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The scheme is no longer fit for purpose in my opinion. Looking at the prices and the cars available within my budget and those that i actually need specifications wise, I don’t see a single car that meets my needs. Electric has the answers but i have no where to park it for charging or even offers a range that meets my needs. With the current bill going through Parliment you almost wonder if Motability is actually deliberately pricing the people out of the scheme. They talk about how it enables us to find and get to work, but limited choices and prohibited costs is actually going to cost me those oppurtunities.
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Skoda Yeti 1.6TDI Elegance, Seat Ateca 1.6TDI SE, Citroen C5 Aircross 12 Puretech Flair And Citroen C5 Aircross 12 Puretech C Series 1.2 Puretech Auto 200.000+miles of Happy Motoring.
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I think everyone is slowly being forced off the roads and Motability customers are easily priced out of motoring. By 2030+ the price of cars, insurance, road tax, fuel and electric will be prohibitive for all but the wealthy.
I think everyone is slowly being forced off the roads and Motability customers are easily priced out of motoring. By 2030+ the price of cars, insurance, road tax, fuel and electric will be prohibitive for all but the wealthy.
Motability made over £500M in 2023, but somehow lost in 2024. They could offer Tesla’s, but it doesn’t leave them enough margin I would assume, especially as the majority would dump Skodas, BYDs, MGs, Omoda’s and other Chinese vehicles.
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Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer - Ombudsman pending)
Motability Mazda CX-60 July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)For those who want an EV and have the off road parking and home charging option to make one viable, there is a decent choice (albeit minus the most popular EV brand in the U.K.) and getting one through Motability is by far the best option IMO. However, although there is a great enthusiasm for EVs amongst many forum contributors, this is not reflective of the market in general, where demand for them amongst private buyers remains suppressed, with ICE cars remaining by far the more popular choices.
Unfortunately, the choice of ICE cars, which are the only sensible option for those who would not be able to charge an EV or PHEV at home, is very poor indeed, and this is where Motability choice remains severely lacking. For many of us, everything available requires compromises and I’m at a stage in my life now where I don’t want (or need) to make compromises, so that will probably be the tipping factor that pushes us away from the scheme. We are fortunate that financially we have the option to do that, but I feel for those who can’t and have to live with the compromises, especially when that means that these compromises make coping with their disabilities more challenging than it needs to be.
For those who want an EV and have the off road parking and home charging option to make one viable, there is a decent choice (albeit minus the most popular EV brand in the U.K.) and getting one through Motability is by far the best option IMO. However, although there is a great enthusiasm for EVs amongst many forum contributors, this is not reflective of the market in general, where demand for them amongst private buyers remains suppressed, with ICE cars remaining by far the more popular choices. Unfortunately, the choice of ICE cars, which are the only sensible option for those who would not be able to charge an EV or PHEV at home, is very poor indeed, and this is where Motability choice remains severely lacking. For many of us, everything available requires compromises and I’m at a stage in my life now where I don’t want (or need) to make compromises, so that will probably be the tipping factor that pushes us away from the scheme. We are fortunate that financially we have the option to do that, but I feel for those who can’t and have to live with the compromises, especially when that means that these compromises make coping with their disabilities more challenging than it needs to be.
EV or not, if one requires Large SUV, the choice is limited to only 16 models / 48 variants. Not all of them are automatic, I would assume.
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Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer - Ombudsman pending)
Motability Mazda CX-60 July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)@kdwolf True, but it’s even worse than that, as Motability have a habit of exaggerating vehicle sizes in their descriptions. Most SUVs that they term as ‘large’ are in fact ‘medium’ sized!
Although I understand the frustration I feel I would be a lot worse off without the Motability scheme.
i am about to swop to my seventh Motability car and these are the reason I am grateful.
Financially I don’t have to worry about depreciation selling buying etc.
All legalities are sorted – insurance tax servicing mot etc – if I have an accident or someone damages the car not only am I covered but a replacement is sorted and yes it has happened and they did.
There is a good choice of vehicles on the scheme many at zero and up to good spec cars with upfront costs that is less than depreciation over 3 years.
