Motability: A Lifeline, Not a Luxury

On 10 September, The Times ran a piece questioning the Motability scheme. It warned that “one in five new cars sold in Britain are now bought by Motability … given £2.8 billion in taxpayer cash each year.” Read the article here

It’s a dramatic claim. The picture painted is one of disabled people cruising around in luxury cars at public expense.

It makes good copy. But it doesn’t match the reality.

Here’s the first thing to understand. Motability doesn’t decide who qualifies. That’s the job of the Department for Work and Pensions. If the DWP awards you the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you can choose how to use it. One option is to put it towards a Motability vehicle.

So when critics say people with “tennis elbow” or “social phobia” are getting cars, that’s not about Motability. That’s about how DWP sets the rules. Blaming the scheme for that is like blaming a shopkeeper because you don’t like who was allowed into the store.

Then there’s the “luxury car” argument. Yes, it’s possible to lease a BMW or Mercedes. But only a small fraction of customers do. Premium brands account for about 6–7% of the fleet. The rest are practical, everyday cars — Fords, Nissans, Toyotas, Kias. And when someone does choose a more expensive model, they usually make an extra payment themselves. It can be more about practicality than status: a boot big enough for a wheelchair, an automatic gearbox, or a vehicle that can take adaptations.

Another suggestion is that the scheme should only offer used cars. On the surface, that sounds thrifty. In reality, it doesn’t add up. Used cars are not the bargains they once were. With the shift towards electric vehicles, second-hand prices are high, and the stock is patchy. Older cars also break down more, cost more to adapt, and are less reliable. That’s not a risk you want when you depend on your vehicle to live your life.

Motability works because of scale. It buys new cars, leases them for three years, then sells them on. That predictable cycle keeps costs steady and makes the scheme sustainable. Switching to second-hand vehicles would wreck that balance. And it would hold disabled people back from moving into electric vehicles, just as the rest of the country is being encouraged to make the shift.

I know this first-hand. I’ve been a Motability customer for many years. I started with adapted cars and now drive a wheelchair accessible vehicle — a WAV. I live in an area with poor public transport that isn’t reliably accessible. Without my vehicle, I’d be stuck. For me, and for many others, Motability isn’t a perk. It’s how we get to work, collect prescriptions, visit family, and take part in community life.

The scheme isn’t perfect. Oversight and transparency are important. But let’s keep a sense of proportion. Motability is not spiralling out of control. It’s one of the most successful disability support programmes this country has ever created.

Instead of feeding myths, we should be celebrating what it delivers: independence, opportunity, and a fairer chance to live life on equal terms.