Frequently Asked Questions

Motability is changing its name to Motability Foundation to increase awareness of our wider remit of grant-giving, research and innovation, and to make it easier for disabled people and organisations to find and access the support we provide. 

A brand tracking survey we carried out showed that despite a large-scale expansion in our grant-giving, research and innovation activities over the last two years, in a survey of disabled people, their friends, family and carers, and disability organisations, only 2% named Motability as a disability charity. 

For our work to have the greatest possible impact on making journeys more accessible for disabled people, it is vital that Motability Foundation is recognised as a disability charity that supports all disabled people. 

At the Motability Foundation, we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose.  

The Motability Scheme is the main way we provide access to transport for disabled people. The Scheme offers an affordable way for disabled people to lease a new car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair. Anyone who receives qualifying mobility allowances from the government can apply for a Scheme vehicle. 

The Motability Scheme is run by a separate company, Motability Operations.  

We oversee them to deliver the Scheme and make sure that the Scheme gives disabled people the best choice, value for money and customer service possible – and to make sure it is sustainable for generations to come. 

No. There are no changes to the way we award grants. The only change you will see is the change of name, logo and look and feel of any literature or letters you receive from us. 

Yes. All grant letters that have been issued before the rebrand are still valid and will be accepted. 

Yes. We have changed our operating name, look and feel and tone of voice. There are no changes to our grant programmes or wider work as a result of this change. 

Yes, Motability Foundation is a national charity (Registered Charity in England and Wales No.299745 and in Scotland No.SC050642) which sets the strategic policies and direction of the Motability Scheme and oversees its performance to ensure that it meets the needs of disabled people.

We may offer charitable grants to disabled people who would not otherwise be able to afford the car, adaptations or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) they need. We may also be able to offer help with the cost of up to 40 hours of driving lessons.

Find out more information about us.

Yes, to request an online application form please contact us. Once you have received your online login details, they are valid for 30 days.

We will consider who has to travel with you on a day-to-day basis including your children, dependents who live with you and your carer/s. Luggage and equipment for respite care is taken into account. We award grants which are cost effective solutions based upon the individual disabled person’s mobility needs and not wants. All grant applications are means-tested to ensure Motability supports those most in need of a charitable grant to ensure they help as many beneficiaries as possible with the charitable funds available.

We are not able to award a grant if you have already ordered your vehicle. This is because your Case Manager will consider your individual circumstances. Grants are awarded in line with Motability Foundation’s policies and following thorough consideration of the information submitted in the application. All grant awards are final. Applications that we consider do not meet their criteria will not receive grant funding.

If you would like to apply for a charitable grant, please contact us on 0800 500 3186 and keep your National Insurance number at hand. Children aged 3-15 years old have their National Insurance number or reference number at the top of their Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance award letter. To make the best use of our charitable funds we award grants which are cost effective solutions based upon the individual disabled person’s mobility needs.

Our opening times are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

We are currently experiencing a high level of incoming calls,  so it may take longer to answer your call. 

Please note that there is an increased demand for charitable grants in this current period. Our estimated lead time is around four weeks for us to commence a review of your application.

If your login details do not work, the quickest way to resolve this is by replying to the original email that you were sent to request new details. Alternatively, please contact Charitable Grants on 0800 500 3186. Our opening times are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Our charitable grants are awarded for vehicles that meet the disabled person’s mobility needs and not wants. Using the information that you provide, our Case Managers will carefully consider your individual circumstances. Your grant letter will include a list of suitable vehicles or vehicle categories that the charity is prepared to fund.

The majority of beneficiaries will not choose to make any contribution on top of their Advance Payment grant, however, if you choose to order a vehicle that costs more than the agreed grant award, then we may contact you to better understand your requirements.

If you choose to make a voluntary contribution towards your Advance Payment grant, there are limits within our policy. Grant applicants can add up to £750 or 50% of the Advance Payment grant, whichever is the least.

Our charitable grants are awarded for vehicles that meet the disabled person’s mobility needs and not wants. Using the information that you provide, our Case Managers will carefully consider your individual circumstances. All grant applications are means-tested to ensure we support those most in need of financial help so that we can help as many beneficiaries as possible with the charitable funds available.

Grants are awarded in line with our policies and following thorough consideration of the information submitted in the application. All grant awards are final, except in cases where additional compelling information is provided. Applications that we consider do not meet our funding priorities will not receive grant funding.

If, after considering your application, we believe you are able to afford to make a contribution towards the vehicle yourself, we may make this a condition of your grant award.

Yes, we may be able to help with these types of vehicles and adaptations. As these types of vehicles are individually tailored for you, they are more expensive than a standard production vehicle, so we will look at a wider range of factors when considering your application.

Find out more information about Complex Driving Solutions.

Yes, when reviewing your applications, we will talk to you about the people who will need to travel with you on a regular basis, so that we can determine who we need to consider as part of the application.

We will consider who has to travel with you on a day-to-day basis. This may include your children (those you receive child benefit for), dependents who live with you, for example, an elderly parent who you have caring responsibilities for and your carer/s. Luggage and equipment for respite care is taken into account when looking at a grant funded solution.

If you apply for a charitable grant, we will look at your everyday mobility needs. Assistance animals can be considered as part of the application for a charitable grant, however pets may not be able to travel if it means that you need a grant towards a larger vehicle in order to accommodate them. When your application is being considered by a Case Manager, they will contact you to gain a full understanding of your circumstances.

