The global car market is currently facing a number of challenges, all of which are leading to supply issues, delivery delays and a shortage of many new makes and models.
We understand that you may have a few questions about what is causing the current delivery delays and what you can do if your order is affected.
To help you, we’ve pulled together the answers to some of the common questions we’re getting at this time. Please speak to your dealer directly if your question is about a vehicle you’ve already ordered or are thinking of ordering.
Contents
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Supply issues explained
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Ordering a new car
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Extending your current lease
- I can’t find the car I want on the Scheme – what can I do?
- If I’m nearing the end of my lease, should I order now or arrange a lease extension and wait?
- I’m an existing customer – what happens if my next order is delayed?
- What if I’m already in a lease extension and my next order is delayed?
- What happens to my car insurance if my lease is extended?
- Am I still covered for maintenance and repairs when I’m in a lease extension?
- Will I need another MOT if my lease is extended?
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Scheme partners
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Charitable grants
Supply issues explained
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Why are vehicle orders being delayed? |
The main issue affecting new car supply has been a global shortage of semiconductors, or ‘chips’, which feature in most electrical items from washing machines and home computers, to TVs and new cars.
Each new car features around 1,500 of these chips, which act as the ‘brain’ of the vehicle, but high demand for electrical items during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a shortage of semiconductors. Although chip supply is improving, many manufacturers now have large order backlogs. It’s likely that longer lead times for new cars will continue for at least the rest of 2023, as manufacturers work through these backlogs.
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How is this affecting the Motability Scheme? |
We’re working hard to keep the Scheme as affordable as possible, but you may notice there are fewer cars available than in previous years and in some cases, Advance Payments may be higher than you’re used to.
Vehicles may also be removed from the Scheme at short notice at the request of manufacturers and dealers may struggle to get reliable information on delivery dates due to the various factors affecting new car supply.
Despite the ongoing challenges, for this quarter we have more than 200 cars with an Advance Payment under £500 and over 100 cars available with no Advance Payment. You can see the latest prices here.
Plus, from 1 March 2023, we’ve increased the New Vehicle Payment from £250 to £750 and you can now send this directly to your dealer to help with the cost of the Advance Payment on your next car. If your Advance Payment is more than £750, you’ll need to pay the difference to your dealer when you get your new car. If it’s less than £750, we’ll send the difference to you within a few weeks of delivery.
You’ll get the New Vehicle Payment if you order or collect your first Scheme car before the end of 2023, or if you’re already a customer, you’ll get this whenever you collect your next car.
You’ll only get this payment once – not every time you get a new vehicle.
Find out more about the New Vehicle Payment
If you’re looking to order a new car on the Motability Scheme, our ‘Find a vehicle’ tool has the most up-to-date information for the cars currently available on the Scheme. We’ve recently improved this tool, so it’s even easier for you to narrow down your options to view the range of cars that suit your needs.
Your dealer should be able to give you an idea of the current delivery times, but they won’t be able to speed things up and the information they have might change, so please bear with them.
Ordering a car
Did you know?
If you’re a car or WAV customer looking to join the Scheme or order your next car, you can start your application online with a Motability Scheme online account. You can update your personal details, allowance information and add the details for your proposed drivers all before you visit the dealership.
This will save you time on the day of your appointment and allow the dealer to spend more time helping you choose the right car.
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What can I do to reduce delays with my order? |
If you’re looking to order your first car on the Scheme, we would recommend you start your search as soon as you can. Many manufacturers are experiencing delays, so before you order your car, please check the expected delivery times with the dealership. You might find that a similar car from a different manufacturer is available sooner, so it’s worth speaking to a few different dealers before you place your order.
If you’re an existing customer, you’ll be able to order your next car three months before the end of your current lease. If you’re approaching the last three months of your lease, we’d recommend that you visit our ‘Find a vehicle’ tool and start thinking about your next car sooner than you may have done previously.
If you’ve extended your current lease, you can order your next car at any point during your extension. We’d recommend you keep searching for a suitable vehicle and place your next order as soon as you can. You can collect your new car as soon as it’s ready – you do not have to wait until the end of your lease extension.
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I’m unable to test drive my next car due to the supply issues – what should I do? |
Where possible, we always recommend that you take a test drive before placing an order. You could speak to a few different dealers as you may find they each have different makes and models available to test drive.
