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Hi All, And a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year (we can but hope) š
We received an email from MB the yesterday inviting us to extend our lease for a further 2 years. It went some where along the lines of ‘a lot of people ordered MB cars 3 yrs ago and we are selecting certain customers to extend their lease’.
Anyone else had the same email?
We will be looking with interest at tomorrows listing and if crap then extending.
Good wishes and seasons greetings and all the rest of that crap š
Grinch.
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Thanks for posting. This is very encouraging. Whilst Iām not a fan of lease extensions, if someone has a car that they love and is now unable to get anything that they are happy with, a 2 year extension will be welcome news, as it will delay the hit of the governments adverse changes to the Motability scheme for another couple of years. Hopefully they will still allow those who extend to change at any time within the 2 years, should a car that they would like should suddenly appear.
This is great news, fingers crossed i get that same email in 6 months as i would love to keep my Ioniq 6 its been the best car i have leased so far.
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Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate trim
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Loves 3D printing & Plastic model kits
----------------------------Hi All, And a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year (we can but hope)
We received an email from MB the yesterday inviting us to extend our lease for a further 2 years. It went some where along the lines of āa lot of people ordered MB cars 3 yrs ago and we are selecting certain customers to extend their leaseā. Anyone else had the same email? We will be looking with interest at tomorrows listing and if crap then extending. Good wishes and seasons greetings and all the rest of that crap Grinch.How many miles have your vehicle covered, did you pay a high AP ?
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally I get confused and often say the wrong thing.
How does Motability know how many miles your car has done ?
Servicing and MOT probably.
I have ASD and thus have difficulty with social and understanding information, written and verbal. I process information in logical blocks, before I reply. Sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong.
I also have a corneal visual condition, which makes me visually impaired without daytime, or daytime bulbs, among other disabilities/conditions.How does Motability know how many miles your car has done ?
Servicing and MOT probably.
Extensions only happen probably in the 3 months leading up to the current lease expiring at 3 years and MOT only happens at 3 years too , my cars servicing schedule happens at 24 months i gather that time frame is common with other manufacturers….. only the “op” knows the answer.
Hi,
3900 after 3 years and AP of Ā£3480 if I remember rightly. Still no sign of anything that we would want coming onto the scheme so extension next week :). Yes we can change at any time in the extension period should a Range Rover become available. Should pigs fly š Failing that, quite happy to sit by and watch the world go by. So far so good said the falling man š
Which, as suspected, suggests the “customers they are selecting” for an extension invitation are only those who have done a very low 3 year mileage.
How does Motability know how many miles your car has done ?
Servicing and MOT probably.
Extensions only happen probably in the 3 months leading up to the current lease expiring at 3 years and MOT only happens at 3 years too , my cars servicing schedule happens at 24 months i gather that time frame is common with other manufacturersā¦.. only the āopā knows the answer.
I had my MOT reminder between Christmas and New year. It’s been booked in and done now. My 3 month window doesn’t open till a week tomorrow. Servicing is when ever they send a letter or email to me.
I have ASD and thus have difficulty with social and understanding information, written and verbal. I process information in logical blocks, before I reply. Sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong.
I also have a corneal visual condition, which makes me visually impaired without daytime, or daytime bulbs, among other disabilities/conditions.How does Motability know how many miles your car has done ?
Servicing and MOT probably.
Extensions only happen probably in the 3 months leading up to the current lease expiring at 3 years and MOT only happens at 3 years too , my cars servicing schedule happens at 24 months i gather that time frame is common with other manufacturersā¦.. only the āopā knows the answer.
I had my MOT reminder between Christmas and New year. Itās been booked in and done now. My 3 month window doesnāt open till a week tomorrow. Servicing is when ever they send a letter or email to me.
Is your car older than 3 years ? are you into an extension period with your car ? I’m confused with what you said previously.
I ask because you say that your car has had its MOT done now..yet your 3 month window does not open until next week.
New cars that are coming upto 3 years old can have their “first” MOT done one month minus a day before the 3rd year anniversary date.
