7 replies to this topic

[Apparelyzed]

Changes to the Motability Scheme

Disabled Motoring UK was saddened to hear the announcement from Motability today that significant changes will be made to the Motability scheme. Although these changes are being made to ensure the scheme is protected in years to come there will be less choice for customers in the type of car they can choose.”

When making the announcement Motability Chairman Lord Sterling said: “Despite meeting the mobility needs of disabled people for over 33 years, it is very important that we are not complacent. We must continuously strive for excellence by examining and refining all aspects of the Scheme. During 2011, we have reviewed a number of issues including the range of cars available on the Scheme and the clarity of our policies on how the cars are used and by whom.”

The changes announced today include:

Limiting the range of vehicles available to cars with an Advance Payment of £2,000 or less, approximating to a Recommended Retail Price limit of circa £25,000. The changes to car selection take place immediately, although Motability will honour all existing orders and commitments, changes will be fully implemented in December 2011.

Limiting the nominated drivers to those who live within 5 miles of the customer in order to minimise the risk of the car being used other than for the benefit of the disabled person

Piloting new vehicle technologies to monitor how cars are used where the greatest risk of abuse is perceived.

Requiring a Statement of Responsibilities to be signed at the beginning of each lease by the customer and nominated drivers together with the supplying motor dealer to ensure that the key responsibilities of each party have been communicated and are clearly understood.

No longer accepting nominated drivers under the age of 21 on the Scheme from January 2012, unless they reside with the disabled customer.

Restricting young drivers under the age of 25 to cars in ABI Insurance Group 16 or lower which also have a power output of 115 BHP or less.

Helen Dolphin, Disabled Motoring UK Director of Policy and Campaigns said: “With so many negative stories in the press it was inevitable that Motability was going to have to make some changes to the scheme. Although it is disappointing that these changes will mean disabled people will have less choice, we know that the longevity of the scheme is the most important thing. The scheme has been running for over 30 years and has helped numerous disabled people to be mobile. We hope that these changes will stop some of the negative press reports and instead the enormous benefits this scheme provides to seriously disabled people will be the focus in the future.”

Source: http://www.disabledm...ability-scheme/

[Tinbasher]

Some of the limitations on nominated drivers will impact on those who use PAs. Here in rural Cumbria it is not unusual for PAs to live some distance away, they also tend to be under 21.

This really is a knee jerk response to Daily Mail readers.

[sherbs]

My son is the second driver on my motability car, he has recently moved out some 30 miles away, he will often pop in over the weekend and drive the car for me and take me to the shops, chemist etc, if i have had a particularly long week at work, or i am in more pain, so this wont be possible anymore, for fecks sake, who gives a shit who drives the car, so long as they are on the insurance and a named driver, this is just ridiculous !!

[Tinbasher]

sherbs, on 09 December 2011 - 08:14 PM, said:

for fecks sake, who gives a shit who drives the car, so long as they are on the insurance and a named driver, this is just ridiculous !!

What has caused this is,unlike your son some relatives have persuaded the car user to let them use the car on a semi permanent basis so the motabilty user gets no beneit from it. Couple this with Daily Mail stories giving the impression that we are all scroungers and bingo.

[megatrig]

I always found the "more" disabled you are. So need more on a car in terms of extras the less useful motabilty is! I recal years ago you had to pay for an uto!! So if you were "less" disabled you got a car cheaper if that makes sense?

Always thought the scheme was rubbish sadly!

[ajl338]

I have had issues with RSA, the insurers today, again.
Motability are limiting the choice of cars you can choose, where the initial payment is over £2k, this actually doesnt seem so bad because you only keep the car for 3 years and the more you pay, you dont get it back, to the point where it would be better to buy the car without vat. wav are not included.

my issue is with insurance, the person having to live of practically live with you is rubbish, i have no idea where my pa's live and my friend and parents drive my car when i cant to get me places, the car lives with me and they drive in their cars to me and take me in mine because i dont fit in theres. This morning i calle rsa to check something and found out that although i had previously phoned them my dad wasnt on the insurence. To put him on i have to be in the same room as him and have him on the phone. I went back to motability with this and to give them credit they are good at sorting issues, they told rsa that my dad had power to make decisions on my behalf so then he could phone up from another location and put himself on my insurence.

they will make allowences for exceptional circumstances, i think they have probally underestimated the number of exceptional circumstances they will get asked about. They were talking about putting tracking devices in cars where people had other drivers to track where the car goes, this isnt an issue too me as i dont drive to work in it and i can only think of 1 time in the last 3 years where the car went somewhere and i wasnt in it, (i was dropped at the hospital)

[andypandy17]

If you employ PAs as I do you can write to Motability and explain your situation and these changes my not affect you.

This i what I have done and I have an open policy so I won't be affected.

It may also be worth writing to your local MPs (as I have done) and I have a local disability charity working with me against these changes.

[sherbs]

Tinbasher, on 09 December 2011 - 10:42 PM, said:

sherbs, on 09 December 2011 - 08:14 PM, said:

for fecks sake, who gives a shit who drives the car, so long as they are on the insurance and a named driver, this is just ridiculous !!

What has caused this is,unlike your son some relatives have persuaded the car user to let them use the car on a semi permanent basis so the motability user gets no beneit from it. Couple this with Daily Mail stories giving the impression that we are all scroungers and bingo.

The Daily Heil at it again then!!! Sorry for the bad language, it just makes my blood boil, to think that my son cannot even drive the car now, with me in it as the passenger, to help me out, because he has actually moved out to rent a house with his mates 30 miles away, Gordon Bennett, what is that all about then? Anyway i doubt i will get DLA or should i say pip when it moves, so will have to source a car from some other means, Hmm, whatever next.... right off to the scrap yard to see if they have any cut and shuts.........

megatrig, on 10 December 2011 - 04:28 PM, said:

I always found the "more" disabled you are. So need more on a car in terms of extras the less useful motabilty is! I recal years ago you had to pay for an uto!! So if you were "less" disabled you got a car cheaper if that makes sense?

Always thought the scheme was rubbish sadly!

I remember those times too, you could only get a large powerful car fitted with automatic transmission, nowadays most cars you can get in automatic, actually i think they still do cost more!!!