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Current: Chery Tiggo 8 'Summit' ICE
Previous Motability cars:
2013 Ford Focus estate auto.
2016 Vauxhal Zafira 1.4T SE Auto.
2019 Ford Kuga Vignale 1.5 auto AWD. (Ext lease)
2024 Renault Austral Iconic FHD (Early lease term.)
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I have just done this “Large” vehicle check on Motability…..i selected Large SUV and Nil advance payment Answer….No cars found. I had to go all the way upto £1500 Advance payment (which will have 20% VAT added in July) and the system came up with 1 vehicle the Jaecoo 7..you will need deep pockets to fuel that at current fuel prices.
Thanks for checking. Just as I expected. It’s also worth keeping in mind that Motability exaggerate vehicle sizes, often classifying SUVs as ‘large’ when their industry recognised segment is ‘mid-size’ or even ‘compact’.
Our previous Motability car was a BMW X1, the smallest SUV that BMW make, and they classified it as a ‘large’ SUV. I wondered what they would term the X3, X5 and X7 if they had been on the scheme. Probably ‘massive’, ‘enormous’ and ‘humongous’ 🤣
It’s worth noting that searching for SUVs will mean you’re not going to see the EV5. The biggest EV on the Scheme is classed as a ‘small hatchback’. 😳 Go figure. 🤷🏻♂️
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
It would be interesting if figures could be calculated on this forum how many people will leave the scheme that’s the only way to put pressure on Motabilty hit them in the pocket. Also with the elections coming up in Scotland and if Labour get wiped out it may put pressure on the UK government to look at how disabled people are voting.
It would be interesting if figures could be calculated on this forum how many people will leave the scheme that’s the only way to put pressure on Motabilty hit them in the pocket. Also with the elections coming up in Scotland and if Labour get wiped out it may put pressure on the UK government to look at how disabled people are voting.
I could probably live with most of it but as soon as I’m made to have a black box I’m out.
Not going to be told how to drive, not allowed to accelerate, brake or drive over an hour FFS.
Been driving since 17 (before that with my dad on disused aerodrome) and haven’t had an accident since I was 19.
It would be interesting if figures could be calculated on this forum how many people will leave the scheme that’s the only way to put pressure on Motabilty hit them in the pocket. Also with the elections coming up in Scotland and if Labour get wiped out it may put pressure on the UK government to look at how disabled people are voting.
I suspect that the overwhelming majority of customers will grumble but remain with the scheme. Also, the majority of those who actually leave will do so at lease expiry (when the changes take effect for them) rather than now. On that basis, I suspect that there will be a steady flow of departures over the next 3 years, rather than a flood now, but that the scheme will still end up with more customers in 3 years time than it had 3 years ago – when it still thrived.
I still think that the bigger impact to Motability customer numbers could be as a result of the Timms review, rather than these changes. However, restricting access to the scheme to only those with physical disabilities (as is being suggested by most political parties) is beset with difficulties and may be a step too far, even for our current government.
I suspect that Labour will dismiss their inevitable wipe-out in the May elections as “typical mid-term protest votes” which, to a degree, is true, but whether Starmer survives it remains to be seen. The vultures are circling!
I notice the language they use says larger car. Larger than what?
A Renault Clio is larger than a Citroen Ami
Looking at my Exit plan. 2 routes.
1. HP a 2022 Kona 64kw, around £11k 3 yrs with £4k down an its £230/month, just rough figures. Insurance is around £750.
2. Select leasing PCH byd seal 320/month £850 insurance.
Probs go for the kona, cheap as chips an 3 years its a trade in for next car.
The 3.8 sec Seal is only 100 more than an old Kona?? Bizarre
It would be interesting if figures could be calculated on this forum how many people will leave the scheme that’s the only way to put pressure on Motabilty hit them in the pocket. Also with the elections coming up in Scotland and if Labour get wiped out it may put pressure on the UK government to look at how disabled people are voting.
I could probably live with most of it but as soon as I’m made to have a black box I’m out. Not going to be told how to drive, not allowed to accelerate, brake or drive over an hour FFS. Been driving since 17 (before that with my dad on disused aerodrome) and haven’t had an accident since I was 19.
I expect to see an exodus following any black box introduction if/when they ever decide to Inc existing leases
just had a look on Motability and there is not really a car we like but have a year and half till we change
the Advance Payments are crazy for a car you will never own
Ford Puma
124kW Premium 47kWh 5dr Auto [Adv Driver Assist]Advance Payment: £5,145
Skoda Kodiaq
1.5 TSI iV 204 SportLine 5dr DSGAdvance Payment: £6,399
Suzuki Across
2.5 PHEV E-Four 5dr CVTAdvance Payment: £6,999
you could get a good 2nd hand car for that
@Adam Don’t forget that by far the biggest cost of a Motability car is the sacrificed benefits of £13,000 over a 3 year lease. Add that £13,000 to those APs and you can indeed buy and run an extremely nice 2nd hand car.