You may also be able to get a charitable grant towards the cost of your driving lessons. Find out more information about charitable grants.

Where we have provided a grant towards driving lessons, they will normally be carried out in an instructor’s vehicle. If the instructor is unable to carry out lessons in their vehicle due to your adaptations, we will work with you to identify the best way forward.

No, we will not reimburse you. Theory and practical tests are paid for by the learner. The Driving Lessons Grant is to cover the cost of practical driving lessons.

Yes, you will need a valid theory test pass certificate to apply. You will then be able to access all of your grant-funded lessons in one go. All learner drivers must pass their theory test before booking their practical test. You can apply for the theory test as soon as you have a provisional licence.

To make the best use of our charitable funds we award grants which are cost effective solutions based upon the individual disabled person’s mobility needs and not wants. Unfortunately we can’t offer funding to cover personal preferences, such as fuel type. We focus our funding on meeting people’s needs, so that we are able to help as many people as possible.

Post is being processed and being dealt with by our teams. Once an application has begun, the relevant Case Manager will be given the posted documents.

Please note that there is increased demand for charitable grants at this time therefore it may take us longer than usual to get back to you.

Documents can be emailed to grantsteam@motabilityfoundation.org.uk  

If you are unable to email them, you can post us copies but please do not send originals as we are unable to return them.

If you have sent your application by post, a member of our Grants Team will contact you within 48 hours of receiving your completed form, to let you know that we have received it safely. For applications completed online, you will get an automated reply to let you know that it has been successfully submitted.

Please note that there is increased demand for charitable grants at this time and therefore it may take us longer than usual to get back to you. Following the re-opening of dealerships, our lead time is currently around four weeks for a Case Manager to commence a review of an application so we would really appreciate if you could wait for us to contact you.

We thank you for your understanding and patience on this as we work through the applications as swiftly as we can.

Please visit motability.co.uk/contact to speak to a Scheme advisor.

Please contact your Case Manager using the telephone number provided within your award letter.

Your grant award letter should detail the name and contact details of the Case Manager looking after your application and you can contact them directly on this number. Following the dealerships re-opening, there is a higher demand on our service. This means that it may take us longer to answer the phone.

You can learn to drive in your Motability Scheme car. Disabled drivers can take lessons from the age of 16. Any other drivers with provisional licences must be over 21 if you want them to drive your car, and you can only have one learner driver on your Certificate of Motor Insurance at any one time. You may also be able to get financial help towards the cost of your driving lessons.

The car industry is currently experiencing challenges with stock levels and vehicle build times due to the global shortage of semiconductors, or ‘chips’, and availability of new cars may be further restricted in the coming months as a result. We award grants in line with our policies and with thorough consideration of the information submitted in the application. This is essential to ensure we support as many beneficiaries as possible with the charitable funds available. For this reason, we will only consider increasing a grant award to speed up delivery of a vehicle in exceptional circumstances, such as when the beneficiary has a life-limiting condition.

If you would like to reschedule your appointment, please call our Field Administration Team on 01279 632282.

Our Mobility Driving Advisor will update the Case Manager who is considering your application with their findings. You can contact your Case Manager on the telephone number that they have given to you or by calling Charitable Grants on 0800 500 3186. Our opening times are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

In 2022 we launched six grant programmes to provide even more support to other charities and organisations in areas where our research and engagement have shown opportunities to have the greatest impact for disabled people. These grant programmes help to address the challenges that disabled people face accessing transport right now, while we continues our research and innovation work into longer-term solutions to make all transport accessible.

We are using £50 million of the donation we received in 2021 to expand our support for charities and other organisations for the next three financial years ending March 2025.

They have been designed to provide even more support to other charities and organisations in areas where our research and engagement have shown opportunities to have the greatest impact for all disabled people. They help to address the challenges that disabled people face accessing transport right now, while we continue our research and innovation work into longer-term solutions to make all transport accessible.

To be considered for a Community Transport, Wheelchair Sector, Active Travel, Reducing Barriers to Driving or Travelling with Confidence Grant from the Charities and Organisations Grant Portfolio, complete the Stage One Application Form which can be found here and email the completed form to GrantsToOrganisations@motabilityfoundation.org.uk.

To be considered for Research Grant complete the Research Grant Stage One Application Form which can be found here, and email the completed form to GrantsToOrganisations@motabilityfoundation.org.uk.

General enquiries should be submitted via the online contact form. Please note we cannot accept or respond to applications received by any other method.

We aim to respond to all Stage One applications within eight weeks of receiving them. The handling times for Stage Two applications are dependent on the complexity and size of the grant requested. Please wait for your Grant Manager to contact you to update you on the status of your application.

We aim to respond to all Stage One applications within eight weeks of receiving them. The handling times for Stage Two applications are dependent on the complexity and size of the grant requested.

If you have any questions regarding this processes please contact us via our online form.

Yes, Motability Foundation recognises the benefit of full cost recovery grant-making, and Grants to Charities and Organisations are available on this basis.

