Motability Scheme Eligibility

Do I Qualify for Motability?

Motability Dealer Sussex

Through the Motability Scheme, people with a disability can lease a brand new Ford, Kia, ŠKODA or Mitsubishi vehicle from Birchwood Group. The scheme is designed to deliver easy, straightforward motoring and your lease package covers most costs associated with owning and running a car. This includes aftersales servicing, insurance, road tax and breakdown cover.

It is simple to join the Motability Scheme and use your government-funded mobility allowance or supplement to pay for the lease on your new Ford, Kia, ŠKODA, or Mitsubishi car. You are eligible to join if you receive one of the following payments:

      • Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA) - as of April 10, 2019, this allowance is £61.20 per week
      • Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of the Personal Independence Payment (ERMC PIP) - as of April 8, 2019, this allowance is £61.20 per week.
      • War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS) - as of April 10, 2019, this allowance is £68.35 per week
      • Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) - as of April 10, 2019, the mobility element of the allowance is £61.20 per week.


To be entitled to lease a car using one of these disability benefits, you must have at least 12 months of payments remaining. If your allowance runs out before the end of the agreement, your claim must be renewed or extended in order to continue paying for your Motability lease. If your allowance is not renewed or extended, you will need to contact us to discuss next steps, but you will not be expected to pay the amount outstanding on the lease.

You can also apply on behalf of a child aged three or older who receives a mobility allowance, in order to drive the car on their behalf. The HRMC DLA payment is made from the date the child turns three, and you can apply up to three months beforehand for the lease to start on their third birthday.

There is no upper age limit to lease a Motability vehicle; you can apply to join the Scheme at any age as long as you receive one of the above payments. There is also no restriction on the number of people in the same household who lease a car through the Motability Scheme, as long as each individual meets the eligibility criteria. A Motability car needs to be used by, or for the benefit of, the person with the disability. However, they do not need to be in the car for every journey and other named drivers in the household can also use the car.

If you have any questions about your eligibility, please get in touch with your nearest Birchwood Group dealership. We have branches in Eastbourne and Hastings, and Washington with specialist Motability teams who can guide you through every aspect of joining the Motability Scheme.