Motability scheme

[Misty77]

I have a neighbour who struggles walking, and has a car on the motability scheme. For the past month or so he's not used the car at all - his son (who isn't disabled) has been driving about in it despite having a car of his own. This doesn't seem fair to me....

[Panic Button]

Yes, but who is losing out?

If he has his own car he is still paying tax, insurance etc.

Or does the disabled person get fuel payed for?

[Panic Button]

Sorry, paid for

[Ethel]

Not fair to whom? If a person has a car under the Motability scheme they still pay for it. If they didn't have the car,they'd have the cash instead.

I don't understand your point - are you saying your neighbour should have the cash and not the car, and his son is taking advantage?

Or he shouldn't have the car at all if he is not driving it?

[TWR]

Im sure i am right on this, if the person that ownes the car gives his authority for his son to drive the Disabled driver about NO PROBLEM, but he cannot drive the car for his own pleasure.

[Ethel]

Motability also allows users to buy, rather than lease the car.

If your neighbour is buying the car he is free to do with it exactly as he pleases.

If it is on lease, then only the nominated drivers may drive on behalf of the disabled person.

[Toureman]

If a car is in the mobility scheme it can only be used when the disabled person is in the car, if it used without the disabled person in the car the disabled person could have it taken off them along with the disabled parking privelages so the disabled person is being stupid to allow it, no doubt the son is parking in disabled bays as well.

The road fund tax disc on the car is free and stamped on it is "disabled", Police and traffic wardens do look for this.

[gouldc]

My grandfather has a mobility car, and I'm allowed to use it (as a named driver on his policy) so long as I'm using it on his behalf (ie picking up a prescription or getting his shopping).

He normally drives, but is currently awaiting a hip replacement, so can;t drive (can barely walk!), so I use the car as and when he needs me to.

But as TWR points out, I couldn't use the car for my own personal use (ie back and forth to work).

[spaced]

Motability Vehicles, on lease, can only be used/driven by the person paying for it through their DLA or the appointed carer or person on the contract. If someone other than that is using the vehicle, they are doing so illegaly.

A very big problem that I face daily in my job, where motability vehicles are abused and used by anyone.

[Ethel]

Toureman - many private vehicles, not on motability, have the zero disability tax rating.

The disabled person does not have to be in the car - that only applies to blue badge parking where the disabled person cannot be left in the car in a disabled space but must get out, regardless of who is driving.

Providing the vehicle is being driven on behalf of the disabled person, it is perfectly legal for the named person to drive the car - but not use a disabled parking space,

[NORMANTHEDOG]

Toureman,me old mate,my daughter has a car,on lease,on mobility for my grandson who is 10,she also has a blue badge for him,she uses the car for all sorts of reasons,with or without him in the car,most people who have mobility pay for the car with their disability living allowance,instead of having the cash,they have the car,and can use it for what ever they wish.

[Misty77]

My point is, that the son seems to be driving the car for his own pleasure. My friend has a car and she relies on it to get about, the car is her lifeline - I know how important the Motability scheme is and how invaluable it can be to many people. But in this case, the disabled driver isn't using the car and his son is driving about as he wishes (ie: going to work and back) it gets me mad when schemes like this are abused.

[Lord Unstone]

the bloke needs shopping then. It is your duty as an honest citizen to do this. If he crashed the car,he would not be insured. Think of the consequenses.

[Toureman]

Read this..........


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Mot oringAndTransport/Yourvehicleandlicence/DG_100 28003

[mattie]

Our neighbours have cars through this scheme, it is really for the lady, as she can't get upstairs without a stair lift, but her husband has emphysema.

Her son also uses it, but ferries her around, as she doesn't drive, but also goes out in it on his own - seems fair to me.

[spaced]

no its not fair if he is using it to do anything other than transport her around or run errands for her. that is the whole point of a motability cat which is paid for by the end users DLA.

If they guy is using it to go round a mates or anything PERSONAL, then he is contravening the motability contract. End of.

[david1702198]

the motability scheme allows the disabled driver to nominate a person who can also be insured to drive the car incase the disabled persons health issues mean that he/she may not be able to drive the car on a prticular day therefore nominate the other to drive them, any other driver can be added to the insurance policy for �100 i think.

[david1702198]

as far is im aware the disabled person does not need to be present in the car at the time. well certianly was the case when my gf father had a mobility car.

[TheKLF99]

Misty77 you are right, it isn't fair if his son has a car of his own. The only restriction that applies in this case to the rules of motability though are the "denying of use to the disabled person". If the disabled person has asked his son can I go somewhere in the car and his son has said to him, no I'm going somewhere else, then that is breaking the motability rules, but if your neighbour has given permission for that person to use the car as long as he's a named driver it's fine. In addition to this part of the motability rules is that the vehicle must be kept roadworthy. So say for example the disabled person isn't well enough to go out in the car for 6-12 months they must get someone to drive the car, or else the car would become unroadworthy (and probably would have ceased up all together).

[flashgordi]

According to the government website that Tourman kindly provided a link to, this is a reference to the owner or person leasing the motability car enjoying the benefits of a free tax disc. I have been seeking clarity on this issue of whether or not someone can just hop into a motability car provided for their friend or relative and just scoot about anywhere they choose. So far i have found that if the customer has recieved a Tax Exemption Disc for the car, then anyone OTHER than the disabled person using that car is driving without road tax which is illegal. (of course, it's true that with the disabled person's authorisation, another person insured and named as a driver CAN drive the car provided the journey is a service specifically FOR the disabled person, i.e., shopping or prescriptions for that person.) But for a named driver to just drive a tax exempt car wherever he pleases seems to me to be an illegal thing whether or not the car is leased, owned or granted to the customer in place of benefit money. Its a tax issue.

[nessie287]

My sister and her partner both do not have a license and he would like to get a motability car with me as his designated driver. What you are saying is, that I would have to keep my own car to get me to work and back? And basically I would need to take my own car round to their house to take his car to do shopping, appointments etc? Where is the point in that? They would be better off just paying me for the petrol in my own car and keeping the DLA payment instead of getting a car that they can't use and I would not be allowed to drive for my own use. Any thoughts on this?