Insurance on motability

babscat

Hi everyone,
I have been awarded ongoing enhanced mobility for PIP, so I’m looking at getting a car through the motability scheme.
The problem is this: my husband is my carer and works part-time on a self employed basis as a photographer. He only goes out on a photo shoot once or twice a month, maximum, as the majority of his work is at home on the computer. He works about 12 hours a week all together, 
I used to drive but due to health problems I haven’t driven for over three years, so my husband will be the main driver. 
Do you think they will be happy for him to drive the car to photo sessions? If not he’ll have to consider doing something else.
thank you.

Government_needs_reform

@bobcat
The disability car is for the disabled person only. So your husband cannot use it for work or Business. But he can be registered as the main driver and take you anywhere you need to get too.

Well done on your ongoing award btw.

CockneyRebel

A motability car can only be used for the benefit of the claimant, but you do not have to be in the car. For example your husband could legitimately use the car to pick up your medication but not to go to the pub

Government_needs_reform

@bobcat
This will help you understand futher.

Misuse would include:

• Not giving the disabled person the benefit of the car
• Driving whilst uninsured or banned
• Using the car in a criminal act
• Lending, sub-leasing or selling the car
• Using the car for unauthorised business purposes, for example, as a taxi or delivery vehicle
• Not taking proper care of your car

See this for full Motability regs. https://www.motability.co.uk/about-the-scheme/how-your-car-can-be-used/

babscat

Thank you Government_needs_reform for your swift reply.
We did think that might be the case.
I had been on indef DLA and then transferred to PIP. First assessment was a nightmare and only given two years award, with a review after 10 months, so to get ongoing, until ‘at least 2029’ was a massive relief!! 

babscat

Thank you CockneyRebel,
Thankfully my husband never goes to the pub! Lol. 

April2018mom

A Motability car is for your benefit only. For example your husband could take the car to pick up your medication without you. He can not however decide to take the car to go food shopping without you or drive to a pub alone. Hope this helps you understand what the rules are. 

Government_needs_reform

@bobscat your welcome glad to help. At least now you can relax now having your ongoing award?

I also get ongoing PIP and I bought a 4 year old car with less the 20.000 miles on the clock. I was on Motability but to have the car from them really was not worth keeping as I was not using it much.

That may be a way to go if you can afford to do it that way or you only do low milage.

My insurance is only £220 a year. Oh zero tax also.

babscat

April2018mom,
That sounds crazy to me! My husband invariably has to go food shopping without me as I am too ill to leave the house - if he didn’t we would starve! 
I think I’d better give Motability a call on Monday. If those really are the rules it would be useless for us and for many other disabled people too.

poppy123456

The mobility car can be used to go food shopping because this will benefit yourself too.

babscat

Government_needs_reform,
unfortunately, as my husband is my carer, and can therefore only earn a very limited amount, we don’t have the money to be able to buy a car. We’ve been leasing a car, but that started when my husband was still working, before my health deteriorated even further. We’ve now found ourselves in catch 22. I don’t think any companies would lend us money for a car, but we need one as I can’t walk more than a few feet. Worse case will be that he’ll have to give up the photo work and we’ll have to tighten our belts even more! 

Government_needs_reform

@bobscat Sorry to here this, it's hard trying to balance the books so to speak. Maybe just pick up one for a few quid for now and save your mobility money, that's how I done it.

 Also added below here is for a few people confused by the usage of the vehicle.. From the Motability site. We’ll ask you to make sure: The car is used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person.

This does not mean that the disabled person needs to be in the car for every journey. In practice, this means other named drivers in the household can use the car for shopping and other routine activities, as long as the disabled customer will benefit Only drivers approved by RSA's standard insurance underwriting criteria and listed on your Certificate of Motor Insurance can drive the car*

KG100

Would it be possible for you to go with him on his photo shoot ?
Might not be a problem then.

poppy123456

babscat said:

Government_needs_reform,
unfortunately, as my husband is my carer, and can therefore only earn a very limited amount, we don’t have the money to be able to buy a car. We’ve been leasing a car, but that started when my husband was still working, before my health deteriorated even further. We’ve now found ourselves in catch 22. I don’t think any companies would lend us money for a car, but we need one as I can’t walk more than a few feet. Worse case will be that he’ll have to give up the photo work and we’ll have to tighten our belts even more! 

As you're already leasing a car then you will need to speak to the finance company first because there could be penalties if you end the lease agreement early. It maybe worth you continuing with this lease until the end and then think about a mobility car later.

babscat

poppy123456 Our private lease finishes this November, so we won’t be ending the agreement  early. 

babscat

KG100 unfortunately I am generally not very well so it would be unlikely I’d be able to go. The photo shoots are really for my benefit because without the income, which isn’t allowed to be a lot anyway, finances will be crazily tight ☹️

poppy123456

It's still working. My advice is to ring motability tomorrow morning and ask them.

atlas46

Hi @babscat

There is nothing to worry about.

What you have been quoted on this thread are the guidelines of the Motability Scheme.

There is no hint of abuse of the scheme, in that the car will be used by your husband, to maintain joint income of the household (for your specific benefit).

In legal terms, all you need to prove is a “causation link” in any use of the car.

In your case, without said photo shoot, destitution might await you.

I provide a worked example, I have a Motability car, my wife has COPD, as a consequence each month she attends her GP, using the car (without me).

There is a causation link, in that if my wife does not use the car, then her health and well being will be put at risk.

As a further consequence so will mine.

Let us know if you need more assistance or guidance.

Best wishes.

babscat

atlas46

Thank you so much for your response. That to me sounds like common sense!

The fact is that my husband gave up full time work three years to become my carer as I have, unfortunately, gradually lost the ability to be independent. So .... the finances have been pretty tight!?

On average he only does about 1.5 photo shoots a month .... (he can’t earn more or we’ll lose the Carers allowance) but it makes a real difference to our household budget. 

We’re going to phone motability tomorrow and ask them. 

atlas46

Hi @babscat

Make sure you explain in detail about your financial situation.

Also the fact, if you were able to drive, you would drive your husband to his photo shoots..

But due to your disabilities you are now unable to drive.

Also, stress the causation link in using the car, to maintain you modest household income ( for your specific benefit).

I have always found the staff at Motability, both friendly and helpful.

Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

Government_needs_reform

@bobscat @atlas46 Iam sorry to say this but I still don't believe Motability will allow the use of that car for any work or Business activity.

bobscat I've read here your car at present is due to run out in November why not ask Mobility if you can buy the car of them, I don't know how much you would have to pay but worth asking.

Atlas46 Mobility I've too always found them very accommodating, But I'm pretty sure the insurance that's supplied is not for Business purposes.

bobscat I hope Mobility can do it for you and can proof me wrong, but I don't think I will be on this.

Good luck.