Through this grant programme we aim to help charities and organisations to make an immediate impact for disabled people, by awarding funding to develop, expand and improve community transport options. We are focussing our grant making for this programme on:

• Funding support for staff or volunteer training and costs.
• Funding to increase the number of vehicles available in the community to help organisations support disabled people.
• Funding local, regional, or national initiatives to increase awareness of community transport and influence its inclusion in transport strategy and policy.
• Funding to schemes, programmes and initiatives that already exist, and which provide best practice solutions, but need further support to remain operational or scale up the service they can provide to help more disabled people.

If any of the above are relevant to your charity or organisation, please visit our website page. Please note, these grants are for charities and organisations only.

Through this grant programme we aim to support charities and organisations to make an immediate impact for disabled people, by awarding funding to improve and expand their access to good quality affordable wheelchairs. We are focussed on awarding grants in this area that:

• Fill current gaps in provision for groups of people who are excluded from receiving help from existing sources/providers.
• Enable charities and organisations to help individuals by topping up self-funding.
• Raise awareness of the challenges faced by disabled people in obtaining suitable, quality and affordable wheelchairs.
• Support programmes to help fund high quality and affordable equipment.
• Supports schemes, programmes and initiatives that already exist, and which provide best practice solutions, but need further support to remain operational or scale up the service they can provide to help more disabled people.

 Please note, these grants are for charities and organisations only. Find out more.

Through our Active Travel Grant Programme we aim to support charities and organisations to improve and expand access to quality and affordable active travel. Examples of areas where we are focussing our grant making include but are not limited to:

• Providing funding to ensure the voices and needs of disabled people inform and influence design requirements, and crucially, that they are shared with industry and Government to raise awareness.
• Providing funding to charitable programmes that introduce disabled people to different active travel products and services.
• Supporting existing programmes that have a clear focus on increasing travel confidence and safety for disabled people, to enable them to confidently use active travel products and services.

If any of the above are relevant to your charity or organisation, please find out more. Please note, these grants are for charities and organisations only.

This grant programme aims to help charities and organisations to develop, expand and improve transport related research for disabled people, and produce data and findings that can be freely accessed by everyone with an interest in making transport more inclusive. Only by working with disabled people to increase understanding of the transport challenges and barriers they face, can the barriers be removed. Examples of areas where we are focussing our grant making are but are not limited to:

• Grant funding for research into barriers and challenges faced by disabled people when accessing or using transport.
• Grant funding for transport related research that identifies good practice and evaluates solutions.
• Grant funding to conduct research to inform and improve new or existing transport related programmes and product design.

If any of the above are relevant to your charity or organisation, please visit find out more. Please note, these grants are for charities and organisations only.

• Grants to improve awareness of responsibilities and influence policy and practice in the transport sector.
• Funding to embed a user-led approach to inclusive design and delivery of transport services.
• Grants to scale, promote awareness of, and increase access to, travel training programmes that increase skills, knowledge, confidence, choice and control when travelling.
• Grants to support the development of accessible tools and technology solutions that support journey planning and in-journey navigation.

• Funding to raise awareness of driving as an option and of the support and adaptations that are available.
• Grants to expand the provision of driving and familiarisation lessons, and increase the number of instructors delivering lessons with adaptations.
• Funding to organisations to help reduce the cost barriers around access to vehicles and adaptations.

Department for Work and Pensions will send you a renewal pack to re-assess your claim. If your allowance is extended, your Motability Scheme lease agreement will continue as normal. If, for any reason, your allowance is not renewed or you should contact the Motability Scheme to discuss the options. You would not be expected to pay the remaining amount of the agreement but you may need to return the car.

If you are applying for a charitable grant towards a new vehicle, you can apply from four months before the end of your current Scheme lease. If you are applying for a charitable grant towards a new wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) on the Motability Scheme, you can apply from six months before the end of your current Scheme lease.

We can arrange a Motability Scheme lease extension if your vehicle remains in a good condition and the mileage is not excessive. With a lease extension, you can remain in the vehicle that meets your needs, with insurance, roadside recovery, service, maintenance and repairs continuing to be included.

Find out more information about considerations for a Charitable Grant .

All Motability Scheme customers can receive a free copy of Lifestyle magazine every three months. By reading Lifestyle, you will be able to catch up on the latest news from Motability Foundation and the Scheme. Read latest issue of Lifestyle online.

If you are mid-way through your lease and aren’t receiving Lifestyle but would like to, or you would like to stop receiving it, please contact Motability Operations.

Lifestyle is published on behalf of Motability by Wonderly, part of Haymarket Media Group, Bridge House, 69 London Road, Twickenham, TW1 3SP.

You can learn to drive in your Motability Scheme car. Disabled drivers can take lessons from the age of 16. Any other drivers with provisional licences must be over 21 if you want them to drive your car, and you can only have one learner driver on your Certificate of Motor Insurance at any one time. You may also be able to get a Charitable Grant towards the cost of your driving lessons. Find out more information about Charitable Grants.

Where we have provided a grant towards driving lessons, they will normally be carried out in an instructor’s vehicle. If the instructor is unable to carry out lessons in their vehicle due to your adaptations, we will work with you to identify the best way forward.

The Motability Scheme leasing package includes cover for three named drivers. Regardless of who is driving, the Scheme car should always be used for the benefit of the disabled customer.

To ensure that Scheme customers are gaining direct benefit from their Motability Scheme car, location trackers may be fitted to vehicles if the risk of potential misuse is high; for example, where Scheme customers permanently live in a care home and have a number of drivers who have access to the car, or if none of the customer's named drivers are resident at their address.

