Hi Chris
Not unusual to get throbbed off by dealers as you will see many threads in here about that and as for waiting for the renewal notice from Motability that’s a load of hogwash because once you have that letter that’s the time you can order a car but you of course need to know if the car is suitable for your needs long before that.
My change over is October next year and can order at the end of July 21 but I will be out looking at car by next Spring for sure though I add I can’t test drive because the cars needs adaptions but I will be in showrooms sitting and fiddling with them.
Alway a good idea to play the two dealers game.