I’ve heard a similar statistic but struggle to believe it. When my wife first became eligible for the higher rate mobility element, the letter confirming it included a leaflet saying that she was also eligible to join the Motability scheme. This came as a complete surprise to us as it was not on our radar at all when filling in the forms. There will no doubt be countless reasons why only around one third of those eligible actually join the scheme, but I maintain that the biggest single reason is most likely that when the average car our roads is 9 years old, sacrificing a minimum of £18k over 3 years to have a new one would seem a luxury that most would not, or could not, entertain.
Agreed on both parts.
There is also the fact, that a certain amount, will opt to use a taxi or have food delivered etc, and have no real use for a car, due to individidual circumstances.
I also wonder if the cost of living, has had an influence on the increase in numbers using the scheme and whether this will fall at a later date.