The Motability Scheme is an important initiative put in place to ensure individuals with disabilities, or the family of individuals with disabilities, have affordable access to vehicles that suit their specific needs.
A question often asked by those taking advantage of the scheme, however, is “Can I buy my Motability WAV?” In this article, we’re going to answer that question.
A brief introduction to the Motability Scheme
Are you unsure of what exactly the Motability Scheme is? As part of the Motability network, we can explain. We’ll take a brief look at it here, but for more information, take a look through our helpful Motability Scheme guide.
The Motability Scheme is a program here in the UK that enables those with disabilities to lease a new car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, powered wheelchair, or scooter, with their mobility allowance.
This allowance comes directly from the government and is offered as part of several financial benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA). This means the disabled individual does not pay for the vehicle out of their own pocket, unless they are making ‘top-up’ payments on top of allowance payments to get a more expensive model.
The scheme has many advantages, including grouping insurance, servicing and maintenance, MOTs, and breakdown assistance into one plan.
The individual keeps their Motability Scheme vehicle until their lease is up. For cars, the lease is typically three years. For WAVs, the lease is typically five years.
Can I buy my current Motability car at the end of the lease?
No, you cannot buy your Motability vehicle once your lease is up. This change was officially put in place in December 2023.
What are my options if I want to keep the Motability vehicle I have?
Unfortunately, there are no longer any simple ways to keep using the same vehicle you’ve leased via Motability.
The closest you could get to keeping the same vehicle would be to choose the same make and model when you apply for your next lease, though it will not be the same exact vehicle. There is a chance the same make and model will no longer be available, so this alternative is sadly quite luck-based.
Previously, it was possible to extend your lease to keep your vehicle for longer, but now there are significant limits to who can extend their lease and why. You cannot ask for a lease extension just because you enjoy your vehicle. Motability will offer short lease extensions if:
- Delays in the vehicle market cause more customers than usual to reach the end of their leases all at once.
- You require complex adaptations that cannot be transferred to your next vehicle.
I want to own my WAV; what can I do?
If you want to fully own your own wheelchair accessible vehicle, then the solution is buying one. By purchasing your own WAV, you’ll have full ownership control, without needing to worry about saying goodbye to the vehicle after a lease period – it can be yours for however long you want, or for as long as it works for you. If your adaptation requirements change, you can have them adjusted by trained engineers without needing to change the vehicle.
Head to your local wheelchair accessible vehicle supplier
Here at Ransome Mobility, we proudly serve the people of Suffolk and further afield across East Anglia, ensuring wheelchair accessible vehicles are accessible to buy or hire for all who need them.
If you’re ready to own your very own WAV, we have an ever-changing supply of fantastic vehicles looking for new homes. For those unsure about the commitment, we offer test drives as well as the chance to hire the vehicle for a day, weekend, or full week so you can see how the vehicle works for you. This opportunity is also open to those who simply need a WAV for a special weekend road trip or weeklong summer holiday.
As part of the Motability network, we also offer our vehicles through the Motability Scheme. Get in touch today and take a look at what we have to offer. If you live nearby or can make the journey, why not visit us at our Ipswich dealership? If you’re unable to get to us, we can arrange to bring the vehicle to your home. Give us a call and let’s work out a solution.