Understanding Motability

We recognise that a car makes a vital contribution to your life when you have a disability, ensuring that you have safe and reliable mobility to pick up the kids from school, go shopping or make other essential trips.

 

The long-established Motability car scheme enables people with the appropriate mobility allowance to lease a brand new car. At Vauxhall, we’ve been a part of Motability for over 30 years, offering a wide range of vehicles to ensure that our disabled customers and their carers have the freedom to go where they want, when they want.

 

The whole process of leasing a Motability vehicle could not be easier – there are no waiting lists, credit checks or assessment procedures to go through. You do not even have to have a licence. You can nominate two drivers; parents or carers can apply on behalf of a child aged 3 years or more.

As the name suggests, whether you are a disabled driver or your carer will getting behind the wheel, you hire a Vauxhall from our Motability scheme and agree to lease it over a three-year period. Once the contract has expired, you just hand it back to your specialist retailer (no need to arrange a part-exchange or ‘haggle’ for a new deal) and then choose another brand new car from our range of accessible vehicles.

 

Who pays for my Motability car?

When you choose a vehicle with ‘nil advance payment’, your mobility allowance is then assigned to Motability who meets any initial bills on your behalf. That’s why there are no credit checks or assessments required.

 

We have many Motability offers that do not require an upfront fee. However, should an advance payment be required then this is paid by you, or your carer, as a single payment to your Vauxhall Retailer.

For larger, or more expensive vehicles, your mobility allowance may not be sufficient to cover the cost of the three-year contract hire period. In these cases, an advance payment is required to make up the difference. This takes into account any additional cost in the value of the vehicle, as well as running costs and the likely depreciation. An advance payment is non-refundable.

 

Who pays for my car’s running costs?

You just have to put the fuel in the tank; everything else is taken care of on your behalf, including:

• Insurance
• Servicing and maintenance
• Vehicle Excise Duty (the annual tax disc)
• Replacement tyres
• Full RAC breakdown assistance
• Many adaptations at no extra cost
• Replacement glass, should you suffer a broken windscreen or window.

 

The only exception is - if you exceed 60,000 miles during the three years in which you have the car - you will be charged 5 pence per mile (including VAT) for every mile over that limit.

 

Contact our dedicated Vauxhall Motability team

Speak to your local expert retailer

 

We recommend that you have a consultation at an independent Mobility Assessment Centre. These are staffed by occupational therapists and technical specialists who will advise you on which vehicles and adaptations are right for the needs of your disability. You will also be able to test drive a car from our Motability vehicle range.

 

Find your nearest Mobility Assessment Centre

 

Motability Managed Adaptations Programme

 

Your expert Vauxhall Retailer will confirm whether your car adaptations are eligible through the Motability Managed Adaptations Programme, which manages the whole process of converting your vehicle on your behalf.

If you order mobility car adaptations through the programme at the same time as your vehicle, your retailer will handle all the liaison and installation for you.

Should your required conversion not be covered by the Motability Managed Adaptations Programme, or you need to adapt your Vauxhall during your lease, we recommend ensuring that your insurance covers the changes, by contacting one of the following:

 

Motability Operations

Telephone: 0845 456 4566 (8.30am till 5.30pm Monday to Friday)
Textphone on 0845 675 0009

 

Motability RSA

Freephone: 0500 37 37 37

Free textphone: 0500 64 63 62

 

View our latest Motability offers

 

 

 

 

If you are not sure if you, or the person you care for, qualify for either the higher rate DLA or WPMS, then the following organisations will be able to help:

 

Pensions, Disability & Carers Service

Tel: 08457 123456

 

Disability Benefits Helpline – Disability Living Allowance

Tel: 08457 123 456

Textphone: 08457 224 433

 

Service Personnel & Veterans Agency

Tel: 0800 169 2277

 

Need more help?

 

Get in touch with our dedicated Motability team

Find your nearest specialist Vauxhall Motability Retailer

See our latest Motability deals

 

We know that as a disabled driver, or person nominated to drive a disabled friend or family member, you have lots of questions for us about the Vauxhall Motability scheme.

