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I’m looking at getting another car on the scheme after about a 1-year break. I currently have use of an MG HS but need to be able to transport 2 folded electric wheelchairs at times which, for however decent the HS’s boot is, does not currently work without folding down the back seats, and this unfortunately is not a viable option.
Hence, I’ve been looking at a lot of 7 seat options as they often have the boot space but the car I’ve found to be pretty spot on – fold flat 3rd row, 800+ litres of boot space, large enough boot to fit equipment needed plus luggage/shopping, high enough off the ground that my knees and back don’t hurt getting in, spacious cabin (front and 2nd rows), electric tailgate, and, best of all, diesel (at least, not electric) – is the Skoda Kodiaq. Understandably Motability Foundation don’t want to fork out between 3.5 and 4k in an AP grant but none of the four options they’ve given me are at all suitable and I can’t find another car that is. The Citroën Berlingo 5 Seat Diesel would be an option (though not one given to me) if only the tailgate weren’t so heavy and/or were electric. I tested one out today and had to almost wrestle with it to get it down.
To my main point, I previously had an MG ZS EV which I did thoroughly love driving but charging wise was an absolute nightmare. I moved about a year after getting the car so even though I had a chargepoint at home I couldn’t have one at the new address which meant I resorted to 3-pin charging (not good long term, apparently) and chargepoints en route. Charging at home got me into a lot of debt as I couldn’t check what I was using or when and it was just harder for me to manage than a petrol or diesel car due to the way my disabilities affect me.
You can see, I hope, why I really don’t want to go back to having an electric car unless I absolutely have to (when motability inevitably decide that all they’ll offer is EVs, I imagine).
Am I fighting a losing battle? I know they seem keen to push EVs but there’s no way I could cope. I returned the ZS because I knew I couldn’t keep on top of it anymore and since I’ve had use of the MG HS I’ve been able to catch up a little bit and stay on top of my fuel costs and my budget in general.
For reference, I was offered the 7 Seat Citroën E-Berlingo, 7 Seat Vauxhall Combo Life, and Dacia Jogger Auto HEV Expression & Extreme options. The latter being unsuitable due to the height of the cabin, I cannot get in and out without being in pain nor can my, also disabled, passenger. This is all ignoring the fact that I have to find some way of storing the 3rd row of seats from all of these vehicles to be able to get the equipment into them.
Sorry if I’ve just given you a lot of waffle you don’t need, I think I’m just a little stressed and upset because while I know they really want me to compromise (and some would probably say I should) where do I find that compromise? What matters more? Not being in a ton more debt or not being in a lot of pain?
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Also one car that might be worth keeping an eye out for release is the dacia Bigster their cheeper attempt to take on the kodiaq ect , May acctuly be within the realms of affordability being a purchase rather than motability 😂. Supposedly they will start around 20k so don’t give up hope , if it’s anything like the jogger will be plenty big enough although dacias are quite basic it may not have an option of electric boot . Ap should be cheaper as it’s a budget car but won’t know till its officially unveiled next month might even get on the scheme before q4 ends but who knows.
i hope this dosen’t come accross in the wrong way.
take a deep breath, sit down and write out your case as you have stated, calmly explain as you have above why you have come to the conclusions you have and ask them to reconsider the vehicle you think fits your needs and why. i know its difficult not to get stressed and emotional we’ve all been there at times.
you’ve nothing to lose the worst they can say is no.
but take your time and maybe get someone to look it over for you before you send it.
i would always do this in writing rather than over the phone as if like me you can get flusstered or side tracked.
good luck
never accept their first answer—unless its better than you asked for!
I thought I would jump on here to also discuss an experience I have had today with 2 members of customer service team and a case manager.