I understand that financially Motability is struggling a bit at the moment – so my point – careful what you wish for – the alternative is worst and for many there wouldn’t be one!!
Motability are deliberately pushing many people into EV’s and that’s fine… IF you have the means to charge at home.
On the other side of the coin however, Motability are sticking two fingers up to those of use who do not have the means to charge at home, plain and simple. The number of ICE cars on the scheme is pitiful & despite the fact the ICE ban is still some years away, Motability’s stance is ‘choose an EV now or get lost’.
Whilst I appreciate the cost of news cars is increasing year on year, those of us who still prefer an ICE or a hybrid (which I currently have) seem to me to be subsidising the shortfall electric cars will have on Motability’s funds in the years to come when it comes to selling them on through their auction agents. I personally think this is a disgraceful way for them to act & should be looked into via an independent body.
For the record ; I have been on the scheme for 28-years now – but never have I known a time in all those years when I have been so bitterly disappointed with those who are running the scheme & their total disregard for certain scheme members – just because we don’t want or can’t have an EV at this moment in time.
Hang your heads in shame Motability.
Those that don’t want an EV or simply have no where to park and charge an EV cheaply at home are facing higher costs for the most basic of ICE, as EV’s contunue to be subsidised. As manufacturers continue to delay the phase out of combustion engines, further pushing back EV production. This is further highlighted in the real world away from the scheme.
However, there will always be more than one view to the scheme, but on one hand, there is nothing worse than being priced out of the scheme and the other, where financial constraints prevent you from accessing vehicles outside the scheme.
Although I understand the frustration I feel I would be a lot worse off without the Motability scheme. i am about to swop to my seventh Motability car and these are the reason I am grateful. Financially I don’t have to worry about depreciation selling buying etc. All legalities are sorted – insurance tax servicing mot etc – if I have an accident or someone damages the car not only am I covered but a replacement is sorted and yes it has happened and they did. There is a good choice of vehicles on the scheme many at zero and up to good spec cars with upfront costs that is less than depreciation over 3 years. I understand that financially Motability is struggling a bit at the moment – so my point – careful what you wish for – the alternative is worst and for many there wouldn’t be one!!
I tend to agree. I believe we are the only country in the world that has a car scheme like Motability. It’s not perfect, and prices have risen, but that applies to just about everything. Do agree with Glos Guy, the better deals are EV’s, but these only make sense if you can charge at home, especially at cheap overnight rates.
Again I understand the frustration but they are a business and are going to go with the offers – I swop to an Elroq at the end of July – it is no longer on the scheme – why – because it is in high demand throughout Europe and no longer a good deal for them or Motability.
I totally agree that the infrastructure and road side charging points at sensible prices has failed – there are many charging points that are not suitable for disabled or wheel chair drivers – I suspect this is more political and market driven than a motability objective – they are looking for the best deals which are more likely to be EVs because of in many cases over production.
The sad conclusion is as more EVs are produced at the expense of less ICE the cost of non EVs may go up.
Not sure what you expect Motability to do about it – no easy answers!!
I think everyone is slowly being forced off the roads and Motability customers are easily priced out of motoring. By 2030+ the price of cars, insurance, road tax, fuel and electric will be prohibitive for all but the wealthy.
This 💯
Anybody who thinks otherwise is ill informed I’m afraid. A simple check of the UN website and Agenda 21/2030 tells you all you need to know.
EV lose that much money on re sale is why the ap is so high.look at the goverment they said they would not touch the motabilty side off pip.why? because they would not meet there EV targets.as people dont tend to buy them.when i joined ther was over 3000 cars on now we are down to less than 900.sad times
EV lose that much money on re sale is why the ap is so high
That’s right but, unfortunately, Motability’s approach is to absorb the enormous hit on EV residual values by increasing the APs across the board for all cars, so that EVs remain attractive. This means that those who can’t get an EV (or don’t want one) are subsidising those who do.
The great new toyota Corolla Hybrid 1.8 and 2 ltr a beautiful car and in GR form looks better and build quality is great.
Go and try and get something off the scheme, New for 3 years, that’s currently on the scheme and include all the things that come as part of the MB lease like tyres, servicing and insurance. Then say its not fit for purpose.