 

If you don’t find the answers you are looking for on this page; don’t worry. Just contact our friendly Motability team and we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

 

Q. How do I go about getting the disabled car adaptations I need?

A. The Vauxhall Motability team has a comprehensive list of our Motability accredited adaptation partners. These experts will talk through your requirements, give you advice and help to manage your vehicle adaptations for you. Contact us for more information.

 

Q. What financial help am I entitled to as a Motability customer?

A. Motability may be able to offer financial help towards the cost of a suitable car, adaptations, driving lessons or a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Any funding must be arranged before you put in the application for your car.

 

The following are available to help disabled people with higher rate Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement:

 

Charitable mobility grants: Motability carries out a number of fundraising activities, as well as having the Motability Tenth Anniversary Trust, to provide help towards:

• Advance payments on standard production cars 
• Car adaptations, such as hand controls, swivel seats, wheelchair hoists and other conversions 
• Driving lessons: If you are a Motability customer aged between 16-24, you may be eligible for help towards the cost of driving lessons
  

 

Government mobility grants: Motability also administers government funds for people who need a heavily adapted car, such as a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

 

The Specialised Vehicles Fund: This grant is for people who require wheelchair accessible vehicles, either as a driver or passenger.

 

War pensioners: If you receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement and have a Motability car, you may be eligible, based on your medical records, for a grant from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. If you need a mobility vehicle or car adaptations that cost more than the standard available grants, and are unable to meet the cost yourself, you can apply to Motability for help but should approach relevant service charities first.

 

Ex-invalid Vehicle Service Holders: Motability also manages applications from disabled customers who have previously driven a three-wheeled, blue ‘trike’ or other government vehicle.

 

For more information about mobility grants, please contact our Motability team

 

Q. What rate of mobility allowance I am entitled to?

A. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) should have sent you an award notice that contains the details of your allowance entitlement. If you haven’t applied for mobility allowance yet, or got a copy of your notice, you can contact the DWP to ask for help.

 

Q. I’m not entitled to the higher rate of the Disability Living Allowance. What do I do now?

A. Don’t worry; we can still help you. Talk to your local Vauxhall Motability Retailer and discuss the other available options to help you to purchase the vehicle you want.

 

Q. Are people over the age of 65 eligible for the Motability scheme?

A. Yes – if you are already receiving either the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement. Those who are not already receiving these allowances are not eligible to apply beyond the age of 65.

 

Q. Under the scheme, can I have a Motability car at the same time as a powered wheelchair or scooter?

A. This is unfortunately not possible. The mobility allowance is used to cover the cost of the vehicle, and this generally takes the whole allowance.

 

Q. Who is insured to drive a Vauxhall Motability car?

A. Motability customers can nominate two drivers of their choice. If you are a disabled driver, you count as one and you may choose a relative, friend or other carer as the other permitted person. If you change your mind about who should drive during the period of the lease, this is not a problem as long as you let us know. A third driver can also be added for an additional cost.

 

Young drivers can be nominated. However, there are restrictions on the vehicles that those under 25 can drive and the insurance excess will be higher.

 

Q. Does the disabled person receiving mobility allowance need to always be in the vehicle?

A. While Vauxhall Motability cars are provided primarily for the benefit of our disabled customers under the scheme, it does not mean they always have to travel in it. For example, we understand that allowing a (nominated) carer or friend to use the vehicle to run errands or do the shopping is still very helpful to you.

 

Q. How long will my vehicle take to be delivered?

A. Your local Vauxhall Motability retailer will be able to tell you this. If you haven’t spoken to them yet, or don’t know where they are, then you can use our retailer finder to find them and get in touch.

 

Q. How do I know if my Motability car of choice is available?

A. Again, your local retailer will be able to tell you this (see link above).

 

Q. How can I find out about any Motability offers you have?

A. We always have Motability deals on selected Vauxhall cars. You can see the latest ones on our Offers and Prices page.

 

Q. Where can I get a brochure?

Download a Vauxhall brochure

See our Motability prices