Where a location tracker has been identified as appropriate, the Scheme customer will always be contacted in advance of the tracker being fitted. Data will only be collected on the location of a Scheme car at any given point and this data will only be used where a report has been made, or suspicion raised, that a car may be being misused.

Find out more information about location trackers on the Motability Scheme website.

You can contact the Press Office by calling 07764 790863 (8.45am - 5.15pm Monday to Friday). Please note, customer enquiries cannot be answered by the Press Office.

Email: pressoffice@motabilityfoundation.org.uk opens email client

Take a look at our contact information .

You can contact us online, write to us or call us, see our contact details below:

Online: visit our Contact page where you can find contact details for Media Enquiries, Charitable Grants and customer insurance products. You can also submit a general enquiry form, provide feedback, make a complaint, sign up for information or order resources.

If you would like to get in touch with the Motability Scheme you can call 0300 456 4566 or visit the Motability Scheme website .

We attend a number of national events and exhibitions, including Naidex, One Big Day/The Big Event and the Royal College for Occupational Therapists’ annual conference. Take a look at events and exhibitions to see the events we are attending this year.

Find out about One Big Days and The Big Event on the Motability Scheme website.

You can contact the Motability Scheme by calling the Customer Careline on 0300 456 4566 (call charges may apply).
Alternatively, please contact them online at motability.co.uk

Take a look at more contact information .

If you have signed up to our healthcare professional database to receive our newsletter, Motability Matters, and would like to change your contact details, including your name and address, please email communications@motabilityfoundation.org.uk.

If you are a Motability Scheme customer and would like to update your contact details, please complete the form Update your contact details on the Motability Scheme website.

Have you received a suspicious email, text or social media message request that looks like it’s from Motability Foundation?

If you have, it could be a scam.

Please look out for the following warning signs:

• The request asks for your bank details and/or cryptocurrency wallet details. We do not ask for these details and we do not fundraise.
• The request contains an urgency for replying or completing an action.
• Grammatical mistakes or incorrect spellings.
• The links you are being asked to visit does not look or feel right.
• The business address, contact number and website address are not correct.

We understand you may be concerned and we’d like to know if you’ve received communication like this. Please email us at phishing@motabilityfoundation.org.uk to share further details or call us on 0800 500 3186.

You can also report scams and get support via the GOV.UK website.

We attend a number of national events and exhibitions, including Naidex, One Big Day/The Big Event and the Royal College for Occupational Therapists’ annual conference. Take a look at our Exhibitions page to see what we are attending this year.

Find out about One Big Days and The Big Event on the Motability Scheme website.

We understand the importance of decreasing our environmental impact as an organisation. We have produced an Environmental Sustainability Policy Statement (PDF 42.6 KB) to demonstrate our commitment.

Motability Enterprises Limited (MEL) is no longer introducing home insurance to new customers.  Learn about your options. 

MEL is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of Motability. Motability operating as Motability Foundation.

For further information about MEL and to look at other products and services available, please visit our website www.motabilityenterprises.co.uk.

Motability Enterprises Limited (MEL) introduces specialist travel insurance provided by AllClear.

AllClear provide travel insurance for singles, couples, and groups of any age for single or annual multi-trip policies.

For more information and a free quotation call AllClear on 0808 164 1807 or visit AllClear.  

MEL is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of Motability. Motability operating as Motability Foundation.

For further information about MEL and to look at other products and services available, please visit our website www.motabilityenterprises.co.uk. 

Motability Enterprises Limited (MEL) can introduce you to Haven holidays and Enable holidays.

Haven offer discounts on UK family holidays and short breaks. For details call Haven Holidays on 0333 202 5423 and quote Z_MOT2 or visit Haven Holidays Motability.

Enable offer discounts on tailor-made accessible holidays abroad. For details call Enable Holidays on 0330 380 6800 and or visit Enable Holidays. Please quote “MOTA 1” to receive a 10% discount.

MEL is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of Motability. Motability operating as Motability Foundation.

For further information about MEL and to look at other products and services available, please visit our website www.motabilityenterprises.co.uk. 

Motability Enterprises Limited (MEL) introduces insurance cover for your privately owned mobility scooter provided by Fish Insurance. For further information about discounts available for Motability Scheme customers and a free quotation call Fish Insurance on 0333 331 3964 or visit Fish.

MEL is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of Motability. Motability operating as Motability Foundation.

For further information about MEL and to look at other products and services available, please visit our website www.motabilityenterprises.co.uk.

Motability Enterprises Limited introduces organisations who provide products and services that contain features and benefits we believe will be of interest to Motability Scheme customers.

Please visit motabilityenterprises.co.uk where you will find further information about the products and services introduced.

Motability Enterprises Limited (registered number 1786053 England and Wales) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Motability (a registered Charity in England and Wales No. 299745 and in Scotland No. SC050642), both of which have their registered office at Warwick House, Roydon Road, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5PX. Motability operating as Motability Foundation.

Motability Enterprises Limited passes any of its trading profits to the Motability Foundation under company Gift Aid under Deed of Covenant without deduction of tax.

Motability Enterprises Limited expects to pass £300k to the Motability Foundation each year to support disabled people with their personal mobility.

