[Angus]

Hi.

I have been fortunate to be awarded a grant for a car and have successfully ordered one. But the process made me wonder.

Obviously we are all too aware of the huge AP rises recently (vauxhall astra for 7k anyone?) but have the grants been increased as well to reflect that? I was somewhat forced into a rather poor choice of cars, but I am content with the outcome (and I must say how incredible the team at the grants office has been to me).

However, my choices were three possible cars, all with APs over 1.5k. There are so few automatics, and hybrids are financially out of the question.

If the grant limits had been raised in line with the AP rise then there would have been a better choice, obviously.

It’s not a moan, just wondering.

Topic

[Richard]

Interesting question. I didn’t even get that far the woman I spoke to was incredibly horrible. I was only after relative peanuts for an EV as and this was 18 months ago I couldn’t afford fuel.

They said I couldn’t specify a fuel source & I’d get what I was given, when I said so you’d be happy to put a car on the drive that couldn’t be used because I can’t put fuel in it they said, yes!

So I borrowed the money at whatever ungodly rate it was & paid it off as quickly as possible instead. So glad I did as obviously since then fuel prices went nuts.

There seems to be some real differences in experiences of customers applying for grants. Some have a good experience others not so much. Always good to hear of people getting a good result though.

[Dante]

I went through the grants process last year – I had also made it clear my needs and what helps make using a car accessible, comfortable and best for my disabilities etc…

i had done my research – long lost test drives, then extended test drives in my 3 shortlisted & best suited SUVs

I gave all that information to the grants team but there policy is to put forward 3 possible vehicles that they seem suitable – even though they don’t know me and my needs nor indeed did they take nitycs of my comprehensive review of why my top 3 were best suited to my needs.

the 3 cars they suggested to me were on my long list but didn’t make my shortlist .

 

it’s a very bizarre set up – almost as unfathomable as how they arrive at APs!!!!

whilst I think the grant scheme is an excellent idea and beneficial to many, like the scheme it’s self – they both need to be more transparent and ‘fit for purpose’

 

whilst we used even closer to less than 500 vehicles available (across maybe 85 vehicles models) I bet that motsbility operations have cut their staff or bonuses

know that they have been called into governments before and had to give evidence  but little  action or change came if that & probably more to do with the big banks that bankrole the scheme & make huge profits against our money we pay in APs and monthly payments.

[Angus]

@Richard

Sorry about your experience, but as you say every case is different.

[Angus]

@dante

Agreed. But what about the issue of ap rises versus grants?

[kezo]

I wanted to go with a grant last year. Like you @dante I shotlisted a couple for my needs, yet it seemed the grants department understood my needs better than me!

[Angus]

@kezo

And I am sorry about your experience as well.

 

But I am sure there have been many discussions about grants, successes and failures. I dont want repeat that.

What I am asking is specifically, why have the grant limits not increased in line with the APs? Eg, a car with an AP last year of, say £1500, and a grant would cover that. But that car now has an AP of £3500, the grant won’t cover it. And on top of that, there is the understandable stipulation that a user may only add up to 50% of that figure on top.

If you were priced out before, a grant could help you (depending on your circumstances). But now if you are priced out, a grant may be unlikely to even make a scratch.

So, back to the question. The grant limits last year are the same as this year. The APs most certainly are not. Shouldn’t this be a major issue? Or, honestly, am I missing something?

[kezo]

Angus wrote:

@kezo And I am sorry about your experience as well. But I am sure there have been many discussions about grants, successes and failures. I dont want repeat that. What I am asking is specifically, why have the grant limits not increased in line with the APs? Eg, a car with an AP last year of, say £1500, and a grant would cover that. But that car now has an AP of £3500, the grant won’t cover it. And on top of that, there is the understandable stipulation that a user may only add up to 50% of that figure on top. If you were priced out before, a grant could help you (depending on your circumstances). But now if you are priced out, a grant may be unlikely to even make a scratch. So, back to the question. The grant limits last year are the same as this year. The APs most certainly are not. Shouldn’t this be a major issue? Or, honestly, am I missing something?

What have they offered you? I was offered £550 before xmas and £999  after, yet there are some on here who have received £2k. You can add 50% to what they offer yourself. In the end I told them I understand ur needs more than you and the car that fitted the bill was just over 2K. In the end they offered me the £999 and allowed me to put the rest myself.

Yes grants do go up but and a big but to the cheapest class of vehicle you want that is on the scheme. Hence why I was offered more after xmas withq1 prices.

[Angus]

Kezo. What I am saying is that although everyone’s cases are unique, there are caps on the grants. They cannot offer more than the caps. So for eg, if the cap on the AP of a large vehicle was 2k, but all the large vehicles had shot up recently (like all the cars have) and the lowest was 2.5k, then even if a grant was given you would still need to find 500.

But if the only suitable car was now 4k, then the grant is useless. Bear in mind that they are means tested, so if you could actually afford that extra 2k  then you would not get a grant in the first place.

Now, you have to rule out a plug in hybrid coz there are only 15, lowest AP 1.3k, next up 3.7k.

You rule out evs because you have no way to charge at home. And diesel is no good because of the type of journeys you take, it’ll screw the engine. Suvs are out because of height, say.

You need an auto, and you need a car that can handle wheelchair etc, so an estate or mpv (7 or 8 seater is no good.). There are 18 cars available, only two of which are under 2k. Taking one example only, the golf estate 1.0 etsi life… a seriously unimpressive and inadequate car. The AP is £3749.

Now, I do not know what that car cost previously, but I think I can remember that the golf gtd or gte was a fraction of that amount until recently, so I can only assume this version would have been far cheaper. (I expect there are people who can look it up.)

But the grant cap on that type of vehicle has not increased. So whereas before a grant could have helped, now it would not.

Please this is only a random example but it is just to illustrate my point.

Sorry, I do go on a bit.

[Author]

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