[youngtaff]

Motability is not 'a Government scheme that buys people cars'

People use the mobility part of their PIP payments to lease a car from Motability which is an independent company, they could use the mobility payment to pay for taxi instead.

[gib444]

It's also misleading to treat it just like another independent private company too (not just because Motability consists of both a limited company and a charity (or two, IIRC)). The limited company reinvests revenues or transfers to its charity, not to private shareholders. Its origin was a charity.

But the only reason it exists is because of government funds and government policy.

The scheme would collapse if the government stopped allowing benefit money to be used for Motability leases. The banks lent them money under the reassurance of the government funding.

But yes, they lease the vehicles, they don't sell them.

EDIT: my comment may have some minor inaccuracies. I just found https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmwo... - a very detailed description of the company, charities etc

[Chaosvex]

The government heavily subsidises it. It's not a government scheme but it walks and talks like one.

[KaiserPro]

its £77 a week. so its not going to buy you a top end car, you'll need to top up. if you want something "decent"

[Chaosvex]

I'm not talking about that. The government waives multiple taxes for the scheme. Off the top of my head, no VAT on the car purchases, no luxury tax on vehicles worth £40k+, no insurance tax, no VED (road tax).

The scheme has cost billions in lost revenue and it's the only reason it can exist. The exact accounting is up for debate because it's complex but nonetheless.

[youngtaff]

There are / were no £40k+ cars available on Motability

Can't find it now but there's a breakdown of the cars supplied somewhere and even when small BMWs etc were available very few people chose them - most people chose smaller average cars

Motability also plays a huge role in priming the used car market in the UK - without them there would be less choice and cars would be more expensive

[Chaosvex]

> There are / were no £40k+ cars available on Motability

This is categorically false.

> Motability also plays a huge role in priming the used car market in the UK

You could also argue that it's distorting the market. Having billions worth of subsidies supporting a market isn't necessarily good.

[youngtaff]

What 40k cars were available on Motability?

[KaiserPro]

> no VAT on the car purchases

You can't buy the car, and your limited on miles to 10k, and VAT is now payable, along with insurnace tax. plus you can't lease a landrover.

but like I just don't get it. its not like you have a choice to be on PIP. its fucking humiliating to get on PIP, and keep on it.

[Chaosvex]

Yeah, Motability buy the cars. Stop trying to come up with gotchas.

[KaiserPro]

its a lease, I just don't know what to tell you

[MagicMoonlight]

And you can claim you have anxiety in order to get a brand new Audi. So it’s a government scheme which buys people cars.

It’s not independent, because it derives all of its income from the government and uses it to buy people brand new top of the range cars.

[KaiserPro]

> And you can claim you have anxiety in order to get a brand new Audi.

You're gonna have to cite sources on that one, but I would sincerely doubt that £77 a week will allow you to lease an Audi.

Also the pip claimant has to be probed by a panel every three years to keep getting the benefit, unlike say a state pension (but I paid for that I mean possibly you did, its still a non means tested benefit, unlike PIP)

[zipy124]

Not the OP but they have since been removed as they were luxury cars, but yes £77 a week did use to cover it. Here is the source directly from Audi:

https://media.audi.com/is/content/audi/country/uk/en/find-an...

[KaiserPro]

Luxury meaning about a £33k car,

which on lease is about £80 a month more expensive https://www.gateway2lease.com/cars/audi/a3-saloon/22564/tfsi... (motobility is £308 a month)

so its not like its a luxury car, its a new car.

Personally I'm more pissed off about pensioners on final salary still getting state pension, even though they don't need it. Thats far more fucking expensive and doesn't serve a purpose, well apart from buying votes. means test that shit, right now.

[youngtaff]

Yes and to get a 'luxury car' aka small Audi, BMW or Mercedes someone had to put down a deposit of £3,000 of their own money

[gib444]

And to lease it, receive government benefits

And I wonder how much of that £3k is just saved up benefits...

Which disabilities require an Audi or BMW btw?