will be the norm very shortly, 2030 is only 57 months away. I also believe that by 2028, that Motability choice will be nearer 80% Electric , as manufacturers wind down all petrol and diesel, inc standard hybrid models. All current plug in hybrids and diesels are all over £2000AP. Financial suicide to develop and bring a new model into production for a very short period of time. Driving Electric just takes a bit of journey planning.
What’s the point of Motability foundation offering to assist someone with a car which is deemed to meet the disability, only then for the applicant to state, this one suits me better and I want that one. If they are giving someone say £1000 for certain cars and you I prefer one with an additional AP of £800 and you are willing to pay that, I would question the given grant and reduce it £800, as you have found the mechanism to find more funds. We cannot be expected to get everything handed on a plate to us and also this is probably the cheapest lease scheme in Europe, by far. There is and never have a compulsion to use the scheme. If it doesn’t suit for any reason, buy a used car using your given benefit. Just because you can, does not mean we must.
Some of your points I agree with however I believe you are being a bit harsh and insensitive, unfortunately there has to be a cut off point, unfortunately not in their favour, not everyone understands the system, if they did they would not post asking for advice.
Have you considered a Mazda CX-5 large SUV, plenty of room for a hoist automatic transmission.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally say the wrong thing.
I personally think that for standard non adapted cars that there is a bountiful choice of vehicles up to £1000AP. There in even just under 60 which have zero AP. Remember grants are there to assist you into obtaining transport to which they deem meets your needs, not you wants. A £1500 AP is only saving just under a £1.50 a day for the duration of your lease. Electric will be the norm very shortly, 2030 is only 57 months away. I also believe that by 2028, that Motability choice will be nearer 80% Electric , as manufacturers wind down all petrol and diesel, inc standard hybrid models. All current plug in hybrids and diesels are all over £2000AP. Financial suicide to develop and bring a new model into production for a very short period of time. Driving Electric just takes a bit of journey planning.
What’s the point of Motability foundation offering to assist someone with a car which is deemed to meet the disability, only then for the applicant to state, this one suits me better and I want that one. If they are giving someone say £1000 for certain cars and you I prefer one with an additional AP of £800 and you are willing to pay that, I would question the given grant and reduce it £800, as you have found the mechanism to find more funds. We cannot be expected to get everything handed on a plate to us and also this is probably the cheapest lease scheme in Europe, by far. There is and never have a compulsion to use the scheme. If it doesn’t suit for any reason, buy a used car using your given benefit. Just because you can, does not mean we must.
You are making the assumption than I found the additional £800. Don’t make assumptions.
I also have a used car, thank you, which I drive every day. The idea of the scheme is to help the disabled person, and I wish to go on the scheme not because I want a nice shiny new car, but to hopefully not get penalised by insurance companies every year, when they whack up my premiums because I am disabled, and have a restricted licence with the DVLA. The scheme also appeals because I really need a boot hoist.
I fully know how the scheme works and how the grant system works.
There are not many cars on the scheme under £1000 AP that are automatics, and I can only drive an automatic vehicle. There are also not many on the scheme that have a decent size boot that a boot hoist can go into. I also need an electric tailgate.
If you know how the grant system works it states quite clearly they have to take into account the disabled person and anyone else who uses the car who they care for. I am a full time carer for a disabled parent who is worse off than me, and whose bariatric wheelchair is bulky to carry and we need a decent size boot.
I have test drove dozens of cars, and found just three which were suitable than come under a £1800 AP, I am not being difficult, or demanding a bigger car with better extras, I am being practical, because I know I have to keep the car for three years, and that my conditions could get worse, and I don’t want to waste a grant by having to return the car when I cannot get in, nor pay £250 to Motability to end my lease earlier because I have been forced into leasing a car unsuitable because it’s what the grant people suggested.
As for electric cars, not a chance this country will be ready for electric cars by the date you mention. How do you suggest I charge an electric car without a home charging point. I refuse to charge publicly, and triple the cost of my spending to sit in a car park and charge my car, I also feel unsafe doing this as a disabled single female on her own, especially in the town I live in.
If I could have electric I would, but I live in a flat and it’s not possible, same for the parent I care for.
Sorry, the grant system is flawed, and not fit for purpose, maybe some have had better experiences, but for me they have behaved in a discriminatory manner, and not taken into account my disabilities, nor reviewed extra evidence supplied, during complaints, each response was just generic garbage.
And even if I caved in and agreed to their suggestion of a VW ID4 last month, at £999 its now jumped in price to £1800, so how does that work.
Trust me, I have given much thought to this.
Can any of us truly afford to pay an AP? I know that I can’t. I have no savings and am on benefits. However we do get full PIP or else how would we be entitled to a Motability car in the first place? People who need adaptations and have genuine special needs etc are excluded from my rant but otherwise I do not see the issue in a) selecting a car which has an AP you can realistically save up for and b) saving up for it….
Saving is not always an option for some people, they may have to use their disposable income for other expenses related to their disabilities. In my case, my current PIP award pays for my car on PCP, and I will barely get anything back when I sell it on, as the finance has to be paid.