Motability Foundation has been fortunate to receive substantial donations in recent years which will support our activities long into the future. 

As a result, Motability Foundation is no longer requesting donations from the public.   

However, if you still choose to do so, we will gratefully accept a donation by cheque, made payable to “Motability” and sent to Motability Foundation, Warwick House, Roydon Road, Harlow, CM19 5PX. 

The Higher Rate Mobility Component (HRMC) of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) can be awarded from the third birthday of the disabled person. It is possible to apply for the allowance before that date and as long as the eligibility criteria is met, the award will start from when the disabled person turns three. If a child under three has had the allowance confirmed, an application can be made up to three months before their third birthday, but the Motability Scheme agreement cannot start until the allowance is awarded.

If a child above the age of three is in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Allowance, an application can be made to the Motability Scheme. Find out more information about How to join the Motability Scheme . The application will need to be submitted in the name of the appointee (parent or guardian) who is responsible for the allowance.

The Motability Scheme works with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the same way as it does with Disability Living Allowance (DLA). The Motability Scheme enables disabled people to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair. If you receive one of the following allowances, you may be eligible to join the Motability Scheme:

• Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Child Disability Payment (CDP)
• Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of the Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

Find out more about the Motability Scheme .

The War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement is provided by Veterans UK. This allowance can be used to cover the cost of a Motability lease agreement. This is currently £69.85 per week (as of 14/04/2021).

Find out more information about the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement on GOV.UK .

Eligibility for the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the DLA award is determined by the Department for Work and Pensions, who should be contacted with any queries.

Motability Foundation work in partnership with the DWP to send letters once a year to all recipients of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Enhanced Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This letter is to advise people that they can join the Motability Scheme and to provide an information leaflet.

Please call 0800 953 4002 and request that the name and addresses are removed from future correspondence.

To be eligible to join the Motability Scheme, you must receive one of these disability allowances:

• Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA)
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

Those who receive the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) can apply to join the Motability Scheme. Find out more information About the Motability Scheme .

If you receive this allowance and would like further information, please contact the Motability Scheme's Customer Services on 0300 456 4566.

You can also visit the Motability Scheme website and use the Car Search to see the vehicles available on the Scheme. Using the car search, you will need to select the option PIP/AFIP- Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment on the allowance type field. 

If you would like to appeal to re-join the Motability Scheme, visit the Motability Scheme website and complete the Request to join the Scheme form.

The circumstances of your case will be examined and the team will advise you of its decision as quickly as possible.

You can apply to join the Motability Scheme if you are aged 65 and over and you receive one of the following allowances:

• Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA)
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

Unfortunately, the Attendance Allowance cannot be used to lease a car through the Motability Scheme.

Find out more about allowances at GOV.UK.

Visit the Motability Scheme website.

No, you are not able to have more than one lease agreement (i.e. more than one product or vehicle) through the Motability Scheme at any time. Therefore, it is not possible to lease a car and a powered wheelchair or scooter at the same time.

Leasing a car through the Motability Scheme includes insurance for up to three named drivers – these can be yourself, friends, family or carers.

All proposed drivers are subject to the Motability Scheme’s policies on who can drive your car, and must also meet Direct Line Motability (DLM) eligibility criteria regardless of whether they are added at application or during your lease. Only drivers listed as permitted drivers on the Certificate of Motor Insurance are insured to drive your Motability Scheme car.

Remember, the car must be used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person. This does not mean that the disabled person needs to be in the car for every journey. In practice, this means other named drivers in the household can use the car for shopping and other routine activities, as long as the disabled person will benefit.

The Motability Scheme offers a selection of adaptations; ranging from simple driving controls to person hoists that lift a wheelchair user into a standard car. You can view the list of adaptations available on the Motability Scheme website.

To see the range of cars available on the Motability Scheme, you can use the Car Search on the Motability Scheme website.

The car search includes a selection of makes and models including Ford, Nissan, Seat, Vauxhall, Mazda, Mercedes, Toyota and Renault. You can narrow your search using the filters which include car type, prices and advance payment.

To see the range of scooters available on the Motability Scheme, you can use the Scooter Search on the Motability Scheme website.

If you are eligible to join the Motability Scheme, all you need to do is visit local Motability Scheme dealers and arrange an appointment with their Motability specialist. The Motability specialist at your local dealership will arrange test drives and can help you enjoy choosing a car that’s right for you.

As part of your appointment, your dealer will take you through a Motability Scheme Suitability Questionnaire. This is designed to make sure the car you’re considering, and the Motability Scheme, is right for you. Once you have chosen a car, your dealer will complete the application for you online at the dealership. You’ll need to take your Certificate of Entitlement, a recent utility bill, and the driving licences of any drivers to be insured.  If your proposed driver is unable to come with you to the dealership, they must complete the Driver Consent Form.

Visit the Motability Scheme website to find a dealer near you.

Depending on which vehicle you choose, you will exchange all or most of the higher rate mobility part of your weekly disability allowance for the course of your three year lease. Other parts - such as the care component - remain completely untouched and you will continue to receive them as normal.

All standard scooters and powered wheelchairs cost less than your weekly allowance meaning you get some money back.

