I am so relieved that I am no longer the only person correcting the hogwash that people get told by so many dealers that “they only get a handling fee” for Motability sales! As has been mentioned by several others, whilst it is true that the only direct payment from Motability is a handling fee (although they get additional fees for dealing with returned cars), Motability orders count towards their targets and therefore help to generate bonuses and discount percentages, all of which can add up to a very tidy sum. This is why some dealers will offer discounts off APs that are in excess of the handling fee and yet they still make a handsome profit.
As for service from dealers, I have found it to vary enormously. Heritage VW in both Bristol and Gloucester were awful. Marshall Volkswagen in Didcot were better, but still not great. Dick Lovett BMW in Bristol have been absolutely brilliant, but that may be because I know the salesperson having bought cars there privately. Berkeley Vale Hyundai in Thornbury (near Bristol) have been excellent with two private new car purchases that I’ve made there for one of my daughters and were initially helpful with a Motability enquiry, but seem to have forgotten that they were meant to get back to me about a test drive!