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Motability Adaptations
Find out how you can have your vehicle meet all requirements
- Over 70 no-cost aids
- Choose from a multitude of options
- All ordered through your dealer
Getting your car equipped
While many cars can support the needs of many Motability drivers or passengers, there are occasions where a more comprehensive approach is required to ensure the occupants have the essentials covered.
Motability adaptations are just what make this possible - and there is a huge range of changes that can be made to a car, including alterations for Driving, Stowage and Access. No matter how big or small, the Motability team will be able to help you make them a reality.
Such changes can be specified when selecting your new car, and between our specialists at the dealership, the great people at Motability and the adaptations installers, we’ll be able to organise the fitting and finance aspects of your new vehicle. When your car arrives, it will be tailored to your needs and ready to drive away.
Your three steps to getting your Motability adaptations
Speak with an installer:
You’ll find over 100 adaptation installers for Motability cars in the UK. Speaking with such an expert will help you understand which of your required adaptations will work best with which car, as not all adaptations will work with every vehicle.
Visit your dealer to choose your car:
Once you know what you need, you can pay a visit to see your Motability Specialist here at Stoneacre.
You can find the best Stoneacre dealership for you, whether it be for location or the manufacturer you have your heart set on, and arrange your visit ahead of time so you’ll have a dedicated appointment with our Specialist.
Order your car and adaptations:
Once everything has been decided upon in terms of a car and adaptations, it’s time for us as your dealer to take care of the ordering process.
We will work with your preferred installer, ensuring the car is fitted with everything you require, and a free introductory session can be arranged by the installer if necessary for a guide on how to use your new car and its adaptations.
Types of Motability adaptations
There are three core areas in which adaptations can help a driver or passenger increase their mobility when it comes to cars: Driving, Stowage, and Access.
Within each area, you’ll find numerous options, whether it be for the benefit of being at the wheel, storing equipment or helping with the access in and out of the vehicle.
Driving adaptations
Typically in place to help with speed control, steering and signalling, driving adaptations can include such modifications for acceleration and braking, pedal extensions, an easy release handbrake and even remote control devices for operating the car’s controls.
Here are some of the most popular adaptations in this area:
Push/pull device - if you struggle to use conventional pedals for acceleration and braking, then this is a device that can help you control such functions by pulling back for acceleration and pushing forward for braking. This can be separate or integrated into the steering wheel as a ring device.
Pedal extensions - for those who may have difficulty in reaching the pedals, they can be brought towards you in order for you to control acceleration and braking easily.
Easy release handbrake - if the car you’re interested in comes with a conventional handbrake that you would be unable to operate, you can have an easy release handbrake fitted that is operated by pushing a button.
Remote control devices - an all-in-one device which can be setup to operate many of the car’s functions such as indicators, wipers and headlights.
Stowage adaptations
For many people involved in the Motability Scheme, it is vital to have the appropriate amount of space and accessibility for such items as a wheelchair or an electric scooter.
It’s important that these everyday appliances can be removed and stored with ease, and so numerous adaptations are available in this area - here are a few of the most popular:
Four-way hoist - for those transporting a scooter or large wheelchair, a four-way hoist will help massively to manoeuvre the device in and out the boot of the car - all at a touch of a button. Just be mindful that the rear seats will need to be adjusted/folded down, so if there are regular passengers in the rear of the car then you may need to look into alternatives.
Two-way hoist - for a lighter wheelchair, a two-way hoist could be the solution for getting it in and out of a vehicle. Again, the rear seats will need to be adjusted or folded flat to accommodate for the wheelchair and hoist.
Rooftop unit - this is a stowage option where the likes of a foldable wheelchair can be stored in a rooftop box. The unit has an electric hoist that can lift the wheelchair from the ground and guide it into the box.
Access adaptations
As an alternative to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), these adaptations allow for easier access into the vehicle, including the ability to remain seated in the front of the car.
Here is a selection of what can be had in this area of Motability adaptations:
Transfer plates - providing a surface between the car seat and a wheelchair, transfer plates are a simple and effective way of going between the two. Transfer plates can be manual or automatic, but it is important to consider your own upper body strength, as you’ll be moving yourself between the car and wheelchair via the transfer plate.
Electric person hoist - with a permanent mount fitted to the car, this hoist utilises a specially-designed canvas sling seat to transfer someone between the vehicle and wheelchair. Button control is used to raise or lower the sling seat, while some parts of the hoist can be stowed elsewhere in the car whilst in transit.
Swivel seats - for adapting the car’s seat itself, you can spec a swivel seat that can be had in either manual or automatic versions. A swivel seat can turn and be lowered or tip to make access in and out of the vehicle easier. It’s also possible to get a swivel chair which can move in and out of the car. Additionally, you can spec a wheelchair swivel seat that can be used in the car as normal, and then be transferred to a wheelchair base for an easy transfer, though these require help from others to put the wheelchair base into position and also to store it once you’re in the car.
Motability adaptations prices
One of the great parts about getting car mobility aids through Motability is that over 70 of the most popular adaptations can be fitted completely free of charge.
For any adaptations needed for your car that do cost extra, you can take a look at the Motability adaptations price list and get an accurate steer of any additional costs that your order might incur.