Meanwhile for cars there are three pricing options to choose from. Some cost less than your weekly allowance, others cost the same as your weekly allowance, and some require an Advance Payment. You can use our Car Search tool to search current prices. And don't forget, when you lease a car through the Scheme, insurance, breakdown cover, servicing and maintenance, tyre and windscreen replacement are all included in the worry-free package, so all you need to budget for is fuel.

Find out more about our pricing options

If you are the customer there are no restrictions to you joining the scheme with a provisional licence, although you will have to meet all other acceptance criteria. Providing you are shown as a Motability permitted driver on the Certificate of Motor Insurance and you are accompanied by your nominated driver who is over 21 and has held their licence for at least three years you can learn to drive in the car.

For all other drivers, certain restrictions do apply regarding provisional licence holders e.g. you must be aged 21 or over, in addition to meeting all other acceptance criteria. For further details please contact Direct Line Motability (DLM). 

"Contract Hire" is the term used to describe the type of leasing agreement contract offered through the Motability Scheme.

All the "Contract Hire" lease agreements offer a new car of your choice every three years (five years for wheelchair accessible vehicles); the leasing package also includes insurance, servicing and maintenance, breakdown cover, as well as tyre and windscreen replacement. 

Take a look at vehicles available on the Motability Scheme website.

A Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) is a vehicle that is converted so a wheelchair user can travel either as a passenger or a driver, without needing to transfer out of their wheelchair.

Find out about Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles on the Motability Scheme website.

PIP is the allowance which is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for disabled people aged between 16 and 64. Like DLA, PIP has two components: a daily living component and a mobility component. Each component has two rates of payment: a ‘standard rate’ and an ‘enhanced rate’ which is the same amount as the DLA. You can lease a Motability Scheme car, scooter or powered wheelchair by using the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP, similar to the Higher Rate Mobility Component of DLA.

If you receive DLA, you will be invited to make a claim for PIP by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Until that point, you do not need to do anything. However, when you receive the letter, it is important to respond to the invitation within the given timescales.

Find out more information about PIP from GOV.UK

Find out about PIP and the Motability Scheme.

The Government is currently in the process of replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for disabled people aged between 16 and 64. If you are awarded the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP, you will continue to be able to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme.

Disabled children will continue to receive DLA until they reach the age of 16. DLA will also continue to be available for those who turned 65 on or before 8 April 2013. If you receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or Armed Forces Independence Payment, you will not be affected by this new allowance.

Find out more information about PIP from GOV.UK

Find out more about PIP and the Motability Scheme.

As an existing DLA claimant, you will not need to make a claim for PIP until you are contacted by the DWP.

Please note that the annual allowance letter that you receive from the DWP is not the invitation to make a claim, you will receive separate notice of this.

Find out more information about PIP from GOV.UK

Find out more about PIP and the Motability Scheme

The Government is currently in the process of replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for disabled people aged between 16 and 64. If you are awarded the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP you will continue to be able to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme. This process began in April 2013 in Great Britain and from 20 June 2016 in Northern Ireland. The transition from DLA to PIP is now complete in Northern Ireland, but there is no indication when the programme will finish in Great Britain. Please remember, you do not need to do anything until the DWP contacts you to make a claim for PIP.

More information about the DWP’s plans for DLA and PIP can be found on the Government’s website: www.gov.uk/personal-independence-payment or for Northern Ireland visit: www.nidirect.gov.uk/personal-independence-payment. 

Find out more about PIP and the Motability Scheme.

If the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decides you are not eligible for ERMC PIP, you will no longer be eligible to use the Motability Scheme. Unfortunately, vehicles are only leased through the Motability Scheme to people who receive one of the relevant mobility allowances.

Please contact the Motability Scheme if you are no longer in receipt of an eligible allowance. 

Find out about our PIP transitional support.

If you have signed up to our healthcare professional database to receive our newsletter, Motability Matters, and would like to update or change your contact details, including your name and address, please email communications@motabilityfoundation.org.uk

Please visit our Professionals and Advisors section where you can download or order free resources.

We will be at the OT Show at the NEC in Birmingham in November. Visit our Exhibitions page to find out more information about the exhibitions we are attending.

As part of its welfare reform programme, the Government are currently replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for disabled people aged 16 or over and who have not reached State Pension age with a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP). As a result of benefit devolution, the Scottish Government are currently in the process of replacing DLA and PIP with Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and Child Disability Payment (CDP). Recipients who are awarded the enhanced or higher rates of these mobility benefits will qualify for Motability in exactly the same way as today. However, if someone does not qualify for mobility support, or qualifies at a lower level, they will no longer be eligible to use the Scheme. In these cases, we provide a one-off transitional package of support and advice regarding alternative mobility. 

If you are not awarded the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP or the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Adult Disability Payment, please contact Motability Operations Ltd as soon as possible. As soon as the DWP or Social Security Scotland confirms that you are no longer eligible for the Scheme, Motability Operations Ltd will write to you, giving you more information specific to your situation. This will include a personalised letter which outlines the transitional support package that may be available to you, as well as the purchase price of your vehicle. They will also enclose our Staying mobile after the Motability Scheme guide (PDF 833.0 KB), which includes advice on buying a second hand car, information on insurance, maintenance and other mobility solutions.

Once we have been informed of your benefit decision, Motability Operations Ltd will write to you with details of how to return your vehicle. You will be able to keep the car for eight weeks after the mobility allowance payments stop. In addition, if you first joined the Scheme before 1 January 2014 you will have the option to keep the car for 26 weeks after the last mobility allowance payment.

