Motability is a UK scheme that converts certain mobility-based benefits into a lease on a (possibly adapted) vehicle, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, mobility scooter or powered wheelchair.

I was recently awarded PIP (Personal Independence Payment) at the enhanced rate, which means I qualify for the scheme. This will take all of my PIP payment, but it’s a good deal: a car for three years, with tax, insurance, servicing, breakdown cover and certain repairs included. As long as I don’t use the car for criminal activities, or they’ll take it off me.

I’ll most likely order a car at the weekend.

The car will be great. We live in a small village with public transport links that only technically exist (they are not wheelchair accessible). I rely on my wife or on having plenty of time and good weather if I need to get anywhere. The pavements and roads are in dismal repair and/or insanely dangerous. This is not ideal for training.

So the car will be used mostly to get to areas where there are better training conditions. I have a few in mind with nice, wide, flat spaces, a variety of road surfaces and inclines… It’s going to make a big difference.

Here’s what I’ve learned about the practicalities of the scheme so far:

• Some vehicles require an up-front payment, which can range from £49(!) to several thousand. This depends on the type of car and its features. It’s a little bit mystifying, but in general, up-front payments are larger for automatics, hybrids etc. There are plenty of perfectly good vehicles available with zero up-front payment, though.
• If your car needs any adaptations, you have to pay for that yourself, although I’m told it’s possible to apply for a Motibility grant for that. I haven’t looked into that yet. My car will need adapting for hand controls, because I can’t use pedals. I asked a dealer how much this would cost and he said £150. This seems… ridiculously low and I’m deeply suspicious of it. I’ll find out more at the weekend.
• There’s currently a lead time of around 4-6 months. This seems to be true across all manufacturers. Dealers don’t have the cars in stock, they have to be ordered from the factory. It’s taking a bit longer than usual lately, presumably due to COVID.

I’ll know more at the weekend, by which time I might have ordered a car. I’ll report back.

As always, take a look at my fundraising page. I’m doing wheelchair half marathons (hopefully three this year, plus sundry 10k events) to raise money for nia, a women-led, women-only, secular, rights-based registered charity which has been delivering services to women, girls and children who have been subjected to sexual and domestic violence and abuse, including prostitution, since 1975.