Before it was lack of choice, as less and less cars were on the scheme. Now it’s different there’s more choice but many are just too expensive. It was always going to happen when MB increased the price cap.
All new car must have adas and that costs, driving up prices of cars. They say the cost is cheaper than it is. Development and testing of the adas system isn’t cheap and then making them more and more advanced. So eventually we have fully autonomous cars that are safer than humans driving them. So no more driving for our own good. It won’t be tomorrow, it will slowly happen so people just adapt to the new normal.
The problem is not MB the problem is the car market and the forced targets by government and others and thus car manufactures. Add also the fact that car prices have risen and risen over that last few years and the disability allowance has not kept pace. This was always going to happen.
This year less ICE cars will be sold and next year even less. So that creates a lack of supply and inflates prices. Couple that with some manufactures, converting production lines to EV’S, as there’s a point where making ICE cars is just not viable anymore at such reduced numbers and they need to be ready.
Yes Mb are pushing EV’s via grants, but are they forcing you to get one? Even if you say you have no other option they are not Imo forcing you. Your own circumstances are doing that. There’s a limit to what MB can do.
I know the truth is hard to hear and Current AP’s for me are even to high. I paid £1295 ap for my EX30 with the NVP in OCT now the ap is £4899 two quarters later.
It is possible without a home charger in most situations if you change your mindset and are prepared to use cheaper CPO and getting a car with 150+ Dc speed will save you waiting over 20/30 mins. For many who don’t use the car a lot maybe only need to charge once a week sometimes even once every two weeks.
Yes it’s not as cheap as charging at home. One needs to look at the cost over the whole lease and include the AP and the savings or extra cost on fuel that any car will have over the 3 year lease.
I recently came back to the scheme and got an EV. All was good off the scheme until someone crashed into the car when parked and left the scene. So then my insurance is going to rise from that. Soon the car would of needed 2 new tyres, another service and it’s first mot. Oh yeah and the other 2 occasions I had damage fixed from people hitting the car in a carpark. That I didn’t calculate for.
You could buy used, but then that’s not new and not like on the scheme, that’s likely could be many’s best option, but not always as good and doesn’t give you the reliability of the scheme. It’s nothing new. Only we can decide what works best for us and what we can afford or justify.
Many make good points about the attack on the car, all cars by the UN and WEF etc. It’s clear that’s what the policies are achieving.
EX30 SMER Ultra
In the last few years the number of Motability customers has grown from 600 000 to 860 000. 100 000 drive electric cars. There may be only 38 of them but there are still cars that don’t require a downpayment.
Everything is more expensive and public funded money has been relatively stagnant for a decade. This was always going to put pressure on us as car prices increase beyond the rate that our monthly payment can cover. The only place to put the difference is on the AP. Then there’s the resale value, which is showing how everyone is feeling the pressure and demand on 3 year old cars is down, pushing the amount we have to fund up. EVs are struggling more than ICE but the reduced servicing costs are also helping keep the AP down as is the pressure on manufacturers and retailers to get them sold, so it’s much easier for Motability to grab a massive discount.
All this puts pressure on us to find increasing amounts of money every 3 years. For many it’s just an annoying inconvenience, but for some that pushes them either into applying for a grant or unable to continue on the scheme.
For those mentioning Tesla, the sole reason they’re not on the scheme is that the retail setup doesn’t work with the Motability requirements. Last time I looked, we’d have to have 2 trips to Bristol (160 miles each way) to test drive and then collect. If this is the choice for some, the car can’t be suitable for the scheme. Then there’s whether Motability can negotiate suitable prices to ensure the cars are not priced as ridiculously as the EV6.
The scheme will change eventually, whether that’s pushing up the lease duration as protection from depreciation (the drop from years 3-5 is significantly less than just year 1) or even adding some form of savings scheme to help us achieve increasing APs we will have to wait and see. The problem is that currently, demand is sufficient that people won’t believe there’s an issue.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
The issue over the limited choice keeps being raised so I compared a February 2020 database when there were 1985 vehicles listed to the one at the end of Quarter 2 this year 893 listed.
In 2020: 30 Manufacturers offering 155 different models
In 2025: 36 Manufacturers offering 158 different models.