The DWP or Social Security Scotland will write to you to let you know the outcome and separately they will confirm this decision to Motability Operations Ltd. However, if you are not awarded the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP or ADP it is important that you contact Motability Operations Ltd immediately, so that they can support you in the transition from the Motability Scheme. Please make sure that both Motability Operations Ltd and the DWP or Social Security Scotland have your correct contact details so there is no delay in sending you information regarding your transitional support package, where eligible.

In order to qualify for the transitional support package, you must return your car to a Motability Scheme dealership. This can either be your dealer or, alternatively if it is more convenient, you can arrange with us to return the car to a different Motability Scheme dealership which is closer to you.

For information regarding the detail of Transitional Support, please visit our dedicated page on this.

Please make sure that both Motability Operations Ltd and DWP or Social Security Scotland have your correct contact details so there is no delay if we need to send you information regarding your transitional support package, where eligible.

Scooter and powered wheelchair customers who joined the Scheme before 2014 will be provided with a package of support and advice with the objective of enabling them to purchase their current product wherever possible. Arrangements will be made to help those with specialised mobility needs, including customers with a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV).

This package will be reviewed regularly and may be changed or withdrawn as a result.

If you do not return the car to your dealer within eight weeks of the date of your last payment, you will automatically have selected to keep the car for 26 weeks and your transitional support payment will be reduced accordingly.

If you have left the Scheme for a period of one year or more and decide to rejoin the Scheme, you are considered to be a new customer from the date you started your new lease. Therefore, as you rejoined the Car Scheme in 2013 after more than a one year break, you will be eligible for a one-off £1,000 transitional support package providing you return the car to the dealership in good condition and within the given timescales. This reduced, yet still significant, amount is because information on PIP has been publicly available since you decided to rejoin the Scheme. If you rejoined the Scheme after 1 January 2014 you will not receive a support package, but we’ll refund any Advance Payment on a pro-rata basis and you might eligible for a pro-rata Good Condition Payment.

The money will be sent to you in the form of a cheque within 14 days of returning the vehicle.

This is a one-off support package to help with the transition from the Scheme and it is not expected that you’ll need to pay this back if you are later awarded PIP or ADP. However, if you are eligible to and decide to re-join the Scheme within six months of receiving the transitional support package, you will need to speak to Motability Operations Ltd to discuss your options.

No further rental payments or costs will be applied to customers whose leases end early as a result of a DLA to PIP, DLA to ADP or CDP to ADP reassessment.

If you have paid an Advance Payment, this will be refunded to you on a pro-rata basis. For example, if the agreement ended after one year of a three year lease, two-thirds of the Advance Payment would be refunded. If you paid a significant Advance Payment for your vehicle you may want to consider the effect of a lower pro rata refund if you choose to keep the vehicle for the extended 26 week period.

No, the one-off transitional support package has been specifically designed to support customers who have to give up their vehicle as a result of reassessment from DLA to PIP, DLA to ADP or CDP to ADP.

No, the transitional support package will not be available to anyone who has not engaged in the reassessment process. However, if you have actively decided not to undergo reassessment and have informed the DWP or Social Security Scotland of this decision (so they can tell us), you will still be eligible. We recommend that you pay particular attention to any response dates for submitting assessment documentation and make sure that both Motability Operations Ltd and DWP or Social Security Scotland have your correct contact details so there is no delay in sending you information regarding your transitional support package, where eligible.

The amount of financial support you may be eligible for as part of the Transitional Support Package depends on when you entered into a lease agreement for a Motability Scheme car.

If you are not awarded the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP or ADP, please contact Motability Operations Ltd as soon as possible to let us know. As soon as the DWP or Social Security Scotland confirms that you are no longer eligible for the Scheme, Motability Operations Ltd will write to you giving you more information specific to your situation. Motability Operations Ltd will try to work with you so that you can stay in your existing product. They will also provide their Staying mobile after Motability guide, download a resource (PDF 882.9 KB), this mentions a number of useful resources for additional advice and future support. Customers with a scooter or powered wheelchair will be able to keep their product for up to a maximum of eight weeks after their last mobility allowance payment.

If you have adaptations, Motability Operations Ltd will help you with the costs of fitting similar adaptations to a non-Scheme vehicle. Further information about this will be included in the personalised letter which Motability Operations Ltd will send you if they are informed that you are not awarded the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP or ADP.

WAV customers are automatically entitled to keep their vehicle for 26 weeks, without reduced transitional support payment. During this time Motability Operations Ltd will work with you on a case by case basis to discuss what options are available to you. Further information will be included in the personalised letter which they will send you if we are informed that you are not awarded the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP or ADP.

As the Motability Scheme is a leasing scheme, Motability Operations Ltd are unable to assist you in buying a non-Scheme car.

However, the dealer who provided your Motability Scheme car could be a good starting point to find out what’s available.

The Staying mobile after the Motability Scheme guide (PDF 833.0 KB) also includes advice on buying a second hand car, information on insurance, maintenance and other mobility solutions.

Further information to help you think about your options, including advice on buying a second hand car, information on insurance, maintenance and other mobility solutions is available from a variety of sources. For example, Disability Rights UK and the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) both produce a number of useful guides which you may find helpful.

