Can I get a Motability car with PIP?

Which PIP rate you need

Only the enhanced rate of the PIP mobility part lets you join the Motability Scheme. The scheme lets you lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair using your mobility money.

The daily living part does not count. You could get enhanced daily living and still not qualify for Motability.

How to get enhanced mobility

You need 12 points or more across the two mobility activities:

• Planning and following journeys. This covers people who cannot plan or follow a route, or who face overwhelming psychological distress when making a journey.
• Moving around. This looks at how far you can stand and then move. For example, if you can only move between 1 and 20 metres, that scores 12 points on its own.

You can add points from both activities. For example, "cannot plan the route of a journey" (8 points) plus being able to move only 50 to 200 metres (4 points) gives 12.

How Motability uses your PIP

Once you join, some or all of your weekly mobility money goes towards the lease. For a car, insurance, routine servicing and breakdown help are included.

If your PIP changes

PIP awards are reviewed. If your mobility award ends and is not renewed during the lease, you have to give the vehicle back. To avoid a gap:

• Report changes in your needs to the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433.
• When your award is ending, you can make a new claim up to 6 months before the end date.
• If your mobility rate is cut, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration, usually within 1 month of the decision.

Vehicle tax if you do not use Motability

With enhanced mobility you can claim vehicle tax exemption for one vehicle, even if you do not lease through Motability. The first time, you claim at a Post Office. The vehicle must be registered in your name or your nominated driver's name. On standard mobility, you can apply to DVLA for a 50% reduction using form V10.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

• Wales: the same rules as England.
• Scotland: PIP has been replaced by Adult Disability Payment. If you get the enhanced mobility part, you can apply to lease an accessible vehicle.
• Northern Ireland: PIP is run by the Department for Communities. For an existing claim, call the PIP Centre on 0800 587 0932.

Related guides

• Who can use the Motability Scheme?
• How much is PIP?
• How do PIP points work?
• How do I apply for a Blue Badge and how much does it cost?
• Can I get free car tax if I'm disabled?

Where this comes from

• Financial help if you're disabled: vehicles and transport (GOV.UK)
• PIP: how much you'll get (GOV.UK)
• PIP: report a change of circumstances (GOV.UK)
• PIP Regulations 2013, regulation 6 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Claims and Payments Regulations 2013, regulation 33 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Mandatory reconsideration (GOV.UK)
• PIP Centre contact details (Department for Communities)
• The Motability Scheme (nidirect)
• Adult Disability Payment (mygov.scot)