In 2020 there were 50 Ford Fiesta 97 Ford Focus, 46 Seat Leon, 17 Volvo XC40.
Overall the scheme still represents good value for money, when you take everything into account, servicing, insurance, breakdown cover, cost of financing, 20k mileage allowance etc and MB’s generally relaxed approach to wear and tear.
Hi fwippers
We have both been on this scheme for many years – I have never had cause to complain – whenever there has been an issue – it has been resolved with care, quickly and professionally.
Yes the scheme has grown and has had to adapt to the times – but bottom line –
I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who asked. So I suspect we agree on that one 👍👍
@wmcforum I think you need to be more granular than that. Those numbers hide the fact that now manufacturers have even more trim levels esp in EVs where you can have trim and battery variants so what may look like loads of choice could be one actual car.
Also were now in the position where essentially the same car is produced multiple times like the Vauxhall Combo life, Citroën Berlingo and Peugeot Rifter all on the scheme all basically the same car with different styling and trim sure and there’s multiple trim levels and sizes of each.
Add on the likes of Stellantis that have the same or similar cars across lots of Marques
Try finding a decent MP now, unless you go WAV or for Berlingo type there’s nothing in any fuel.
Like the retail car market it’s not entirely motabilities fault of course.
Try a search for EV and under 25 there’s ONE at an affordable AP. There are numerous EVs aimed at young people excluded by motability as they are ONE insurance group too high inc the Dacia Spring with a 0-60 measured in hours lol
Motabilities biggest problem is they have failed to move with the times, insurance groups are going up, bhp is an irrelevant metric on EVs yet still used. They moved to DLM who are now massively putting excesses up including doubling glass.
Motability still refused to look at complaints related to their partners despite the fact we are not the customer of the RAC, DLM etc and any good organisation would want complaints thru them so they can measure them and ensure SLAs are met.
The biggest issue with Motability is like other businesses behaving in a similar way they’re owned by banks and sitting on a mountain of hold which MPs have already told them off about.
Any other industry their contract would be put out to tender, refuse collection, road maintenance, building schemes etc they’re all tendered. Motability has been allowed to operate without competition for decades this is what has made Motability fat, lazy, inflexible, greedy and taking customers for granted, well if you leave there’s plenty more will come along…..
It’s not just Motability tho, the car industry is a mess too. Stupid lead times unfinished models being launched, not being able to supply parts even Hyundai is caught up on that with the Ioniq 5 issues.
TLDR Motability needs to modernise properly and car manufacturers need to sort their crap out too
EV investment totalled £57.7m in 2024, up from £19.6m in 2023. Some £265.5m has been set aside to subsidise prices for 98,000 customers, includin free home wallbox chargers.
Today, that leaves an automatic VW Polo 1.ol Match with a downpayment of £2299 and a 170ps id3 Match £899. Yet in the “real” world, the id3 is £8000 more expensive!
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame people users who want an EV and I continue to help where wanted, but this isses me off big time…
@wmcforum I think you need to be more granular than that. Those numbers hide the fact that now manufacturers have even more trim levels esp in EVs where you can have trim and battery variants so what may look like loads of choice could be one actual car.
Thats no different to ICE Rich, where you have numerous engine variants and trim levels on the same car however, I get your point.
So what additional cars would you like to see on the scheme and why do you think there is no competition – not trying to be provocative – just trying to understand – as I’ve said my experience over nearly 20 years has always been positive.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>So what additional cars would you like to see on the scheme and why do you think there is no competition – not trying to be provocative – just trying to understand – as I’ve said my experience over nearly 20 years has always been positive.
</p>
Can, I answer thay as well mate 🙂There is no competition, because Motability is the only business of it’s kind and there is no on competing agains’t it.
Everybody has a different preferance to cars, whether it is for likes or more importantly their needs, whether they are small one’s, tall one’s, long one’s or wide one’s, petrol one’s or electric one’s and if a car isn’t on the scheme they like or is suitable or it’s out of reach financially, then there are no suitable cars. Also has pointed out by Rich, there may seem many cars on Motability , but in reality there are a lot less, because many are the same model with numerous versions 🙂
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