Also, after 3 years you won’t have to hand it back and you can use it as a very sizeable deposit on your next car or, if it’s still serving you fine, pocket the £330 (or whatever it is by then) every 4 weeks!
Even for people who like to change cars somewhat regularly, or want a new car every three years.. Private leasing in many cases already works out cheaper than MB leases.
Just had ChatGPT compare a Tesla Model 3 RWD Long Range, at national average leasing price, with national average insurance cost, against a MB vehicle at £2500 AP (which, lets be real, is nowadays actually on the lower end).
It works out £2000 cheaper than the Motability lease. Yes, Motability does include tyres and maintenance, but an EV doesn’t actually need maintenance in the first three years other than tyres (£150 a tyre if you want Michelin or Pirelli, £70 a tyre if ching long is good enough). So lets assume 6 premium tyres (because that’s what you get with MB), then you’re at £900 at most. Still £1100 saved.
Yeah, it’s still a Tesla (Tossler), but genuinely, at that price, including Supercharger access at reduced rates, even i could be convinced to drive one, despite how much i dislike the car itself (be it the door handles, the “gear lever” on the touch screen etc).
And while i haven’t checked, if you can get a decent EV for that kind of money, decent ICE vehicles should be very possible too.
In fact, for funsies, i had it run an actual comparison, the Golf 1.5 204 eTSI Match on the scheme is £7000 AP (!!!). That, in 3 years, adds up to £19.500. A private lease including insurance, same timeframe, adds up to £13.6k–£14.3k. If you require £5k worth of tyres and maintenance in three years, i don’t know what to tell you. This is real prices as to what we would pay (my insurance quote, i mean).
Motability should be ashamed to even offer these kinds of “deals” under the “all inclusive cheap motoring” umbrella. This is before they add VAT, and not even considering the fact that a new driver would even have to install spyware in the car and on his phone.
Even on 0 AP vehicles, like the Dacia Jogger 1.0, we’d get away cheaper leasing and insuring it privately (would add up to £10.444 excluding tyres over three years, as opposed to the £13k MB takes).
The one, single advantage that MB has is that you don’t need good credit. Which makes them, in my view, predatory. I’d assume quite a few people don’t have the choice to lease privately (or finance a used car etc) due to their credit score. MB is seriously starting to look like they’re exploiting the desperation of a large part of the disabled community by charging them MORE (despite getting the car cheaper) than they’d pay privately.
Yes, yes. Convenience. Not sure how convenient weekly calls to MB are trying to explain as to why you got a red score by the App for driving the wrong way around through a one way street that it falsely identified as such (happens en masse).
We probably have one of the last decent deals through the scheme, if nothing changes in the future (quite monumentally, too) then this is also our last car through the scheme. And i’d suggest to everyone who is able to, to at least browse the private market for an hour or two to just get an idea as to how expensive the scheme really has become.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.As I always buy our private cars (new or used), I never really look at leasing companies, but it’s interesting to see how it’s relatively easy now to beat Motability, especially when other leasing companies don’t benefit from the 20% VAT exemption that Motability enjoys.
I know that one or two folk are dismissive when many of us bang on about the excessive pay and benefits at all levels in Motability Operations, but you don’t have to be a mathematical genius or business expert to work out that these two issues are linked. The fact that Motability benefit from an additional 20% saving (over and above the huge discounts that they negotiate) allows them to pay well ahead of sector average – a choice that they make rather than passing on this saving to customers.
I appreciate that not everyone is in a position to buy, but there are even bigger savings out there for those who can. I negotiated a 16% discount on an ICE car and had I wanted an EV I would have been looking at 20-25%.
Of course the best value of all is to be had for those who buy used, which is what we would have done had we not been eligible for VAT exemption on a new car purchase. Together with the VED exemption and discount negotiated, I got 40% off the new price, which effectively meant being able to buy a new car at a used price, but if we hadn’t been eligible for all the relief I would have bought a used car without hesitation.
Hmm, it is starting to look more and more like its better to buy a used car. For £21k I could get a really decent Celica GT4 or an Audi RS or M3 or M5. I know what I’d rather have compared to the cars available on the scheme. I would probably have to borrow money off my mum, but there are some pretty decent cars available for £2-3k and most modern cars are pretty reliable.
There’s a garage near me that lets me bring in my own parts and then fits them for me, so I can buy the parts online.
Its a bit annoying that I made a claim on insurance because the front collision sensor stopped working on my previous lease car, I guess a rock or phasant hit it, so I’ll only have 3 years no claims by the time my lease runs out. If I had known I wouldn’t have bothered claiming and would have just taken the potential hit on the GCB. But the power of hindsight.
The one big question mark around private leasing/PCP etc is that off whether or not we have spare cash if for example PIP were to be lost or reduced after a review. I am currently in the review stage so am holding off making any decisions until I know that my renewal is completed and how many years for. Of course as we know the other additional cost for some is adaptions which could add a considerable amount to the initial cost.
