Here is my experience as a newbie, ordered first car and within 3 days all checks were done with motability, there is somewhere on the website of motability that you can check your application status.
personally I wondered about finance, and it still crosses my mind if I should do it as you will still not pay for tax as you get a exemption from this, but all running and repair costs are then down on you.
I suppose it’s down to preference but with motability you get a generous mileage cap, servicing also done, insurance paid for, and repairs I think as long as the repairs are not at the fault of someone driving like Micheal Schumacher?