If you are not awarded the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP or ADP, please contact Motability Operations Ltd as soon as possible. As soon as the DWP or Social Security Scotland confirms that you are no longer eligible for the Motability Scheme, Motability Operations Ltd will write to you, giving you more information specific to your situation. You will also be sent a copy of the Staying mobile after the Motability Scheme guide (PDF 833.0 KB). This mentions a number of useful resources for additional advice and future support.

Direct Line Motability (DLM) will send you a letter giving details of your claims history on the Scheme. You can request a copy of the claim’s history letter for yourself or a named driver online in your DLM insurance portal. You can also call DLM on 0300 037 3737. Motability Operations Ltd are working with Autonet, a leading UK insurance broker, who will offer insurance quotes to former Scheme customers that will recognise their no-claims history on the Scheme.

The Staying mobile after the Motability Scheme guide (PDF 833.0 KB) includes information on arranging insurance.

You have been sent our direct mailing as you receive one of the below allowances.

• Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP),
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA),
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment,
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS),
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP). 

If you receive one of the above qualifying benefits, you can apply for a Motability Scheme vehicle.

If you do not wish to receive information about the Motability Scheme in the future, please call:

PIP telephone: 0800 121 4433 or textphone: 0800 121 449.

DLA telephone: 0800 121 4600 or textphone: 0800 121 4523.

To remove you successfully.

If you would like to receive information about the Motability Scheme in the future and require your address details updated please call:

PIP telephone: 0800 121 4433 or textphone: 0800 121 449.

DLA telephone: 0800 121 4600 or textphone: 0800 121 4523.

If you are interested in enquiring into a charitable grant please visit https://www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/grants/ or call 0800 500 3186, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

If you are interested in enquiring into joining the Motability Scheme please visit motability.co.uk/hello or freephone: 0800 953 4002 and quote your mailing code.

Due to a number of factors including the semi-conductor shortage, increasing energy costs and the war in Ukraine, the whole car industry is experiencing parts shortages, build and delivery delays. Find out more here

Once you have placed an order for your vehicle, even if there are delays from the manufacturer, your grant award will remain valid regardless of delivery time. Motability Operations offer a price guarantee, meaning the Advance Payment of the car on the date your order is accepted, is the price you pay on taking delivery of that vehicle, even if the price has subsequently changed.

If you have received an award letter from Motability Foundation, it is not possible to increase your grant award or use your grant award towards vehicles other than those listed on your award letter to speed up delivery. We can only consider increasing a grant award to speed up delivery of a vehicle in exceptional circumstances, such as when the beneficiary has a life-limiting condition.

Our grants awards are awarded in line with our policies and after considering everything you tell us during the application process. This ensures the vehicles are suitable for your mobility needs, and that we can help as many people as possible with the funds available. With this in mind, we can only consider increasing a grant award to speed up delivery of a vehicle in exceptional circumstances, such as when the beneficiary has a life-limiting condition.

Our grants awards are awarded in line with our policies and after considering everything you tell us during the application process. This ensures the vehicles are suitable for your mobility needs, and that we can help as many people as possible with the funds available. With this in mind, you cannot use your grant award towards vehicles other than those listed on your award letter.

Due to a number of factors including the semi-conductor shortage, increasing energy costs and the war in Ukraine, the whole car industry is currently experiencing parts shortages and build and delivery delays. Find out more here

Whether you order a car with or without a grant through the Motability Scheme, or privately at a dealership, it will be subject to the same delivery lead times and delays.

We know how important having a car is to our disabled beneficiaries, and would love to make things go faster for you, but the current situation is out of our control. Due to a number of factors including the semi-conductor shortage, increasing energy costs and the war in Ukraine, the whole car industry is currently experiencing parts shortages and build and delivery delays. Find out more here

Whether you order a car through the Scheme or privately at a dealership, it will be subject to the same delivery lead times and delays, therefore there is nothing that Motability Foundation or Motability Operations can do to speed up delivery of your vehicle.

Due to a number of factors including the semi-conductor shortage, increasing energy costs and the war in Ukraine, the whole car industry is currently experiencing parts shortages and build and delivery delays. Find out more here

Whether you order a car through the Scheme or privately at a dealership, it will be subject to the same delivery lead times and delays, therefore there is nothing that Motability Foundation or Motability Operations can do to speed up delivery of your vehicle.

Once you have placed an order for your vehicle, even if there are delays from the manufacturer, your grant award will remain valid regardless of delivery time. Motability Operations offer a price guarantee, meaning the Advance Payment of the car on the date your order is accepted, is the price you pay on taking delivery of that vehicle, even if the price has subsequently changed.

Everyone looking for a new car at this time is affected, be that through the Scheme or privately, and it is difficult to know when the situation will improve. Experts predict it will continue for the rest of the year.

Both the Scheme and Motability Foundation’s Grants team have been working hard to minimise the impact on customers and beneficiaries, however, at this time it could take a long time to get your new car, and your delivery date might change more than once.

If you have received an award letter from Motability Foundation, it is not possible to increase your grant award or use your grant award towards vehicles other than those listed on your award letter to speed up delivery. We can only consider increasing a grant award to speed up delivery of a vehicle in exceptional circumstances, such as when the beneficiary has a life-limiting condition.