The first case manager called me today to discuss options. I was calm and explained that my situation is that I can’t have an EV vehicle as I have no where to charge it. I live in a terraced on street home and the council won’t allow chargers across the path. Once I explained this she told me I could charge the vehicle at Aldi down the road. This is not a fats charging point but apparently this is totally acceptable to them as a ways and means to excuse giving me a grant towards a ICE car. I explained to her that if I could have an EV vehicle I absolutely would. I don’t care. But I need car that in all circumstances is ready to use. This would not be the case as I have no charging points in walking distance. The nearest is 2 miles away. She explained that they would have to mark a decision and gave me an award to look at 2 cars and to wait to hear from the EV team.
I called the dealerships and only 1 of the cars was still available on the scheme. After taking to the dealership of the available car they advised an EV car would not be suitable for me due to my disability needs and availability of charging points.
I proceeded to call the Motability team again, hoping for some clarity. I explained that the dealership had advised against an EV car for me due to my disabilities and lack of local charging infrastructure. Instead of a helpful solution, I was met with absolute disbelief. The customer service representative basically brushed me off, saying that I could just fund a vehicle myself if I didn’t like the options they were giving me. Fund it myself? The whole point of this scheme is to support disabled individuals like me. It’s completely insulting and dismissive.
I cannot believe that this is how Motability treats people in need of a suitable vehicle. It’s disgusting. Their refusal to provide reasonable alternatives and the sheer disregard for my situation is unacceptable. I am being forced to consider a car that is not fit for purpose, and no one seems to care about the stress and anxiety this is causing me. This is not what I expected from a charity that’s supposed to help people with disabilities.
I’m angry, frustrated, and completely let down by this entire experience.
Just needed place to vent…
Once I explained this she told me I could charge the vehicle at Aldi down the road. This is not a fats charging point but apparently this is totally acceptable to them as a ways and means to excuse giving me a grant towards a ICE car.
Not only are Aldi chargers 7kW (if there working), there is a maximum stay of 1.5hrs. Perhaps phone them back up and tell them this
Ive just had my grant increased /approved to £3799 for a 7 seater kodiaq , keep fighting rule out all your options and Hopefully you may get what you need 👍
Congrats Dan just highlights if you can argue your point with logic and show your need they can listen. I get that they need to protect themselves from people going cap in hand for something because it has nice toys but I really think they should be more approachable to challenge their decisions.
It looks to me like different case managers interpret the rules to suit, as you so often see different outcomes for similar cases.
Hope you get the new car asap
Yeah probably helps i literally went to view every large car regardless of ap and gave them the very short list of what I could fit in and use as needed.
Slightly annoying I have to get the diesel as it’s the only option for 7 seater adviser said I could have the hybrid or deisel I double checked as I know the hybrid is only 5 seater……. before I mentioned it she was going to write it in specifically 😢😢😢 . Would have probably pinged up on their systems and got rejected but I can dream cant I 😁😂😂😂.
12 weak wait from factory atm ordering tomorrow morning in black se L trim as they were nice enough to basically fully fund ill chip in for the nicer seats 😂.
Yeah probably helps i literally went to view every large car regardless of ap and gave them the very short list of what I could fit in and use as needed. Slightly annoying I have to get the diesel as it’s the only option for 7 seater adviser said I could have the hybrid or deisel I double checked as I know the hybrid is only 5 seater……. before I mentioned it she was going to write it in specifically 😢😢😢 . Would have probably pinged up on their systems and got rejected but I can dream cant I 😁😂😂😂. 12 weak wait from factory atm ordering tomorrow morning in black se L trim as they were nice enough to basically fully fund ill chip in for the nicer seats 😂.
What did you say to them to get this grant accepted? I heard its really difficult getting accepted, hence why I havent applied yet.
Could they have not given you the e5008?
Yeah probably helps i literally went to view every large car regardless of ap and gave them the very short list of what I could fit in and use as needed. Slightly annoying I have to get the diesel as it’s the only option for 7 seater adviser said I could have the hybrid or deisel I double checked as I know the hybrid is only 5 seater……. before I mentioned it she was going to write it in specifically 😢😢😢 . Would have probably pinged up on their systems and got rejected but I can dream cant I 😁😂😂😂. 12 weak wait from factory atm ordering tomorrow morning in black se L trim as they were nice enough to basically fully fund ill chip in for the nicer seats 😂.
