You might have heard people ask if Motability Scheme cars are free. The simple answer is: no, they’re not. You pay for your lease using your qualifying mobility allowance, and sometimes top this up with a one-off Advance Payment for certain models.
But we do try to make things as simple as possible, as the price includes things like insurance, servicing and breakdown cover. That way, your payments are straightforward and it’s easier to budget.
Key facts
- Most Motability Scheme car leases are for three years, or five for a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)
- Customers pay for their lease with their qualifying mobility allowance. The enhanced mobility rate of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is currently £77.05 a week
- Many cars require an Advance Payment to cover the difference between allowance payments and the overall cost of the car during the lease period. This is paid upfront by the customer to the dealer
- The lease payment includes the cost for insurance, maintenance and breakdown cover
If you receive a qualifying mobility allowance, the Scheme is one way to lease a car that helps keep car travel simple and good value.
- What you pay with the Motability Scheme
- What’s included with the Motability Scheme
- How the Scheme compares to other ways of getting a car
- Motability Scheme cars for every budget
- Is the Motability Scheme right for you?
- How to join the Motability Scheme
If you choose to lease a car through the Motability Scheme your higher-rate mobility allowance is paid directly to us from you’re allowance provider every four weeks.
Some cars also have a one-off Advance Payment, which you pay to your dealer when you collect your car.
If a car costs less than your allowance, you keep the difference.
At the end of your lease, usually after three years, you return the car and, if you want to, choose another.
You can see exactly how this compares to other leasing companies on our Pricing spotlight, which shows the total cost of leasing the same model through different providers.
With most other leases or car finance options, you’ll usually need to arrange and pay for insurance, servicing, breakdown cover, and maintenance separately. On the Motability Scheme, we simplify this by building the costs into our all-inclusive package, helping to make budgeting more straightforward.
Many adaptations are also available at no extra cost, helping make driving or access easier if you need it.
How it compares to other ways of getting a car
If you’re thinking about leasing or buying privately, it’s worth looking at the total cost over the same three-year period. With a Personal Contract Hire (PCH) agreement, you lease the car and hand it back at the end, similar to the Scheme, but you’ll usually still need to pay for insurance, servicing, and maintenance separately, up-front.
A Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) plan gives you the option to buy the car at the end, but the up-front cost and the monthly payments can be higher, and you’ll still have the same running costs to cover.
Buying a car outright can work if you plan to keep it for many years, but you’ll need to budget for all your motoring expenses along the way.
The Scheme keeps things simple by wrapping most costs into one regular payment in exchange for your allowance.
There’s a wide choice of cars on the Scheme, so you can find something that fits your needs and your budget. Cars fall into three main groups:
- Cars that cost less than your allowance, so you keep the difference
- Cars that cost the same as your allowance
- Cars that cost more than your allowance, with a one-off Advance Payment at the start of your lease
You can use our Car Search tool to filter by Advance Payment to see which cars are available in your price range.
If you prefer predictable costs and less paperwork, the Scheme can make motoring easier to manage. You do not need to drive yourself, up to three named drivers can be insured on your car, and you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with full breakdown cover and maintenance included.
If you’d rather own a car outright or keep it for longer, another option might suit you better. What matters most is choosing what works for your lifestyle and budget.
Your local Motability Scheme dealer can talk you through all of this.
Find out how changes in the car market are impacting the Scheme.
Joining the Motability Scheme is simple. Once you’ve checked you’re eligible, you can search for a car and visit a dealer. You can then talk to a specialist to see cars up close and take a test drive before ordering your new car.
Scheme specialists are on hand at the dealer to support you throughout the process and throughout your lease.
Get more information about the Scheme
We’ve helped over 860,000 customers keep their independence.
And it’s not just cars available on the Scheme. You can also lease a wide range of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), scooters and powered wheelchairs through the Scheme, with the same all-inclusive package you get with a car.
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Latest Motability Scheme Price List 2025
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