If you’ve been a reader of my blog for a while, you might be aware of the difficulties I went through in getting the right wheelchair for me. If you haven’t already, you can read more about this in my Wheelchair Service Update post. One of the issues Dan and I faced was in relation to cars. Wheelchair service were no help with their lack of advice. So I thought it would be useful to put some of the things that I learnt through my research together in a blog post. Hopefully this Buying Vs Leasing A WAV post will help other people who are trying to find a suitable wheelchair/car combination.
*This post was sponsored by WAV Compare. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. All monies made from my blog will go towards funding power assist wheels for my wheelchair. Please see my DISCLAIMER for more information.
The general gist of my wheelchair/car story is that wheelchair services advised me that I need a power chair. But, we then found out that a power chair wouldn’t go into our estate car. Unfortunately at this point, finding advice on suitable cars and financing them was left entirely to me. I received no help from wheelchair service. At one point they even tried to advised me to take the power chair and sort out the car later! So Dan and I looked into buying vs leasing a WAV, to try to work out if either of these would work for us.
I live in a small market town that, while it was great when we moved in (pre hEDS diagnosis), it’s not the ideal place for a wheelchair user. Particularly one who isn’t medically allowed to drive (due to my basilar type migraine). There are lots of things I wouldn’t be able to do with a wheelchair that wouldn’t go in our car (and my parents’ car).
To try and make a power chair a feasible option, Dan and I started looking into Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) and Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPVs). There are a few WAV options, depending on a person’s needs. They can be fitted with a ramp or a lift and can be set up for the wheelchair user to be in different positions in the car (driver, front passenger, etc.).
There are two main finance options for WAVs: the Motability scheme or buy privately. Something I noticed in my research was that there aren’t many leasing options for WAVs outside of the Motability scheme.
Now, as you’re reading this post please remember that everyone’s circumstances are different. What suits one person might limit another. The decision Dan and I made is the best option for us, with our situation. Had I been able to drive myself, our decision would have been different. You can find more on our decision in my Choosing A Wheelchair To Suit Your Needs post.
Buying Vs Leasing A WAV: The Motability Scheme
The word I heard the most when trying to sort out a suitable wheelchair/car combination was ‘Motability’. This came from fellow disabled people, as well as health and social care professionals (wheelchair services for example). Unfortunately, I was in the VERY stressful situation of having to take my PIP application to tribunal at the time.
For those of you who don’t know, to be eligible for the Motability Scheme, you have to be in receipt of the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP (or the higher rate for DLA if you haven’t been switched to PIP yet). Other awards that will allow you to access the Motability Scheme are the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement and the Armed Forces Independence Payment. When you sign up to the Motability Scheme, your mobility allowance is used to lease a suitable vehicle.
With me having to go to tribunal to contest my initial PIP decision, which gave me no support for the daily or mobility components. I had no idea whether I would be successful or at what rate. The process from initial application (phone call to ask for the form) to successful appeal took a year and four months in total. But, I had no way of knowing how long it would go on for or if I’d be successful. So I had to make a decision based on my current situation, that I wasn’t eligible for the Motability Scheme. I didn’t have the option of buying vs leasing a WAV.
For those who are eligible, the Motability Scheme has some great benefits. These include:
- Insurance, breakdown assistance, servicing and maintenance included in the price
- A new vehicle every three years (on ‘nearly new WAVs’) or five years (on new WAVSs)
- Finance is guaranteed if you’re in receipt of one of the eligible benefits
There are also some drawbacks to the Motability Scheme, including:
- You will never own the vehicle
- There are milage restrictions that you need to adhere to
- You’ll always be paying leasing fees while you’re on the scheme
- If you’re re-assessed and deemed to not be eligible for the enhanced rate of PIP, you will loose your vehicle
I’ve heard that the government are introducing a 6 month period where a PIP claimant is able to keep their car if they are contesting the decision made. However, this is little comfort to me, having spent a year and four months fighting my initial decision. This process caused my PTSD symptoms to resurface. For this reason, even if I’m deemed eligible for the enhanced rate at my PIP reassessment, I wouldn’t take advantage of the Motability Scheme. I’ve been through so much with PIP already, that I’d be terrified that at any moment the support would be wrongly taken away from me.
Buying Vs Leasing A WAV: Buying Privately
For those who aren’t eligible for the Motability scheme, or for those who don’t feel the scheme is suitable for them, there is another option – buying a WAV.
Now, buying a WAV can seem like a daunting prospect, with the price of small, basic new WAVs starting at £10,000. The majority of WAVs are significantly more than this. It’s a lot of money and something that for many disabled people just isn’t attainable. However, an alternative would be to buy a second hand WAV.
Buying a WAV has several benefits, which include:
- You will own the car, either immediately or once you’re reached the end of the finance period
- You aren’t limited to the number of miles you can do in your vehicle
- You have the option to sell your WAV and buy something else
There are some drawbacks to buying a WAV, which include:
- You would need to pass a credit check to be eligible for finance
- You would need to sort insurance, breakdown assistance, servicing and maintenance independently
- You don’t have the option to trade your WAV in for a new one every three to five years
Buying Vs Leasing A WAV: Which Is Cheaper?
This is a question that’s difficult to answer and needs careful consideration once you know the specific WAV that is going to be most suitable for you. At this point, you can start to think about buying vs leasing a WAV.
To give you an idea, the lovely people at WAV Compare have put together a price comparison, to give you a general idea of the cost of leasing a WAV through the Motability Scheme, vs buying the same WAV on finance.
WAV Compare say that “Advanced payments start from £1,195 for a basic Berlingo from GM Coachwork – through to a £32,000 for drive from wheelchair very nice VW Caravelle.
The true cost of a basic WAV through Motability is £16,437 – and can be broken down as follows:
Small WAV: Berlingo, Doblo or Partner
Advanced payment = £1,500.
260 payments of £57.45 = £14,937
Total = £16,437 – and you do not own the WAV at the end.
BUT – what about if you don’t mind a WAV that is 2 or 3 years old? Or you don’t do 1000’s of miles each year? Or you have a clean licence and experience driving so insurance cost will be low? Or a good credit rating? – then a WAV on finance may be worth exploring…
For example:
Small WAV: WV Caddy, Berlingo, Doblo or Partner.
Year: 2013/2014
Price: £12,000
Deposit = £1100
60 months agreement (5 years) of £232 = £15,081 (9.45% APR)
Insurance = £2500 (£500 per year)
Service & tyres = £1000 (£200 per year)
Total = £18,500 – but at the end you own the WAV.
As an estimate the WAV would be worth a third so the value being approx £4,000. It’s after this point that you have the option – you could sell the WAV or if it is in good condition with low milage keep it – you own the WAV so no longer have monthly finance payments, so therefore £230 better off each month.
The above is only a guide – the costs differ depending on a number of factors and should be explored in more detail to see what they would be for you personally.”
When considering buying vs leasing a WAV, it really is important to really consider your needs and the needs of your family. What’s right for one person won’t be the best option for another. And that’s ok. It doesn’t matter what other people think you should do. If that doesn’t help you live your life as independently as possible, then it isn’t right for you. The best thing you can do, is to research thoroughly and consider all options.
So, if you’re trying to find the most suitable WAV for you, at the best price, make sure you check out WAVCompare.com and motability.co.uk. Take your time, speak to as many people as you can and make the best decision for you and your family.
I hope this post has helped those currently considering their options to find the best wheelchair/car combination for their personal circumstances. You can also check out my Tips For Choosing A Car With A Disability post.
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