What did you say to them to get this grant accepted? I heard its really difficult getting accepted, hence why I havent applied yet. Could they have not given you the e5008?
The 5008 has a extremely bulky cockpit and acctuly has less legroom than the 3008 my knees were on the steering wheel 😅 plus to get the spec needed its like 5k+
I’m 6″5 23 stone muscular built size 15 feet 20 inch calves 30 inch thighs think strongman without the gut 😅, I’m literally to wide/tall for most cars/planes ect ,let alone cars on the scheme
Literally did my homework made a list AdHD and hyperfocus do come in handy at times. went with a purpose got photos (not even required) genuinely questioned the showroom guys on the electric vehicles ect spoke to case manager and logically argued my case probably helped i had my case laughing her ass off with the specifics of how things worked/didn’t work 😅 gave her options aswell, it’s cheaper for them to give me a car that just fits then something that would need mods to work but has no ap .
Dacia jogger my head touched roof liner leaning forward to look round pillers ,shoulders/arms were on door frames/windows knees on wheel ect
5008 as i mentioned
Ford kuga was OK ish as long as it was the active, head touching the roof again with sun roof, I wanted a kuga from the start and was biased towards it aswell lol boot space was a bit cramped for what I needed and would need winter pack aswell
X trail, sportage ect same as above tbh boots were just not suitable and the spec needed put it into the 4k ish range
Their grants are higher for 7 seaters without manager authorisation any of the 5 seat cars would have to be argued with managers to get that large a grant on , I could have asked to get the kodiaq iV hybrid but that would have to be authorised and they would have to go through everything again and argue it out possibly to a different result
In the end even though there other cars i could have” made do with ” because i wasn’t having modifications it might have made me return early to have modifications in a shorter space of time , say they gave me the kuga at £2700 + 550 for winter kit and I had to return it in 6 months because I can longer put my chair in and need a hoist or something fitted they end up having to spend good money after bad because of their own stupid terms .
I did say like a month back I could make the long distance electrics work if they gave me swival seats and a roof box hoist thing but they are like 3-5+ grand alone
Yup that’s exactly how you do it. I had similar not over 7 seats but the difference between a 60 enyaq and the 85 like seats, adaptive cruise etc. If you can genuinely justify it they generally seem to listen most of the time.
Especially if they give you a list of cars and you can show why none are any good and why then show them what will work and why. Sometimes being neuro divergent is a asset, lol.
Yup that’s exactly how you do it. I had similar not over 7 seats but the difference between a 60 enyaq and the 85 like seats, adaptive cruise etc. If you can genuinely justify it they generally seem to listen most of the time. Especially if they give you a list of cars and you can show why none are any good and why then show them what will work and why. Sometimes being neuro divergent is a asset, lol.
Definitely though I tend to run on the edge of that double edged sword lol being able to pick out in depth flaws in the cars that most miss really helps😆
Also building a rapport and being brutally honest help lol 😆
I did make my adviser stop mid sentence as she was trying to tell me cannot choose fuel line on the kodiaq its the same car and basic price, she literally loled then apologised for her mistake. Even tho in the end it was a 5 seater and not technically within my grant.
Reading over these replies makes me feel good in such a sad way for the most part. The way it’s handled is disgusting, the ways EVs are touted is just frustrating.
I’m so glad there’s been some success, though!!
Regarding my own, well, it’s been interesting. I managed to look at an Enyaq, it will just about fit the two wheelchairs but it was good enough! Put it across to my CM, she approved but only £995 of the £999 AP for the 85 Edition, bizarre but whatever. I put in the order, paying a little more for the Suite trim out of the NVP, supposed to pick it up today!
But wait, I can’t have a charger fitted as I had one with the MG ZS. I also can’t afford to install one (I wouldn’t ask for a grant if I had £1k spare, you know?) and the cost the charge the Enyaq publicly is as much as to fill the MG HS for half the miles. It’s impractical and I feel defeated once again.
