When you lease a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) through the Motability Scheme, you get an all-inclusive package that supports you throughout your five-year lease.
It covers the key things you need to keep your WAV in good working order and to give you peace of mind.
Your package includes:
- Insurance for up to three drivers
- Your WAV yearly check
- Services and routine repairs
- MOTs
- Support for your adaptations
- RAC Motability Assist for breakdowns
Your WAV supplier will let you know when your services, MOTs and yearly checks are due. They can also help with repairs or advice at any time during your lease.
Disability writer and Motability Scheme customer Shona Louise* shares how to make the most of everything that’s included, so you can keep your WAV running smoothly and feel confident on every journey.
Insurance for up to three drivers
Your lease includes insurance for up to three named drivers. This means you can choose the people who help you stay mobile, whether that’s you, a family member or a friend.
You can add or change drivers at any time through your Motability Scheme online account.
Your WAV yearly check
Your WAV supplier will organise a yearly check to keep everything in good running order. This is separate from your MOT and other services, and it can be done at home. The conversion elements of your vehicle are checked, including:
- Ramps
- Lifts
- Winches
- Wheelchair tie-downs
You will be contacted when this check is due, so you do not need to remember this yourself. Any repairs that are needed throughout your lease are included and can be done at home if needed.
When you have your WAV yearly check, your dealer will work to your schedule. I’ve always found them to be flexible and happy to fit around my working hours.
Get support when you need it
Do not wait until your yearly check is due to get in touch about any issues. You can contact your WAV supplier for advice at any time, or to organise repairs.
Services and routine repairs
During your lease, you’ll have regular services and routine repairs to help your WAV run smoothly. Your lease covers the cost of these services and any repairs for general wear and tear. This includes checks on:
- Engine oil
- Cooling system
- Windscreen washer fluid
- Lights
- Tyre tread and pressure
These services take place at set times during your lease or when you’ve reached a certain number of miles.
My first service happened a year after I got my WAV. I had only passed my driving test three months earlier and my mum had been driving my vehicle until that point. This meant I was not as confident a driver as I am now. I was unsure about driving such an unfamiliar journey. My dealer organised for my car to be picked up and dropped back to me. This eased all my stress and worries.
I received clear and regular updates and was also emailed a detailed report after my service. It was easy to understand and told me things to look out for, for example tyres that might need replacing soon. As a new driver, I appreciated that it explained everything in terms I could understand.
MOTs
Your lease package with the Scheme also includes the cost of regular MOTs. These make sure your WAV meets road safety and environmental standards.
Your first MOT will happen three years after getting your WAV. After that, you’ll have an MOT every 12 months. Your WAV supplier will get in touch with you to book it in. You can also check your MOT status on your Motability Scheme online account. You can use your account to manage your lease, check your insurance policy and add or change drivers.
It was simple to organise my first MOT. I received a text two months before my MOT was due, giving me lots of time to book it in. I contacted the Motability Scheme and they let me know where I could have it done. My nearest location was just ten minutes away, and the MOT itself only took one hour. The entire process was quick and straightforward.
Find out more about getting an MOT for your WAV with the Motability Scheme.
WAV adaptation services
You may have adaptations fitted in your WAV, such as an automatic lockdown system for your wheelchair. The installer will service those elements. Some services can take place at your home, but you may have to travel to your installer for others.
I have an automatic tailgate and an internal transfer system. Both are serviced yearly by separate installers. For one of these services, they came out to my home at a time that suited me but my internal transfer system and automatic wheelchair lockdown needed to be serviced at the installer’s location. This gave me peace of mind that my WAV was being well looked after though.
I also get advice and organise repairs outside of regular services. My powered wheelchair has a pin underneath it so I can independently lock it down in my WAV. Sometimes I can be rough on my wheelchair, and it came loose at one point. I contacted the installer and they saw me that same week to tighten it up.
RAC Motability Assist
One of the most reassuring parts of a WAV lease is having access to RAC Motability Assist. The RAC team know that, as a wheelchair user, you may not be able to get out of your car and move to a safer location. This means they’ll aim to send someone to help you as quickly as possible.
Motability RAC Assist can also organise onward travel for up to eight people. It can give you a replacement vehicle and take your vehicle to the nearest location for repair.
Remember to download the myRAC app for the quickest and easiest way to report any breakdowns.
As a new driver and wheelchair user, I was worried about what would happen if my car broke down. The first time I experienced a breakdown was on the motorway and I was alone. It was a scary experience, but RAC Motability Assist reassured and supported me so well. My WAV is fitted with an emergency button, so I do not need to worry about using my phone. I was connected to someone straight away, and they were happy to talk to me for as long as I needed.
Thankfully, the issue with my car was fixed at the roadside, and I was back on the road within one hour of calling. What could have been a stressful experience was made so much easier thanks to the support of the Motability Scheme.
Explore our range of WAVs
You can see the full range of WAVs and other vehicles available on the Motability Scheme by checking out our ‘Find a vehicle’ tool.
Shona Louise is a writer and access consultant. She writes about disability and accessibility and has worked with well-known publishers for over a decade. These include Metro, The Independent, DigitalSpy, Posability Magazine and Rooted in Rights. She is also a theatre photographer and campaigns for greater accessibility in the arts.
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