Hi, 3900 after 3 years and AP of Ā£3480 if I remember rightly. Still no sign of anything that we would want coming onto the scheme so extension next week :). Yes we can change at any time in the extension period should a Range Rover become available. Should pigs fly
Failing that, quite happy to sit by and watch the world go by. So far so good said the falling man Your mileage at 3900 miles is incredibly low, I can understand why they have contacted you and offered an extension. I originally assumed they were targeting those who have received a grant and wished to avoid offering Ā another grant.
At present my mileage ia at approximately 17500 my opening window is not until early May 4 months away were I will be nearer the 20,000 miles mark, I doubt they will be emailing me for a 2 year extension.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally I get confused and often say the wrong thing.
I too had a email offering an extension just after the MOT (less than 5000 miles total)
āWeāre inviting a small number of selected customers to apply for a lease extension on your current Motability Scheme vehicle.ā
They then rang me yesterday desperately trying to persuade me extend now, even if I go on to order a new vehicle before current lease ends in March. They were very keen so must be profitable for them on very low mileage cars.
From Motability website ..
āWhen do I need an MOT?
If your car is on a standard three-year lease it will need an MOT test before you can hand it back. You can do this in the last three months of your lease.ā
I too had a email offering an extension just after the MOT (less than 5000 miles total) āWeāre inviting a small number of selected customers to apply for a lease extension on your current Motability Scheme vehicle.ā They then rang me yesterday desperately trying to persuade me extend now, even if I go on to order a new vehicle before current lease ends in March. They were very keen so must be profitable for them on very low mileage cars.
Itās always worth accepting an extension, even if you are thinking of changing the car. The good thing about Motability extensions is that you arenāt tied into a fixed period. You can extend today and still order a new car at any time within the extension period, including the day after you extend! With all the negative changes coming our way from July, you would also be able (if you wished) to defer the hit for up to two years.
However, I donāt know your circumstances or where you live, but doing just 5,000 miles in 3 years would make me seriously question whether having a Motability car was a sensible use of money. Even if your car had zero AP, its cost you almost Ā£2.50 a mile to run it. Add in an AP and that cost goes up even more.
I have posted previously that I requested a lease extension last November, maybe for 6 months or the full 2 years and was refused. Just told they were not doing extensions anymore.
On my fourth Qashqai, lease ending March 6th, 15000 miles, all cars returned with less than 23000 miles in excellent condition.
Motability said I could order a new car up to the end of lease date, and keep the current one until delivery.
New Nissan Qashqai Epower with updated engine has the same AP as before Christmas. With a retail price Ā£38850 for the n connector.
Currently looking to leave the scheme, and buy a āPrestigeā car like the Audi Q3 (which was taken off the scheme), new S-Line cars available on Autotrader from Ā£39000.
Taking the Qashqai to Nissan for MOT, then I will do my evaluation of the motoring costs of the Audi against another Motability car.
Only requirement is a boot size of at least 480l for daughter wheelchair etc.
Considered you are signing up to a lease with Motability, were they can apply certain restrictions to some people, but not to everyone, and seem to make things up as they go along doesnāt seem correct to me, but I have enjoyed reading the various comments on this forum, and will continue to do so in the future.
I hope everyone on Motability gets whatever they need to meet their requirements, extensions etc.@chastw If you are considering buying a new Audi, I strongly advise configuring the car on Drive the Deal and seeing what discount is offered for main dealer factory ordered brand new cars to your exact specification (Audi is one of just half a dozen manufacturers that they work with). You can then go to your local Audi dealer and ask them to match it (or get very close). I am currently discussing a possible new vehicle purchase with my BMW dealer and, having adopted this approach, I am discussing discounts between Ā£12-16k (albeit itās a more expensive car than a Q3).
I donāt know the detail of your daughters disability, but if she is a full time wheelchair user and she also needs a āpermanent and substantialā adaptation (for example, we have to have a person hoist to get my wife in and out of the car) then, in addition to any negotiated discount, you can also get VAT exemption on the full retail price of the vehicle, including optional extras. This VAT exemption continues throughout the time you have the car for things like servicing and maintenance. Also, as you are eligible for a Motability car, you donāt pay Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax), including the exorbitant first year rate (showroom tax) or the over Ā£40k premium (luxury car tax).
