Step 1: Check your Motability eligibility
Make sure you are receiving a qualifying mobility allowance and expect to have at least 12 months remaining on your award at the time you place your order.
Step 2: Work out what you need
If you can, begin by doing some research to understand what you need and what Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle solutions may be available to you.
You can do this by:
- Looking at WAV converter websites such as mobility-services.com
- Watching videos and reading articles about different WAV solutions
- Speaking to people with similar mobility needs or experiences
- Attending mobility exhibitions and events
Your McElmeel Mobility specialist will also be happy to talk to you about your wheelchair, passengers, equipment and everyday travel requirements.
Step 3: Establish the Advance Payment
Once you have identified one or two suitable Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, you can establish what the Advance Payment (AP) will be.
The Advance Payment is the upfront amount you pay in addition to your mobility allowance when the allowance does not cover the full cost of the vehicle lease.
Step 4: If necessary, discuss financial support
If you cannot afford the Advance Payment or essential adaptations, visit the Motability Foundation website and read the information provided about its Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle grant programme.
You can find more information at:
[www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/individual-grants/wheelchair-accessible-vehicle-wav](http://www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/individual-grants/wheelchair-accessible-vehicle-wav)
If, after reading the guidance, you think you may qualify for a grant, contact the Motability Foundation.
They will work with you to understand your circumstances and the mobility solution you require. Where appropriate, they may invite you to submit a grant application.
Step 5: Complete your application
You will need to provide the information requested by the Foundation so that it can assess your application.
Grant applications are means-tested, and your Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle requirements will typically be considered by a Case Manager.
It is important to work closely with your grants assessor and provide the information they request. They can only make an assessment based on the information and evidence you provide.
Step 6: What happens if I am offered a grant?
The type of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle you are offered grant support for will be based on the information provided during your application.
You may be given an indicative grant amount and a WAV size category, such as:
- Small
- Small-medium
- Medium-large
- Large
If a converter is not included on the initial list but you believe they can provide a suitable vehicle in the same size category and within the approved financial limits, you can contact the Motability Foundation and ask whether that vehicle can be considered.
Step 7: Have a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle demonstration
There may be several different Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles within each size category, and it is important to remember that every conversion is different, even when the base vehicle is the same.
You should try more than one WAV before making your final decision and should never feel pressured into ordering a vehicle.
Your assessment and demonstration should establish that:
- Your wheelchair fits correctly
- You can access the vehicle safely
- You can travel comfortably
- There is enough room for the passengers who regularly travel with you
- Your essential equipment can be accommodated
- The seating configuration works for you
- The vehicle is practical for your everyday needs
Step 8: Wait for the grant decision before committing financially
Your grants advisor can only assess your application using the information you have provided.
There is therefore a possibility that, after having a vehicle demonstration, you may discover something that changes your requirements and means your grant needs to be reviewed or adjusted.
It is important to understand the outcome of your grant application, including the level of financial support available, before finalising the financial arrangements for your WAV.
Can McElmeel Mobility help with my grant application?
We can certainly help you understand the process.
At McElmeel Mobility, our role is to help you identify a WAV that genuinely meets your requirements.
We will talk to you about:
- Your wheelchair
- Your passengers
- Your mobility or care equipment
- How you access the vehicle
- How you intend to use your WAV
If the vehicle you need has an Advance Payment that you are concerned about, we can explain the Motability Foundation grant process and help you understand what information you may need to provide.
The final decision on any charitable grant is made by the Motability Foundation, not by the WAV supplier.
What if my grant application is unsuccessful?
If your application is unsuccessful, it does not necessarily mean that you cannot get a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.
It means that, based on the information provided and the Foundation's means-tested assessment, you have not qualified for that particular grant support.
There may still be other options available.
For example:
- Another WAV may meet your needs with a lower Advance Payment
- A different size or conversion may be suitable
- You may be able to consider Motability's Nearly New WAV options
- There may be other funding routes worth exploring
The objective should always be to find the most appropriate vehicle for your needs, rather than simply choosing the most expensive or cheapest option.
Can I use my grant for a McElmeel Mobility WAV if we are not listed on my initial paperwork?
Potentially, yes, but this should always be agreed with your Case Manager before you proceed.
If you would like to consider a McElmeel Mobility WAV but we are not listed on your initial grant paperwork, you should check that:
- The vehicle falls within the same WAV size category approved by the Foundation
- The Advance Payment is within the financial limits of your grant
- The vehicle genuinely meets the mobility needs identified in your application
Do not order or financially commit to a different vehicle until the Foundation has confirmed that it is acceptable under your grant.
Don't choose your WAV based on price alone
When looking at Motability WAVs, it can be tempting to start with the Advance Payment and work backwards.
We believe the better approach is the opposite: start with your needs.
Ask yourself:
- What wheelchair do you use?
- How many people regularly travel with you?
- What equipment do you need to carry?
- How do you enter and leave the vehicle?
- Do you need someone to assist you?
- Do you need greater independence?
You can then consider the financial support and grant options available.
Applying for a Motability Foundation grant can seem daunting, particularly if you have never used the Scheme before, but the Foundation team will guide you through the application process step by step.
Speak to McElmeel Mobility about your WAV
If you are considering a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle through Motability and are concerned about the Advance Payment, speak to our team.
We can discuss your requirements, identify suitable WAVs and arrange a free demonstration at your home, school or place of work.
- England, Scotland and Wales: 0121 812 1800
- Northern Ireland: 02837 525 333
- Republic of Ireland: 04837 525 333
The right WAV starts with understanding what you need. The right financial support can then help make that solution possible.