[Billy]

Hello everyone, I have recently been awarded enhanced rate of mobility component of pip. I’m looking at joining the Motability scheme and have applied for a grant to help fund the AP. I am on low income and require a medium hatchback. I have filled out the grant form online, can anyone advise from their experience how long the grant process takes from start to finish. Also, do the grants team offer one type of vehicle or do they allow you to choose from a selection. I have looked at aps and but the ones with £0 upfront tend to be the smaller cars which wouldn’t be big enough to fit my wheelchair.
many thanks,

Topic

[kezo]

Hi Billy, I was under the impression new customers are given priority and access to a number of cars that are available immediately.^ months is the average wait if you are already on the scheme.

Your grants manager will contact you with a small list of what they think is suitable for your needs but not necessarily what you think may be suitable. They will also award you a catorgory of vehicle and normally one thats the cheapest available for your needin that catorgory. If none of the vehicles on their list are suitable you are allowed to add up to 50% of the value of your award out of your own pocket e.g if your award is £1000 you can add upto £500 more out of your on pocket.

When you filled your application in, did you list any vehicles you thought were suitable for your needs?

Edit you may find this useful

https://www1.motability.org.uk/charitable-grants/

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by kezo.

[Billy]

Hi Kezo, thanks for the reply.
I currently have a VW Golf non Motability car. It’s quite old now (12 reg) and is having a lot of mechanical issues, however it is the right size for my needs. Ability to get in and out of the vehicle with ease and load wheelchair. I did mention this on the application and asked if we could have funding towards a similar size vehicle to the golf – medium hatchback.
With the long factory order times, is it possible for me to ring around different dealers to see which cars they have in stock and pass this info on to the grants team. Or do I have to order from my most local dealership. I don’t want to be waiting a long time for my Motability car as I don’t think the current golf will last much longer!!

[kezo]

You can order from any Motability dealer anywhere in the UK, as ong as you are willing to travell once to order the car  and again to collect it!

If you are able to find a dealer with a car in stock they are willing to let go to a Motability customer, you could let the garnts team know, but without being assigned a grants manager to your case its likely to fall on ddeath earss. They can also be a funny breed of people lol.

I would be inclined to to reng Motability and ask if you can have access to cars ready to go:

https://readytogo.motability.co.uk/

Motability are also offering a new vehicle payment of £750 to new and existing customers providing you order a car before the end of 2023. You can also use your Golf as part exchange towards the advance payment f a motability car. You may find you have £1000 or more, you can use as payment, which may put you you in a suitable car on the scheme. Its another option rather than waiting an age for the grants team to contact you and a shame if you lost out on the new vehicle payment just because grants dauldeled!

https://news.motability.co.uk/scheme-news/new-vehicle-payment-introduced/#:~:text=If%20you%20already%20received%20a%20New%20Vehicle%20Payment,all%20of%20these%20payments%20by%2031%20March%202023.

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