However, if it’s not possible to arrange a test drive, please at least ensure that the model you are considering has enough space for you and any passengers you’ll need to carry, is easy for you to access and comfortable for you to sit in and will meet your mobility needs for the next three years.
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Can I cancel my order if I don’t wish to wait any longer? |
Please speak to your dealer directly if you wish to cancel or change your order.
It’s worth noting that the current supply issues are a global issue affecting Motability Scheme customers and retail customers across most manufacturers. So, before you cancel your order, please make sure you’re aware of the timescales for the replacement car you are considering.
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What if the Advance Payment of the vehicle I’ve ordered changes after I’ve placed my order? |
Our price lists are usually updated every three months with new prices published at the start of January, April, July and October.
View the latest prices for the Motability Scheme here
The Advance Payment on a car can change throughout the year, but we freeze the price at the time you apply. This means it’s locked, even if it changes before you get your vehicle.
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What if my delivery date changes more than once? |
It’s possible that your expected delivery date might change more than once. Dealers are reliant on updates from the manufacturer and in some cases build dates and delivery times may need to change for reasons out of the dealer’s control.
If you’re an existing customer and this happens, we’ll continue to extend your lease for as long as needed to keep you mobile.
Extending your lease
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The car I want isn’t currently on the Scheme and I can’t find a suitable alternative – what can I do? |
If you’ve not ordered your next car by the end of your current lease, we’ll automatically extend your lease for up to two years to allow you more time to do this. If you’re already in a lease extension, we’ll automatically extend it again to take your lease extension to two years in total. For example, if you’ve already extended for 6 months, we’ll extend it again for another 18 months.
You’ll then get a new Certificate of Motor Insurance or temporary cover note from our insurance provider for this period.
You do not need to contact us to ask for this, we’ll arrange all of this automatically for you, but you can also do this by logging in to your Motability Scheme online account and going to the ‘Current lease’ section.
You can place your next order at any point during your lease extension. We’d recommend you keep searching for a suitable vehicle and place your next order as soon as you can.
Please note if you’ve already extended your lease for two years, we will not be able to automatically extend it again, so you’ll need to contact us to discuss your options.
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I am approaching the end of my lease – should I order now or arrange a lease extension and wait? |
If you’re nearing the end of your current lease, we’d recommend that you start the search for your next car as soon as you can. You can then place your next order three months before the end of your existing lease. Once you’ve placed your order, we can extend the lease on your current vehicle until your new one is ready.
Many vehicles are being removed from the Scheme at short notice by vehicle manufacturers due to the supply challenges, but by placing your order, you can ensure your vehicle is in the queue to be delivered even if this takes a number of months to arrive.
If you’re unable to order a suitable alternative before the end of your current lease, we’ll automatically extend your lease for up to two years to allow you more time to do this. If you’re already in a lease extension, we’ll automatically extend it again to take your extension to two years in total. For example, if you’ve already extended for 6 months, we’ll extend it again for another 18 months.
You’ll then get a new Certificate of Motor Insurance or temporary cover note from our insurance provider for this period.
You can also extend your lease by logging in to your Motability Scheme online account and going to the ‘Current lease’ section.
You can place your next order at any point during your lease extension, so if you find a suitable car for your needs, we recommend placing an order as soon as you can.
Please note if you’ve already extended your lease for two years, we will not be able to automatically extend it again, so you will need to contact us to discuss your options.
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I am an existing customer – what happens if my next order is delayed? |
If your next order is delayed and your new car is unlikely to arrive before the end of your lease, we can extend the lease on your current vehicle until your new one is ready. We’ll also extend your insurance, breakdown cover and the other aspects of your worry-free package, so you should not notice any difference with your lease.
You’ll just need to make sure you’ve completed the MOT on your vehicle by your original lease end date, as we won’t be able to extend your lease unless this is done. Your dealer should be in touch to arrange this, but please contact them directly if your test is due and you have not heard from them. If they are unable to complete your MOT for any reason, you can contact Kwik Fit and make an appointment at one of their centres.
More information on servicing and MOTs
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What if I’m already in a lease extension, but my next order is delayed? |
We can extend your lease until your new car is ready, even if you’re already in a lease extension.
