Half a million people

HE Motability Scheme offers disabled motorists who receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance a brand new car every three years with insurance, personal accident cover, aftersales servicing and maintenance, full breakdown assistance from the RAC, an allowance of 45,000 miles over three years, and free tyre replacement.
   The Scheme, offering affordable and trouble-free motoring, is currently taken up by almost 440,000 disabled customers and their families. Many cars and wheelchair accessible vehicles are obtained by customers simply by paying with their monthly mobility allowance. A further range of cars is available through a one-off advance payment in addition to the regular monthly allowance.
   A significant change to the Scheme comes into effect from January 2007, when it will be easier to return a car after three years and collect a new one. Instead of a formal inspection on a separate date to the car hand back, a Motability specialist dealer will conduct a condition description as the car is returned.
   Mike Betts, Chief Executive of Motability Operations, told Mobility Today magazine: 'One of the biggest fears of our customers is that they will be financially penalised for any damage to their car that will be highlighted during an inspection at the end of their lease. We hope these changes will see an end to these worries.
   'We'd like to reassure all Motability customers that it is expected for a car to show evidence of three years on the road, and that we accept the kind of wear and tear that a mobility aid can cause

500,000 customers using the Scheme by the end of 2007. And yet there are many hundreds of thousands of people eligible for the Scheme who have not taken it up, either by choice or because they are unaware of it. According to Government statistics, over 1.7million recipients of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioner supplement are eligible.

Wheelchair accessible vehicles on the Scheme

WHEELCHAIR Accessible Vehicles are available on the Motability Scheme for recipients of the higher rate allowance (£43.45 per week). One of them is the Gowrings Mobility Renault Kangoo 1.2 Authentique, which requires no advance payment.
   The rear floor is lowered and, at the rear, there is a short, lightweight drop-down ramp which, thanks to the lowered floor, has a shallow angle for easy access.
   The low floor enables the wheelchair user to be seated at a similar height as the other rear passengers, for improved stability and comfort when travelling. A four-point

wheelchair restraint system is installed with a personal lap and diagonal seat belt for the wheelchair user.

A year of Scheme enhancements

THE Motability Scheme has undergone a number of enhancements over the past few months. The new benefits introduced for customers focus on improving the information available for disabled motorists, an easier application process and even more choice of cars available on the scheme. Searchable prices. Online at www.motability.co.uk, a simple and easy to use tool to find out which makes and models are available and how much they cost. Customers can use the search facility to draw up a shortlist of cars to then test drive based on their own personal mobility and budget requirements.
Practical advice. A free publication with RADAR (a disability rights organisation) sets out the options for getting a car, new or used, for the disabled motorist. Request a copy from RADAR on 020 7250 3222.
Accessibility statistics. Data on cars available on

the Motability Scheme produced by Ricability (the Research Institute for Consumer Affairs) enabling customers to outline cars that fit their own personal mobility requirements.
E-signature innovation. A secure PIN for customers to streamline car collection. In addition to saving time, e-signatures also mean that there are no more application rejections due to administrative mistakes on the application forms, such as forgetting to sign one page of a document.
WAV growth. An increased number of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) available on the Motability Scheme since April 2006 has seen WAV applications increase by 60 per cent.
Improved aftersales service. There has been extensive training for Motability specialist dealers, and Motability aftersales personnel, to ensure delivery of enhanced customer service throughout the life cycle of a Motability lease.
Awareness. Motability increased its mailing activity to raise awareness of the Scheme following research that revealed 8 in 10 people who are eligible for the Scheme, but do not have a Motability car, found it