Under 25

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    Topic
  • #283343
    tlh00
    Participant

    Looking for some advice my partner is disabled and is 25 I’m currently 24 and will be his designated driver. We ordered a car back in March that was suitable for under 25. It has arrived yesterday and they gave us the bad news that it has updated spec (we didn’t ask for) and is now not suitable for drivers under 25. Where do we stand?

    Is it worth appealing this with motability as at the time we ordered it, it was in the under 25 category?

Viewing 16 replies - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)
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    Replies
  • #283349
    Wazza
    Participant

    You need to ring motability and maybe direct line afterwards to see if they will allow you to drive. How long will it be before you are 25? Can you partner drive? What car and trim is it?
    If they say no then unfortunately you have 2 choices

    1. Accept car and only the partner drives the car until you are 25

    2. Cancel order and order a new car. The trouble is has the AP gone up or down since Monday 1st July is the start of the new quarter.

    • This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by Wazza.
    #283351
    Phaedra
    Participant

    Yes indeed, give them a ring and explain.  However, if the new spec has increased the cars insurance group rating it may not be possible.  But, certainly worth asking as you will get a definite answer from Motability.

    Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!

    #283377
    tlh00
    Participant

    My partner only has a provisional license so currently cannot drive. I turn 25 in 6 months .

    When we placed the order the car was suitable for under 25s it was an Audi a3 s line 30 tfsi. With 110 bhp the car that has been delivered has 124bhp if I remember correctly. Everything else is still the same.

    Not at one point did we get notified it would be updated and no longer be suitable for under 25s.

    and problem is the car we had previously we sold thinking everything would be smooth sailing as the deposit and application went through okay. My partner is not able to get around easily so we are a bit stuck.

    My partner is going to appeal it but not sure if we will have any luck. 🙁

    #283378
    Wazza
    Participant

    Ring up motability etc on Monday and see what happens.

    If no success then have a look at auto trader for dealers that have new cars in stock. The first I have come across is a black one with 115bhp. Ring up the dealer and see if it’s unregistered etc and that you are interested. They should give it to a motability customer. If they do then they have to obey the four day rule after you have cancelled your existing order in order to process the new order. You will have the new Audi by end of the week theoretically as long as the AP has not gone up by too much to be out of your budget.

    If you like, if permitted, you can state which city you live in and I can try to assist you.

    • This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by Wazza.
    #283380
    tlh00
    Participant

    Thank you so much for your help. I tried to look on auto trader but I couldn’t work it properly. Could you perhaps send me a link?

    we live in Hertfordshire so anything in and around.

    #283381
    Wazza
    Participant

    Just noticed that the Audi I mentioned from auto trader is the saloon version.

     

    #283384
    Wazza
    Participant

    Do you have access to a family car etc since you sold yours? Bad news for you. The nearest one is in Tamworth (85 miles away) that has a saloon in black. There is also 2 in Norwich. Both in black.

    You happy with a saloon version?

     

     

    #283388
    kezo
    Participant

    If you get no joy off motability customer team go to the CEO explaining your situation andrewmiller@motabilityoperations.co.uk

    #283394
    tlh00
    Participant

    No we currently have no access to any vehicle. Also we are open to a saloon version yes. How do you know if a car is accepted by motability and is in the scheme?

    #283397
    swwchris
    Participant

    New Spec A3 is not under 25 as you have discovered. I would cancel the order and go for a Mazda 3, really nice car although I am unsure of whether there is any stock. I an hoping that by the time my current A3 is up for replacement they may have released a lower BHP new model

    • This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by swwchris.
    #283402
    Wazza
    Participant

    I would ring up one of the dealers and ask to speak to the motability specialist. Mention to him/her that on the auto trader they have the Audi you want and can they check if that particular spec is available on the motability scheme? They can check their list to see if that car can be released to a motability customer and they will tell you what the AP is. Do note that if it has extras fitted you might have to pay for them.

    You could ring them on Sunday to see if those cars are available for you before ringing motability on Monday about existing order. If motability says no the car you ordered can’t be driven by under 25s then you can mention that there is a dealer who has one in stock and that you are going to order it. See what they say.

    Just realised one problem. Looking at the motability website today there is no under 25s Audi A3s. That model you ordered is no longer on the list. Best to ring motability on Monday and if you get a refusal on your current order ask them can you order the one that the dealers have that is for under 25s but no longer on the motability scheme?

    Look forward to any updates.

    #283403
    Collie
    Participant

    This is a shame. I’ve heard of this happening before and unfortunately there’s not much you can do except order another car.

    Ona more positive note though, if your partner still has his provisional license when you do get your car, if he is on a means tested benefit, he will qualify for up to 40 hours of free driving lessons through the Motability Foundation.

    #283407
    NosherN
    Participant

    I have had similar issues with my latest Motability order.

    In December I rejoined the Motability Scheme and ordered a VW Polo 110ps DSG.

    Assumming no problems with regards to placing my wife and 21 year old daughter on the insurance policy I placed an order.

    Whilst seeking details of insurance elegibility I discovered the following statement – “To make sure the Motability Scheme is affordable, drivers under 25 can only drive cars that meet these criteria: Petrol, diesel or hybrid cars with an ABI Insurance Group of 16 or lower. A power output of 120 brake horsepower (BHP) or less. Electric cars with an ABI Insurance Group of 21 or lower.”

    During the waiting period my VW Polo’s engine capacity increased to 115ps which was the same engine used in most of the VW group small cars on the scheme and which were strangely classed as NOT accessible for under 25’s alyhough the engine was less than 120BHP. This also applied to Ford Fiesta’s and other small car brands.

    With my new car now only two weeks away from being delivered the VW dealer has confirmed that my daughter can be registerd on the insurance as MOtability have recently updated their policy.

    With regards to the OP I would take the matter up with Motability as the difference in thier chosen car is 4 HP which is neither here or there. It is mererly due to the manufacturer making improvements and updating/making improvements which Matability should be following suit.

    #283408
    Wazza
    Participant

    What really cheeses me off is that modern cars are either equipped with slightly more powerful engine or more safety equipment that makes the car beyond the reach of under 25s. Direct line should relax their criteria for under 25s a bit.

    I was interested in the 2024 facelift Hyundai Kona 1.0 auto. There was only the advance model available. The next trim up is the N-line with extra safety equipment but with same engine and power output. But due to it having extra equipment it put the car into insurance group 18. The advance was in group 16. You might argue that with the extra safety equipment it should reduce any chances of an accident but it’s the repair cost that will be higher.

     

    #283413
    tlh00
    Participant

    We spoke to motability on Friday and they said that there was nothing they could do and that we could try and appeal it. I’m just hoping that once we send our points as to why we feel they should make an exception it all ends up being okay. We have a getaway in 12 days 🙁

    #283423
    Adrian
    Participant

    If you get no joy off motability customer team go to the CEO explaining your situation andrewmiller@motabilityoperations.co.uk

    Came here to say this! I don’t take issue with the droids who answer the questions, but they’re repeating the company line. Might require some lateral thinking

    "Come on BYD Seal!"
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