How to Pay For The Motability Scheme 

Mobility experts over at Mobility Solutions Direct have provided advice on how to get the most out of the Motability Scheme.

The Direct Line Motability (DLM), the new insurer for the Motability Scheme replacing RSA Motability, will receive your payments straight from your allowance provider.

How much you pay depends on the mobility allowance you receive:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): It helps those with long-term health conditions or disability with extra cost of living payments. If you are awarded the higher rate mobility part of PIP, which is £71 each week, you can apply for the Motability Scheme
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA): It helps disabled people between the age of 16 and the State Pension age with extra costs you might have because of a disability. The higher rate mobility part of DLA is currently £71 per week. You can apply for the Motability Scheme if you have at least 12 months left on your allowance.
• Child Disability Payment: The Child Disability Payment is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children aged three months to 18 years old in Scotland. This differs from the UK, where child DLA stops at 16. In Scotland, if you receive a higher rate of mobility support (£71) from the government and have at least one year left on your support, you can request to lease a car, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, a scooter, or a powered wheelchair via the Motability Scheme.
• Adult Disability Payment: In Scotland, the Motability Scheme is operated in partnership with the Government’s Accessible Vehicles and Equipment program. If you’re receiving the higher rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment (£71) and have at least 12 months left on your eligibility, you can apply to lease Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), scooters, or powered wheelchairs. 
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP): AFIP provides extra money to service personnel and veterans who have been seriously injured in service after 6 April 2005 to cover any costs you might have because of your injury. You can apply for the Motability Scheme if you receive £71 per week and if you have at least 12 months left on your allowance.
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS): Provided by Veterans UK, WPMS helps with any extra mobility costs you might have because of a disability caused by military service. You can see if you are eligible by visiting gov.uk and can receive £79.25. When you’re searching for a vehicle, make sure you choose ‘WPMS’ as your allowance type.

You Need to Make an Advanced Payment For Some Vehicles

In addition to your weekly mobility allowance, you may need to pay upfront for some vehicles. Be aware that it’s not a deposit and it’s non-refundable. Upfront costs are required because your allowance might not cover the full cost for more expensive vehicles.

The amount you pay is calculated by looking at the cost of the vehicle, its servicing and maintenance, and its expected value at the end of your lease. The DLM will try to negotiate with the vehicle manufacturer every three months to get you the best price. This payment will be made directly to your Motability Scheme dealer either on the day you get the vehicle or before. 

If you are paying by cheque, you need to send this at least seven days before you receive the vehicle. Alternatively, if you are eligible for the £750 New Vehicle Payment, we can send this directly to your dealer to help towards your Advance Payment.

How To Pay Your Advance Payment

The Advanced Payment method you will use depends on your vehicle dealer:

• Bank Transfer is the most common method for dealers to use, but you will need to send the payment one or two days before you get your vehicle
• Debit Card is accepted by some dealers from up to £1000
• Credit Card is accepted by some dealers but not many
• Cheques are not accepted by dealers
• Cash is not accepted by most dealers, but this is down to the individual dealer

What You Need When Applying

Visit a dealer when looking for a new wheelchair-accessible vehicle, a scooter, or a powered wheelchair. If you’re looking for a WAV or someone to install adaptations to make your vehicle accessible, the supplier will come to your location and assist you in placing the order for the vehicle or adaptations.

If you apply at the dealer, you need to bring:

• A UK passport or driving licence
• National Insurance number (NINO) or Customer Reference Number (CRN) of the person receiving the allowance
• Driving licences for all drivers and details of any claims history
• Your driver declaration (if the driver is not there for the application)
• Your grant award letter (if applicable)

If you apply online, you need to bring:

• A UK passport or driving licence
• National Insurance number (NINO) or Customer Reference Number (CRN) 

How to Receive a New Vehicle Payment

If you’re new to the Motability Scheme and you order your first vehicle in 2023, you’ll receive a special payment after you collect your new vehicle. This payment can be used to help with the upfront cost. Alternatively, you can send this payment directly to your dealer to reduce the Advance Payment amount. However, if you order a scooter or a powered wheelchair, you will instead receive a New Product Payment to assist with the cost. It’s important to note that you can only receive this payment once.

There Are 5 Vehicle Options Available

1 – Standard Cars Package, which includes:

• Insurance cover for up to three named drivers
• Breakdown/RAC cover
• Regular servicing and MOT

2 – Electric Cars Package, which includes:

• Insurance cover for up to three named drivers
• Breakdown/RAC cover
• Regular servicing and MOT
• Cover the standard cost of a home charge-point and its installation, or give you access to the bp pulse network of over 9,000 public charge-points

3 – Adaptations, which make your vehicle to use, can include:

• Advice from an adaptation installer
• Hand controls for breaking and accelerating difficulties
• Electronic accelerator to help if you have limited mobility in your legs
• Left foot accelerators for those with limited mobility in their right leg
• Pedal modifications to bring you closer to your driving seat
• Steering aids if you find it difficult to hold or turn a steering wheel
• A control panel with remote control devices can be fitted to your steering wheel to work things like your indicators, wipers, and headlights

4 – Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV), which include:

• You can drive or ride in these, or store your wheelchair
• Insurance cover for up to three named drivers
• Breakdown/RAC cover
• Continued support from your WAV supplier
• Regular servicing and MOT

5 – Scooters and Powered Wheelchairs, which can include:

• Scooters come in three sizes
• Wheelchairs come in a variety of sizes and custom models
• Small vehicle size and easy to look after
• Insurance cover
• Breakdown/motability assist cover
• Regular servicing and maintenance
• Continuous support from you dealer
• Most scooters and powered wheelchairs cost less than your weekly mobility allowance

Image credit: Jon Tyson