A Guide To Second-Hand Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs)
Choosing a second-hand Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) is a big decision. There are many impo...
Many people with a disability in the UK choose to use the Motability Scheme. You simply exchange your qualifying Mobility Allowance to lease a powered wheelchair, a scooter, a car or a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV). If you choose a WAV, every vehicle leased through the Motability Scheme comes with insurance for up to three drivers, full breakdown cover, annual road tax, tyre cover, windscreen replacement cover plus servicing and maintenance at an authorised supplier for the length of your lease. There's also a 20,000 mile per year mileage allowance. With a Motability WAV, the standard lease period is five years (two years more than a car lease), with the option to extend under certain circumstances.
You (or someone you care for) can apply for and lease a WAV through Motability if you (or they) currently receive one of the following higher or enhanced rate Mobility Allowances:
If you meet the above criteria, leasing a WAV through Motability is quite straight forward. You simply exchange your government-funded Mobility Allowance in return for your leased WAV. The money goes straight from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the relevant benefits agency to Motability every four weeks to pay for the lease of the WAV.
All WAV’s have what is referred to as an Advance Payment. This Advance Payment figure is set for every WAV by Motability each quarter (every 3 months), is fixed and is not returned to you at the end of the five-year lease (although you may qualify for the Motability Good Condition Bonus).
This upfront sum of money has to be paid to Motability before your vehicle is delivered. The Advance Payment amount for each WAV varies but it is generally higher when compared to a standard car leased through the Motability Scheme due to the additional costs involved when the WAV supplier converts the vehicle.
Charitable Grants are available to people who would otherwise be unable to afford the Advance Payment of the WAV that they need.
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After your lease ends and you've handed your current WAV back to the supplier, Motability could pay you up to £900 if the vehicle hasn't suffered any serious damage while you've been using it. The dealer you return it to will carry out a full appraisal of the WAV and, if Motability decide that the car qualifies for the Good Condition Bonus, they'll pay the money directly to you via a bank transfer or send you a cheque in the post, usually within 3-4 days.
Many Motability customers choose to use this money to help with the cost of the Advance Payment for their next Motability Scheme WAV. If you return your WAV before the end of the 5-year lease and it qualifies for the Good Condition Bonus, the Good Condition Bonus amount is paid pro-rata.
The Good Condition Payment replaced the Good Condition Bonus on 1 October 2022, and applies to all Motability vehicles ordered after that date.
If you think you may not be able to afford the Advance Payment for the WAV that you need, get in touch with the team at Motability Grants who may be able to provide financial help through their Charitable Fund. The Motability Foundation was founded in 1977, ‘with the purpose of enhancing the lives of disabled people with transportation solutions’ and has been able to help thousands of Motability customers.
The Motability Foundation considers each application on an individual basis. Remember, Motability Grants are means tested, so when they are considering your application, the following will be taken into account:
To apply for a Motability Grant contact the Motability Foundation on 0800 500 3186 or visit the Motability Foundation website. If they think you may be eligible, they will send you an application form. If you are successful, you will be assigned a case manager who will be your first point of contact, advise you and answer any questions you have.
If you are applying for a Grant towards a WAV, the Motability Foundation advise you to apply six months before you need the vehicle.
If you want a WAV as soon as possible, or you’re looking for a more affordable option, a nearly-new WAV is a cheaper and faster way to lease a WAV through the Motability Scheme.
Nearly-new WAVs are low mileage vehicles that have been returned to Motability before the end of their original lease. If you choose one of these vehicles, it can usually be delivered within a couple of weeks.
The nearly new WAVs available through the Motability Scheme are all under three years old, come with a lower Advance Payment and the same worry-free Motability package as standard. If you choose a nearly new WAV, the term of the lease is reduced to 3 years and the mileage allowance to 60,000 miles.
A Nearly New Motability WAV Could Be The Right Vehicle For You
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