As a combined result of all of the above things, I am looking at a potential cost saving (versus a retail customer with no VAT / VED exemption and not having negotiated a discount) of up to 35%. Added to the Ā£12k sacrificed benefits (plus AP) that we currently pay to Motability, the first 3 years depreciation is pretty much wiped out, by which time we can either start again with another new car, or keep the car that we already own outright.
In July when the VAT is added and further restriction applied the lease scheme will be exposed to external competition and to a more level playing field rather than a monopoly. At the moment they are only experimenting and gauging the response, may be we see the trial Ā being extended further to 10,000 to 15,000 miles vehicles.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally I get confused and often say the wrong thing.
From Motability website .. āWhen do I need an MOT? If your car is on a standard three-year lease it will need an MOT test before you can hand it back. You can do this in the last three months of your lease.ā
Interesting the email at 3 months before lease end because my mind was set on extending by 2 years then seen all the things about no extension that MB seem to be pushing too as it appeared not to be hear-say.
On day 90 before my lease end I had an email from MB telling me to get the car MOT that I thought strange as I canāt recall ever being told to MOT a car so early. So I wonder if extension are linked to the MOT taking place and MB make a decision on how the dealer says the condition of the car is in.
For myself looking for a new car is a nightmare as a disabled driver who cannot test drive and Iāve done so much research last Summer with the demise of my current car on the horizon Iāve put an order in for a new car now so water under the bridge as they say and with the charlady bleeding us dry Iām so glad now that I have.
Thank you for the information, I have read with interest your posts in the past regarding you purchasing a BMW, and are aware of the benefits you can apply.
My daughter is severely disabled and needs 24hr care but does not require a wheelchair full time. I know I can get a VED exemption certificate, as I have already contacted the PIP people. I have got a letter for no claims benefit from Direct Line Motability Insurance.
The problem with the new shape Q3 is they are only just coming in to the dealers, if they are advertised on Autotrader with a stock picture, they are not at the dealers. Plenty are due in the next two to three weeks. Thatās why I wanted a lease extension to give me flexibility.
I will have a look at Drive the Deal, and have used Carlow but prices are no different to Autotrader.
Going to be an interesting 6 weeks. Cheers for the information, much appreciated.
Hi, 3900 after 3 years and AP of Ā£3480 if I remember rightly. Still no sign of anything that we would want coming onto the scheme so extension next week :). Yes we can change at any time in the extension period should a Range Rover become available. Should pigs fly
Failing that, quite happy to sit by and watch the world go by. So far so good said the falling man Your mileage at 3900 miles is incredibly low, I can understand why they have contacted you and offered an extension. I originally assumed they were targeting those who have received a grant and wished to avoid offering another grant. At present my mileage ia at approximately 17500 my opening window is not until early May 4 months away were I will be nearer the 20,000 miles mark, I doubt they will be emailing me for a 2 year extension.
Cheers GG,
I take your point 100% but we just like that ‘new car smell’ and trouble free motoring. Horses for courses and all that nonsense.
Just extended for another 2 years and very happy about it due to the rubbish choice.
Hopefully something worth ‘going for’ will come onto the scheme in the next 2 years… if not, we will probably leave.
Hey, 24 months, anything can happen, right? š
P.
@HammerHead As I said earlier, with the way that the scheme is declining (and with worse to come from July), if people have a car that they are happy with, and Motability will allow an extension, then itās a sensible idea, as it also defers all the forthcoming adverse changes for another 2 years.
However, you have paid Ā£15,500 to travel those 3,900 miles (a whopping Ā£4 a mile) and the next 2 years will cost you another Ā£8,000 on top of that. I wouldnāt call that trouble free motoring! Maybe some air fresheners that smell like a new car could be a solution, and be around Ā£23,495 cheaper šš
How does Motability know how many miles your car has done ?
Servicing and MOT probably.
Extensions only happen probably in the 3 months leading up to the current lease expiring at 3 years and MOT only happens at 3 years too , my cars servicing schedule happens at 24 months i gather that time frame is common with other manufacturersā¦.. only the āopā knows the answer.