I personally think that for standard non adapted cars that there is a bountiful choice of vehicles up to £1000AP. There in even just under 60 which have zero AP. Remember grants are there to assist you into obtaining transport to which they deem meets your needs, not you wants. A £1500 AP is only saving just under a £1.50 a day for the duration of your lease. Electric will be the norm very shortly, 2030 is only 57 months away. I also believe that by 2028, that Motability choice will be nearer 80% Electric , as manufacturers wind down all petrol and diesel, inc standard hybrid models. All current plug in hybrids and diesels are all over £2000AP. Financial suicide to develop and bring a new model into production for a very short period of time. Driving Electric just takes a bit of journey planning.
What’s the point of Motability foundation offering to assist someone with a car which is deemed to meet the disability, only then for the applicant to state, this one suits me better and I want that one. If they are giving someone say £1000 for certain cars and you I prefer one with an additional AP of £800 and you are willing to pay that, I would question the given grant and reduce it £800, as you have found the mechanism to find more funds. We cannot be expected to get everything handed on a plate to us and also this is probably the cheapest lease scheme in Europe, by far. There is and never have a compulsion to use the scheme. If it doesn’t suit for any reason, buy a used car using your given benefit. Just because you can, does not mean we must.
Some of your points I agree with however I believe you are being a bit harsh and insensitive, unfortunately there has to be a cut off point, unfortunately not in their favour, not everyone understands the system, if they did they would not post asking for advice. Have you considered a Mazda CX-5 large SUV, plenty of room for a hoist automatic transmission.
My thoughts exactly, it is definitely difficult to say what you have because a lot of people will react in the moment and the thread could become a bit personal. But in the round the thinking behind the way the grants work is sound (oops that rhymes!!)
I have just had an issue with the grant team at Motability Foundation, they approved a Large SUV Estate Auto with Electric Tailgate at £999, and a 40kg hoist at £570. I didn’t apply for the hoist, this was suggested by the case officer dealing with my application. The car they thought was suitable was a VW ID4 at £999, I can’t do electric, the car I wanted was an additional £800 at £1799, but they only allow you to add an extra £500, and there was nothing prior to 1st April AP changes that was suitable for £1499. I have complained, and taken it as far as I could with them, but every response back was just generic, despite the initial grant being for a Large SUV Auto, the VW ID4, is a medium SUV according to Motability. They then suggested the Fiat 600 at £999, which is a small SUV, then came other suggestions for electric cars all small SUV’s, before suggesting the Peugeot 3008 which I even referred to as trying but I can’t lift my leg into it! Whilst I appreciate the grant system has to be careful with money spending, and I appreciated any initial offer of a grant, I feel their responses where boarding on discriminatory towards those with disabilities, especially given I was not allowed to contribute £800, why? What difference to them does me contributing £500 or £800 make if it means I get the car that is suitable, ticks all the relevant boxes, and is likely not to be returned months down the line because it is not suitable for my needs. The dealership I was dealing with, even asked if they could contribute toward the AP, reducing my £800 contribution to £500, and the answer was NO! I asked this morning if I could use the grant for the Ford Puma at £1395, and I am waiting for the case officer to get back to me, but the lovely man I spoke to on the phone said, it was unlikely to be approved as it was a small SUV, yet last week they were suggesting a Fiat 600 which is a small SUV! I pointed this out and emphasized that the Ford Puma’s boot was much bigger than the Fiat 600. Anyway, I think I have decided, I will purchase the car I want and need and pay the AP myself, I have thought long and hard about going on the scheme, and looked at every local car dealership possible, took cars for drives, weighed up the pros and cons, and I don’t feel happy with the Motability Foundation pushing an unsuitable car on me because they won’t allow me to contribute £800 towards the AP, is right. They seem to have an underlying agenda to only offer EV’s.
It use to be, you could add a aximum of 50% to theaward from your own money and you you could choose any car to that value as long as it was in the catagory awarded.
It is still the case, so for me I can add an additional £500, but the only suitable car which also matches the grant approval is an additional £800, and they won’t let you add that much, yet it does state they will consider it, if you can provide extra evidence to support your application. I’ve done this, I argued with them till the cows come home, but every response was generic.
There last recommendation in March if I wanted a petrol car was the Peugeot 3008 as it has an electric tailgate, this is despite me previously mentioning I could not get in it (the Peugeot 3008 was my first choice and I was disappointed that I could not get in)
Then they suggested a Fiat 600 La Prima, which also has an electric tailgate, and is a small SUV because it was £999, yet the grant approved a large suv. Again, I like the Fiat, but we don’t have a local dealership, and the boot was way too small.
I personally think that for standard non adapted cars that there is a bountiful Some of your points I agree with however I believe you are being a bit harsh and insensitive, unfortunately there has to be a cut off point, unfortunately not in their favour, not everyone understands the system, if they did they would not post asking for advice. Have you considered a Mazda CX-5 large SUV, plenty of room for a hoist automatic transmission.
I considered the Mazda CX-5, but again the one with electric tailgate was more than the grant allowed, and part of my grant was to include an electric tailgate.
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