[Sirog]

My wife has been waiting for 9 weeks tomorrow for an answer to see if they can help her. She was told to expect around 10 weeks. Would anyone be kind enough to share there experience on how long they had to wait and what they were offered. She has worked away through quite alot of cars but only the Skoda Karoq was suitable for her to sit in.

The AP is just over £2000. Do you think they will offer the full amount of the AP or an amount towards it. This is hopefully her first motability car but none of the lower AP were suitable

 

Topic

[struth]

only experience is hearsay. they usually give you a choice but not nesessarilly what you pick.

Current Car: Hyundai Kona Premium EV...2 way 40kg hoist
Last Car: Toyota C-HR Excel Hybrid...4 way 80kg hoist

[Richums]

I applied in July and it was one day short of 13 weeks before I got a decision. The amout was £1995 and was for the car that I wanted. They asked some questions about what cars I had considered and once I explained that I had tried almost all the cars in the “Small SUV” section of the Motability website and only one was suitable, they gave me the grant amount for a base spec model of that car. I cleared it with them to add £400 myself for a better spec and that was that.

[kezo]

If you are awarded say £1500 you are allowed to top it up by 50% (£750) yourself.

They are likely to offer you 3-5 cars-what they deem fit from what you put on the application form. You are however not compelled to choose on of the cars they have listed, unless of course the car you want is on the list.

It is important to tell them your wife “has worked her way through alot of cars” and only the Karoq was suitable and pain free for her to sit in for any journey. You could also tell the grants team you have already  test drove any car that you thought fitted your needs but, you found them uncomfortable for your wife apart from the Karoq. Think on prior and be repared to be asked questions but, stick to your guns.

I received what was a basic grant (£1k) this time last year for a SUV. Given AP’s have increased the basic grant now has got to be £1500 or more, so by topping this up by 50% will see you in your chosen car. You may be lucky and get the full amount or a greater amount than I have stated, as it is on an indvidual basis and to some extent what grant manager you have.

[Sirog]

Thank you for the advice, we have genuinely been to all the dealers and sat in all the cars. The Karoq is the only one she has been able to comfortably sit in and test drive. The trim they had in was the SEL and I think the seats are different to the entry trim.

[kezo]

Sirog wrote:

Thank you for the advice, we have genuinely been to all the dealers and sat in all the cars. The Karoq is the only one she has been able to comfortably sit in and test drive. The trim they had in was the SEL and I think the seats are different to the entry trim.

The cloth covering will be different but I suspect the comfort will be the same. Comfort is also subjective, as in only you know what is comfortable for you.

You can also say, you don’t see the point having a car that isn’t suitable for your needs, that would only result in an early termination as it ouldn’t be suitable for our needs. There is also no harm asking for a little bit more so your able to add 50%.

Be firm putting your point accross, be polite at the same time.

 

[MFillingham]

It’s very much like any grant application,  if you look at it from their point of view, you need to very clearly why it is in their interest to give you more money than minimally necessary.

 

I would start off by we need a car in X category, so we went to every dealership that offered one on scheme and test drove them.  The Karoq was the only one that offered the seats that meant my wife could sit in without suffering with back issues.  The one we test drove was a higher spec than base and, in our opinion, would be the spec we would require for seat comfort, adjustibility and (pick an exclusive, convenience based feature that requires this spec, like auto tail gate…) for maximum benefit and to make the car fully suitable to both her current needs and likely degeneration of her condition over the next 3 years.

 

As said, being firm guides them to your conclusion and being polite with it increases the likelihood of them agreeing.

 

Good luck.

I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.

Mark

[Sirog]

Thank you for the good advice. What happens if they say you can have a Grant for the Karoq and the AP price in this quarter and then the AP  goes up in the next quarter. Do they give you the higher amount

[Author]

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