Motability Scheme Guide — How to Get a Car on Motability

The Motability scheme helps disabled people lease a new car, scooter, or powered wheelchair by exchanging their mobility benefit. Over 700,000 people use it. Here’s everything you need to know.

For many disabled people and their families, the Motability scheme is transformative. Instead of trying to save up for a car or navigating the difficulties of buying, insuring, and maintaining a vehicle independently, you simply redirect the Enhanced Rate Mobility component of your PIP — money that’s already being paid to you — and in return get a brand new car with all the running costs covered. Insurance, servicing, breakdown cover, road tax, tyres, and windscreen repairs are all included.

The scheme is run by Motability Operations, a company overseen by the Motability charity. It negotiates bulk deals with manufacturers, meaning scheme customers often get better prices than private buyers. Around half of all new cars ordered on the scheme have a nil advance payment — meaning the only cost is the mobility benefit you redirect.

For the wider cluster covering carers’ support, disability benefits and practical mobility-related help, use the main Carers & Disability Benefits hub.

How the Motability Scheme Works

Who Can Apply

Additional Requirements

Note: If you receive PIP Standard Rate Mobility or DLA Lower Rate Mobility, you’re not eligible for the scheme.

What’s Included

Cost — What You Pay

Understanding the Motability cost model is key: you don’t ‘pay’ for a car in the traditional sense. You redirect your existing mobility benefit — money you’re already entitled to — to Motability instead of receiving it yourself. In return, the scheme covers the car and all its running costs. For many people on fixed incomes, this package approach makes budgeting far simpler than managing a privately owned car.

The main variable is the advance payment — a one-off upfront cost required for more expensive or in-demand vehicles. Many cars are available with a nil advance payment, meaning you give up nothing extra beyond your benefit.

Example: Nil Advance Payment Cars

Many cars are available at no upfront cost — you only give up your mobility benefit:

Check motability.co.uk for the latest price list — it changes quarterly.

Types of Vehicle

Adaptations

For many scheme users, the adaptations available are just as important as the car itself. Motability covers the cost of most vehicle adaptations through its approved network — hand controls, steering modifications, wheelchair hoists, and more. This is significant: privately sourced adaptations can cost thousands of pounds and may need to be redone on every new vehicle you own. With Motability, they’re installed for free and the cost doesn’t affect your advance payment.

How to Apply

What You’ll Need

Named Drivers

At the End of Your Lease

Good Condition vs Damage

If Your Mobility Award Is Reduced or Ends

If your enhanced mobility award is reduced to standard rate or stops after a review, your Motability provider continues your current allowance for a further 4 weeks, then you have 8 weeks to return the vehicle (extendable to 26 weeks with a reduced payment). Whether you receive a transitional support payment depends on when you joined the scheme: customers who joined before 2014 may get up to £2,000 (or a reduced amount if they keep the car for 26 weeks); most current customers, who joined from 2014 onwards, receive no transitional support payment — only a pro-rata refund of any advance payment made. Confirm your own position directly with Motability.

Motability Grants

Useful Links

• PIP Assessment Tips
• Adult Disability Payment (Scotland)
• Disability Benefits Guide
• DLA to PIP Transition
• Carer’s Allowance Guide
• Best Car Insurance
• Best Benefits Calculators