I had my MOT reminder between Christmas and New year. Itās been booked in and done now. My 3 month window doesnāt open till a week tomorrow. Servicing is when ever they send a letter or email to me.
Is your car older than 3 years ? are you into an extension period with your car ? Iām confused with what you said previously. I ask because you say that your car has had its MOT done now..yet your 3 month window does not open until next week. New cars that are coming upto 3 years old can have their āfirstā MOT done one month minus a day before the 3rd year anniversary date.
My lease doesn’t end till middle of April 2026.
My QQ has done 21.5k mi.I’ve had an email from Motability, telling me that it’s 3 months before my lease ends, and I should start to look at new cars. If I wish to continue with Motability.
No extension invite for me.
I have ASD and thus have difficulty with social and understanding information, written and verbal. I process information in logical blocks, before I reply. Sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong.
I also have a corneal visual condition, which makes me visually impaired without daytime, or daytime bulbs, among other disabilities/conditions.I do not think it matters to Motability if customers leave the scheme. If I remember correctly, about 2 years ago, the motability numbers just passed 700K, and now its something like 900K.
The more customers the more support staff they have to employ and the overheads grow. Now the company is not profitable, they will cut costs, less customers, less overheads, and a ton of cars being sold off that will generate income.
Motability did send me a customer satisfaction survey, I told them the truth
The car is outstanding, the scheme is brilliant, its so easy.
Then I said I was looking to leave the scheme because of affordability and looking at alternative leasing options for my next vehicle
I do not think they will care, the scheme has grown too big to be manageable.
Hopefully it will improve over the next 6 months, and the AP,S become reasonable, I will not hold my breath..
I do not think it matters to Motability if customers leave the scheme. If I remember correctly, about 2 years ago, the motability numbers just passed 700K, and now its something like 900K. The more customers the more support staff they have to employ and the overheads grow. Now the company is not profitable, they will cut costs, less customers, less overheads, and a ton of cars being sold off that will generate income. Motability did send me a customer satisfaction survey, I told them the truth The car is outstanding, the scheme is brilliant, itās so easy. Then I said I was looking to leave the scheme because of affordability and looking at alternative leasing options for my next vehicle I do not think they will care, the scheme has grown too big to be manageable. Hopefully it will improve over the next 6 months, and the AP,S become reasonable, I will not hold my breath..
Motability are still (and have always been) profitable. The ālossesā reported over the last 2 financial years werenāt losses as weād understand them. They were primarily down to asset write downs as a result of the post Covid re-balancing of residual values (when they were Ā era high due to problems with new vehicle supply) and their increased exposure to EV residual values, which remain severely depressed. On an operating level they were still profitable and continue to make a profit of many hundreds of pounds per lease, hence the bonuses that they still paid out.
I agree that Motability wonāt bat an eyelid when individually we call them to say that we want to leave (I will find out for myself in a few months when we do the same), but they will probably be anxious about the Timms review next year. If (and itās a big if), the review succumbs to the calls from Reform UK, the Conservatives and some within Labour (as well as most of the media and general public – if you believe the online commentary) and restricts access to the scheme to those with physical disabilities only, then the scheme will gradually revert to the size that it was a few years back before mental health conditions were reclassified as disabilities. However, the scheme was still very profitable then and will be again.
There are two areas where I donāt share your optimism. Firstly, Iām not convinced that Motability will trim the fat (if scheme members fall) for two reasons. Theyāve never attempted to be more disciplined with things like pay and remuneration before and, for as long as they have been able to get away with charging the APs that they do, they have maintained their gold plated pay and benefits packages at all levels within the organisation (way above other call centre operations). Also, Iām pretty sure that they havenāt increased staff numbers in line with the growth in scheme members in recent years, so I donāt think that it necessarily follows that they will need to cut staff if customer numbers gradually fall over time. They may just do what many businesses do and just gradually reduce numbers through natural turnover.
Secondly, you most certainly donāt want to be holding your breath for APs to fall over the next 6 months, as you will definitely suffocate š The simple reason is that the Labour governmentās decision to charge Motability customers VAT on APs and Insurance Premium Tax on the whole lease comes into effect in July. Motability have already gone on the record to state that these changes will add around Ā£300-400 per lease.
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