Thanks to @Abercol for the direct number. Maybe it’s because I’m a man and never look properly for anything that I couldn’t find it before….
So, the process:
I had to go back to the dealer and ask them to put me down as a named driver (just my mother in law was, as I couldn’t be added before), that way Motability had a record of me against the new car
Get through to the DVLA – dozens of attempts before I got anything other than the busy signal, then on hold for 30 minutes, but I eventually got to speak to a human. I asked them to give Motability to check my licence. The window lasts five days and can only be used once.
Call Motability and tell them I’ve given DVLA permission for Motability to check my licence
Order goes through! Yeehaw!! Or it would be….
Somehow the process of adding me as a driver meant the order was updated to the new price of 999 instead of 499. Once the dealer realised the issues though, between them and Motability they’re honouring the original price without having to ask.
And to top it off, DVLA finally got around to sending me for my eye test which I passed yesterday! So I should get my licence back in the next couple of weeks or so.