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Motability scheme
Exchange disability benefit for leasing a vehicle
People with severely reduced mobility who qualify for the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP (Personal Independence Payment) or higher rate mobility element of DLA (Disability Living Allowance), can use this money to fund the lease of a vehicle on the Motability scheme.
Changes from the Autumn 2025 Budget are now in effect
Following the Autumn 2025 Budget, changes to the Motability scheme took effect on 1 July 2026. VAT now applies to advance payments (wheelchair-accessible vehicles stay zero-rated), Insurance Premium Tax has been added to leases for the first time, and fewer premium vehicle brands remain available through the scheme. Many advance payments have risen by around £400 on average.
New leases also come with a lower annual mileage allowance, a higher excess mileage charge, and reduced tyre replacement cover, and you’ll need a VE103 certificate if you’re driving a Motability vehicle in Europe.
These changes only apply to new leases — if you’re already on the scheme, your current terms continue until your lease is up for renewal.
For the full breakdown, read our Changes to the Motability scheme article.
Alternatives to Motability scheme
For all those people who don’t qualify for the Motability scheme, or who prefer not to use their monthly benefit to pay for a car, there is a good market in second-hand WAVs, which offers a considerable cost saving, as with any vehicle. Typically, pre-owned WAVs offered for sale by specialist dealers tend to be single owner and low mileage, with a good service history.
If you need wheelchair accessible transport, or a car with adapted driving controls, for a short time only, it is possible to hire an adapted vehicle – either small or large – on a self-drive rental basis.
Leasing a scooter or powerchair
Many people don’t realise, but you can also lease a mobility scooter or powerchair through the Motability scheme. This could be useful for non-drivers with mobility needs. You can only do one or the other – it isn’t possible to have an adapted vehicle and a mobility aid at the same time.
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Further reading and resources
Changes to the Motability Scheme
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5 Replies to “Motability scheme”
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wheelchair accessible vehicles can be hired from Open Road Access (https://openroadaccess.co.uk/). They have a database of all places that hire WAVs so can find the one closest to you. In my case, I had to get from London to Yeoville in The West Country to my mother’s funeral on a Monday morning.
Googling ‘wheelchair accessible vehicle to hire’ was useless. It found two or three hire firms but none anywhere near London. ORA found a place in Basildon. They dropped the car on the street outside my house on the preceding Saturday, when the man bringing the car showed us how everything worked, though the terms of the insurance meant we could not drive it until Monday. Someone came on the Tuesday to pick the car up. we had to leave the car with the same amount of petrol in the tank as when it was delivered.
Thank you for highlighting this service, Amy – I’m sure many site visitors will find it useful!
Best wishes,
Frances
I heard a lot about this on the radio, it was driven excuse the pun in the main by misinformation and the search in some tabloids as a good headline, constantly referring to the government motability scheme, which it is not, as we all know that is a company, and not the government mobility component of PIP.
There was also the use of phrases like driving around in luxury cars, whilst there is in the UK a presumption of luxury associated with these brands, the only models available on the scheme are from the basic end of the range, which in Germany would be no different to drying a Ford. Yes there is a luxury end to the brands, but not on the scheme.
I did a comparison on the BMW X1, apart from the badge there is nothing luxury about the car as a driving experience. To lease privately I found on the day it was slightly cheaper on the private lease, other than the insurance.
As for the Vat, this is basically the government clawing back part of the benefit it has handed out and to even consider Vat on a WAV is frankly disgraceful, the advance payment is a lot even for the entry level vehicle.
My friend’s daughter is severely physically disabled and has limited understanding. My friend had hoped that in the future, as she gets older herself, to get a vehicle which could take her daughter’s wheelchair. Are the new rules saying that no financial help will be available after January 2025?
Thank you.
Hello Margaret
No, not at all. It is just this one-off payment that is coming to an end in January. If your friend’s daughter gets the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP or DLA, that can be used to pay the lease on an adapted vehicle.
There are also means-tested grants available to help with the cost of the advance payment, if that is an issue for her. More details here https://www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/charitable-grants/scheme-related-grant-programmes/grants-for-cars-and-vehicle-adaptations/ (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Best wishes,
Frances