If this means your lease is likely to extend more than a year beyond your original lease end date, you’ll need to arrange for another MOT and for some customers another service on your vehicle before it is handed back. We’ll cover the costs of any MOT or servicing as well as any routine repairs, even in a lease extension.
Remember, if you’re currently in a lease extension you do not have to wait to order your next car. You can place an order at any point during your extension.
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What happens to my car insurance if my lease is extended? |
If your lease is extended, we’ll also extend your insurance cover. You should not notice any changes with your insurance policy and you’ll get a new Certificate of Motor Insurance from Direct Line Motability (DLM) to confirm your cover has been extended.
Learn more about your insurance cover
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Am I still covered for maintenance and repairs when I’m in a lease extension? |
If your lease is extended, you’ll still be covered for any routine maintenance or repairs including tyre repair and replacement. We’ll also extend your RAC breakdown cover, so you should not notice any difference with your lease.
Breakdown assistance and cover
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Will I need another MOT if my lease is extended? |
In most parts of the UK your vehicle will need an MOT after three years (four years in Northern Ireland) and every 12 months after this. This means if you extend your lease for two years, you might need two more MOT tests before you hand your vehicle back at the end of your lease.
Your dealer should contact you when your next MOT is due.
The cost of your MOT is included in your worry-free package, even in a lease extension.
Scheme Partners
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Are there any delays with vehicle repairs? |
The current supply issues are having an effect on some vehicle repairers. The availability of certain parts, particularly those needing semiconductors, has been impacted and means it could take longer for them to arrive.
These delays also mean workshop space is taken for longer which has an effect on the number of vehicles that can be repaired.
If your vehicle needs insurance repairs, DLM and their approved repairers will communicate with you throughout your claim. They’ll keep you informed of the progress and let you know if any delays are likely to occur.
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Are replacement vehicles being affected? |
Our hire car companies are also being impacted by the ongoing supply issues. The number of vehicles they have available, the size and type of vehicle they can offer, and how quickly they can get a vehicle to you are all being affected.
This means it may take longer to get a suitable hire car than you’ve previously experienced, and it’s unlikely we’ll be able to meet requests for specific features.
If it isn’t possible to provide you with a replacement vehicle for any reason, our insurance provider will contact you to discuss alternative arrangements.
Read more about replacement vehicles
Charitable grants
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Can the Motability Foundation increase my grant award so I can get a vehicle faster? |
Motability Foundation’s grants awards are awarded in line with set policies and after considering everything the person applying mentions during the application process. This ensures the vehicles are suitable for their mobility needs, and the foundation can help as many people as possible with the funds available.
With this in mind, they can only consider increasing a grant award to speed up delivery of a vehicle in exceptional circumstances, such as when the beneficiary has a life-limiting condition.
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Can I order a different vehicle than the ones listed on my award letter? |
No, you can only use your grant to order one of the vehicles listed on your grant award letter.
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Can I get a car more quickly if I cancel my grant application? |
Whether you order a car through the Motability Scheme, either with or without a charitable grant, or privately at a dealership, it will be subject to the same delivery lead times and delays.
If you have applied to the Motability Foundation for grant assistance, your application should take up to four weeks to consider.
If you already have a Scheme vehicle, you might be able to extend your lease for up to two more years. The easiest way to do this is in your Motability Scheme online account:
If you’ve already extended your lease for two years or more, please contact us on 0300 456 4566 to discuss your options.
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Can you speed the delivery up for me because I have been awarded a grant? |
Whether you order a car through the Scheme or privately at a dealership, it will be subject to the same delivery lead times and delays, and Motability are unable to speed up the delivery of your vehicle.
If you have received an award letter from the Motability Foundation, it is not possible to increase your grant award or use your grant award towards vehicles other than those listed on your award letter to speed up delivery. The foundation can only consider increasing a grant award to speed up delivery of a vehicle in exceptional circumstances, such as when the beneficiary has a life-limiting condition.
You can find more FAQs about charitable grants here
Find a dealer
There are over 4,500 Motability dealerships in the UK, and each has at least one Motability Scheme specialist who will provide advice on which car best suits your needs and the latest information on the current supply issues and delivery delays.
If you’re looking to join the Scheme, or order your next car, find the details for your local dealers using our Find a Dealer tool.
