Struggling with Motability Grant Restrictions – Anyone Else?

Hi everyone,

I’m having an incredibly stressful time with the Motability Foundation regarding a grant, and I’m wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation, being pushed toward a car that just isn’t suitable?

I’m truly grateful to have been awarded a grant, but the foundation is insisting that certain vehicles are suitable for me when, in reality, they aren’t. I need a car that’s high off the ground and has a boot large enough for my wheelchair, so a large SUV is essential. I also want to move to an EV, as using petrol pumps is painful for me, often causing my hands to bleed. Their suggestion was to use petrol stations where staff can fuel my car; however, this is completely unrealistic, impractical and contradicts the 'independent' element of PIP.

Unfortunately, the EVs they’ve suggested are all too low, and the only car they’ve deemed "suitable" in terms of size is petrol. On top of that, because they restrict additional top-ups, my choices are even more limited.

I did find a car that meets my essential needs, one that I can get in and out of without pain. It doesn’t have a power tailgate (which I originally requested), but I tested whether I could manage without one and found I could use a boot strap instead. I was happy to compromise because accessibility is my top priority.

However, after placing the order, the foundation told the dealership that if I go ahead, they’ll withdraw the grant entirely and I’ll have to self-fund, which is simply not an option for me. Their attitude throughout this process has felt completely lacking in empathy or understanding. They’re supposed to assess people individually based on specific needs, yet they seem to follow a rigid list and decide what we "need" without explanation.

Has anyone else faced something similar? How did you handle it? Any advice would be really appreciated!

Thanks for reading, hope to hear your thoughts.