I phoned tossee if there was a solution, whether it could be reconsidered or help given for a charger/allowing Motability to fit me one anyway, but nope. I was told I could have it reconsidered by a panel but that my chances were very low.
So now I’m stuck, and I don’t know what to do from here. I’ve just drafted an email to the CEO but I’m scared to send it in case it sounds bad.
I’m not afraid to admit it, I’ve been bawling because all I want to do is get out of my house more and it just feels like there’s a massive hurdle at every point.
I needed to rant, though, I’m so frustrated.
Forgive me asking but you say you had a charger for your ZS, what happened to that?
If you don’t take the charger because you have one you get the BP pulse subscription which reduces the rates at all their chargers.
Yeah EV and not home charging is just a big no.
As for your email don’t email angry, go off calm down, have a nap whatever then come back and get just the facts down no wander, sarcasm etc and send it.
Good luck
It had to be left behind at our old property. We contacted electricians, bppulse who installed it, motability and the council but could not get anyone that could remove it either at all or before our move date. The council would not let us access the property after this date to be able to get it removed either.
We’ve been told by Motability that the subscription isn’t an option now, because it’s not my first electric car, and that we would have to buy a charger or pay for public charging. This also seems to be backed up by their website.
It’s more about not being coherent, I think. I’m not particularly mad in the email, I’ve just laid out the facts of my specific case and mentioned what he said about independence and how the current push for EVs is pushing people away from the scheme in some instances.
Thank you.
Part of me really wishes I’d never done this.
Ah I see that’s a shame but motability should have anticipated this situation.
Absolute BS about the subscription when I turned down the charger on ordering they said BP pulse subscription then? So I said yes the dealer put it thru and a few weeks later motability sent me a code to use. Nothing to do with whether you have a charger or not.
Do send that email as I think they’re going to apologise very quickly when someone actually looks at this it’s ridiculous.
Ah I see that’s a shame but motability should have anticipated this situation. Absolute BS about the subscription when I turned down the charger on ordering they said BP pulse subscription then? So I said yes the dealer put it thru and a few weeks later motability sent me a code to use. Nothing to do with whether you have a charger or not. Do send that email as I think they’re going to apologise very quickly when someone actually looks at this it’s ridiculous.
The difference here is that a charger had already been choosen and had already been installed and used and subsequently left behind when moving to another property
Its quite clear
One charger per customer or have a subscription
A subscription isn’t an option now, simply because it’s not their first electric car
Cant even see why this is even being disputed tbh
We are all lucky imo to even be offered a one off free charger or a subscription in the first place
If you only get one or the other once how come I was given a voucher for the BP subscription on my 2nd EV?
Not that i’m complaining
Ask them for a granny charger , find a melted one on Ebay . Return car due to nearly setting house on fire… j/k 😅🤷
Depending on your mileage you may be able to get away with a granny charger.
One weird thing might be to talk to discretionary housing team or council grants team to see of they would grant you the money for it given the circumstances that it is essential fot an electric car really and that they wouldn’t let you remove the old one
Granny chargers are perfectly safe well reputable brands (I know you were joking but someone will go off on one), I used one for 6 months due to BP at the time making a mess of installing a charger. I sold my MG one recently actually as it happens.
I would email the CEO office and see if Motability would help out they have discretionary funds. You could try other places but knowing these people it’s highly unlikely they will do anything for car related stuff like that as it’s just not inside the remit of these schemes. Even a disabled facilties grant wouldn’t cover an EV charger. I think these best bet is to plead the case with the CEO office and beg for help, what’s the worst they say no and they seem to be a hell of a lot fairer than the phone script monkeys. When the standard phone guys said I would lose the hire car and they’d leave me without a car until my Enyaq arrived and not only that it’d take 6 weeks to get my PIP money returned too, CEO team immediately reversed all that and promised to keep me in a car until mine was ready, after the normal phone guys and directline had told me nothing they could do…
Yes on the face of it Motability aren’t responsible here to fix this but it’s just possible with a little pleading for help they may.