@Joe I had to make a claim 4 years ago (the first in 30 years) and when we decided to leave Motability I was concerned about the impact that this would have on insurance. I needn’t have worried.
Even though we cannot claim any ‘No Claims’ discount having been Motability customers, you can still input driving experience and claims history and it seems to give you the same sort of discount as No Claims Bonus would. As long as you have at least a full year claim free that gives you the initial big discount, with each year beyond that adding smaller amounts of discount. If you end up going down that route I hope that you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
It would be interesting if figures could be calculated on this forum how many people will leave the scheme that’s the only way to put pressure on Motabilty hit them in the pocket. Also with the elections coming up in Scotland and if Labour get wiped out it may put pressure on the UK government to look at how disabled people are voting.
I think it will be playing into the hands of the Government if a section of the Motability customers leave, As there are two parts of the Governments intervention into this so-called Independent Operation, for the first time in nearly 50 years of a Government publicly and openly dictating to Motability.
1. The Government needs to reduce the welfare budget with the support of the general voting public and opposition parties.
2. What better perception as to be seen to do it and by showing it’s effort’s than by reducing the number of Motability cars on the road, which will please most of the general public/voters.
As for the Motability CEO, he will merely trim his staff if needed and simply move on to be the CEO of another company, as all CEO’s do, having been seen to be a success. I don’t remember him saying that he or his staff’s conditions or finances were going to take a hit. only us.
A lot of us will not have the option to leave Motability, making it look as if Motability is only giving (free) cars to the severely disabled who really need them. Now is that really going to be a vote loser with most voters other than us.
I know the mileage reduction is very unpopular with some but I understand the need for it, the sell on value of the car with -30k miles is significant. I can even understand the AP rise. The removal of premium brands made absolutely no sense but for me the redline will be if the drivesmart device is forced on everyone. I absolutely refuse to have one and they will have the car straight back.
The point isn’t to make a profit tho. Also making the excess mileage 500% higher is inexcusable too.
The point isn’t just these changes the point is they are demanding “we” all feel the pain yet there’s ZERO evidence of wage constraints at MB. Andrew Miller is on £924,000 plus bonuses that’s not far off 9 times the Prime Minister’s salary FFS. Add on the rest of the board then some of the other wages are well above average too. We have to tighten our belts, they should lead by example, no?
As I said before setting that mileage at 25p is not a cost that’s deliberately punitive.
Also this new mileage business under extremely limited situations. Do that means having to go to them explaining every last trip why it was necessary all to an unqualified phone person and I’m bloody fed up with it. I just had to do an 12 page form plus a 4 page application plus all my medical records to the council for a blue badge (no it can’t be passported via pip long story) same to the DWP usually followed by dealing with a physiotherapist doing an assessment, as well as being told I’m not disabled enough by Nimbus despite everything so have to argue with them despite having 3 previous renewals.
I’m sick to death of these places demanding every last piece of personal information I’d like some privacy and dignity and not have to go crawling off like some kind of old ugly disabled Oliver Twist “Please sir can I have some more miles”
Let’s not forget pip also went up by a healthy amount this month multiply that by 838,000 it’s a fair increase.
The early termination fee is £250 is that correct? After July VAT will push it up to £300?
Still, to get rid if the car, not bothered about the gcb either.
The point isn’t to make a profit tho. Also making the excess mileage 500% higher is inexcusable too.
And I wrongly thought the purpose of Motability is to allow physically disabled members of the society to join the workforce and contribute to our once great country.
Higher mileage – more opportunities. More opportunities – higher taxes and more contribution back. In my case it’s 95 miles round trip to the office on a motorway. Much quicker than a tube in London.
Sent from a mobile device.
Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer - Ombudsman pending)
Motability Mazda CX-60 PHEV July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)Someone on one of the Facebook motability groups commented that if you don’t break the rules then you have nothing to worry about with Drivesmart.
Well my car has a habit of randomly braking when on cruise, so that would probably be marked as erractic braking and says the wrong speed limit on a couple of roads where I l live. I even read someone’s son had their lease cancelled for doing 70 in a 30. It turns out that they were on a motaway and the road that runs parrallel was a 30. The decision was rescinded when they proved they weren’t speeding on their dashcam.
Life’s too short to be spending hours on the phone speaking to motability each week attempting to prove that the drivesmart data was wrong
I don’t understand why they thought black boxes would be a good idea, I’d pay extra just not to have one.
im due to change vehicle before the changes but I think this will be my last car on the scheme.
Us people with disabilities just have to get what we are given according to some and I sick of it. All these changes just to appease these people is a joke.
Someone on one of the Facebook motability groups commented that if you don’t break the rules then you have nothing to worry about with Drivesmart.
One of the goody two shoes targeted for carrying out the survey
or
A Motability employee in disguise!
The early termination fee is £250 is that correct? After July VAT will push it up to £300? Still, to get rid if the car, not bothered about the gcb either.
Correct mate!
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