Motability were changing BP Pulse, as custmers were having connectivity issues and BP washed their hands with them due to the sim being outdated.
I’s argue the fact it didn’t work due to these issues and you’d heard others were getting them replaced by Motability.
I’m not sure i actually see the problem here.
Car came in at £0 AP (basically). Also qualified for £750 NVP.
A new car charger can be had for £749 fitted incl VAT (excluding potential gov grants).
That’s it. There’s nothing else to consider. You decided that spending 40% of the NVP on the interior colour is more important than getting a charger. I certainly wouldn’t have, but that’s the bed you made yourself. I would’ve slept in the “more drab interior, but cheap/convenient motoring” bed.
Even at that point you still could’ve turned it around by buying a used charger (immaculate Ohme Go on eBay currently for £240 as example) and installation (around £250, ish).
Not sure what else there is to say. There was never a problem until someone made it one.
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.Find a local sparky to install a charger, it will pay for itself in a handfull of months.
Its a no brainer. Like Rene, I cant see what the problem is??
I’ll update with the CEOs response when I get it because that pertains purely to the fact that ONLY EVs are offered on grants, not the charger.
Regarding the charger, and the most recent comments regarding this, I am going to have one installed. Frustratingly this is going to cost a lot more than just £749, more like 1100-1400 but feel free to keep making assumptions. These quotes have come from both big names (PodPoint, Ohme, Octopus) and local installers, and mostly arise due to it being slightly more complex (sub-floor boards and secondary CU at least) so I’d have been paying extra on a Motability installation anyway, which I already knew.
My issue is with the fact that not all circumstances have been considered. The Enyaq itself is a barely suitable compromise but does at least hold both the wheelchairs, I’m just going to have to buy a roof box to store luggage when we go away and find somewhere to put shopping when I have more than 2 passengers. Motability Foundation have all the information they need about me including my previous lease and could have informed me that I wouldn’t be able to get a charger before I went and ordered the car. I also feel like if people need financial support from the Foundation, they maybe shouldn’t be assuming that they could then afford to install a charger or even afford public charging when to charge a Skoda Enyaq from 20 to 80% can cost £30-50 depending on the charger, as well as a lot of time out to do so. I have issues with the whole process, not getting a charger from them being one of the lowest but it was incredibly frustrating to find that out on the day I was supposed to pick the car up after having already done the survey etc.
Regarding why I paid the extra for the Suite option, I was quite happy to go for the Loft, I have no issue with basics, but I went into the dealership and asked for the car that would arrive the quickest. This one came in 2 weeks, a Loft specification would take between 8 and 12. At the time £304 didn’t seem like too much to lose considering I was under the impression I’d not have to fork out over £1100 on a charger. If I could go back now and make a different decision, I would, but I can’t.
Regarding the charger, and the most recent comments regarding this, I am going to have one installed. Frustratingly this is going to cost a lot more than just £749, more like 1100-1400 but feel free to keep making assumptions. These quotes have come from both big names (PodPoint, Ohme, Octopus) and local installers, and mostly arise due to it being slightly more complex (sub-floor boards and secondary CU at least) so I’d have been paying extra on a Motability installation anyway, which I already knew.
If your consumer unit is on an outside wall (most are), it is easier and less disruptive to run cable externally.
No where in the regs state, you must use a secondary CU, to supply the charge point. If your existing CU has a spare way on the non RCD side, as 40A type A RCBO can be used and a SPD can be fitted next or near to the CU, affording you full house protection, rather than protecting the charger from surge’s.
Chargers, such as, Hydra Cubis, BG Sync, Project EV etc are much cheaper but, just as good, as the big named brands.
If you wan’t cheaper, an interlocked commando (CEE) socket, can be installed from as little as £300 and use your cars onboard schedule settings, to program timed charges.
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