40 Years of Motability
For 40 years now, Motability has allowed people with disabilities to enjoy the freedom and independence of driving.
June 01, 2018
Founded in December 1977 by Lord Sterling and the late Lord Goodman, the Motability Scheme has helped millions of disabled people to enjoy the freedom and independence that so many people take for granted.
On the 6th December David Ennals, Secretary of State for Social Services, announced the formation of Motability in the House of Commons, supported by Patrick Jenkin on behalf of the Opposition. The all-party parliamentary support expressed then has continued over the last 40 years and has played a significant role in helping disabled people and their families across the UK to maintain their independence.
Today, the charity oversees the biggest car fleet in Europe, with 620,000 vehicles currently on the road, many of them specially adapted. Over the years it has provided some 4.5 million cars, mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs and giving users the opportunity to drive with ease.
Before Motability was introduced, the majority of disabled drivers were provided with 3 wheelers in the 60s and 70s. They were considered unsafe and impractical as they couldn’t carry passengers and were therefore withdrawn in 2003. Now you can get a vast range of cars with the Motability scheme, including the Ford Kuga and the Mazda CX-5 which is now available for the first time on the scheme.
Motability was a cross-party venture established by the late Lord Goodman, a Labour lawyer, and Lord Sterling of Plaistow, a Conservative peer who remains chairman. Dozens of manufacturers, insurers, banks and specialist converters offer discounts, cheap loans and the specifications that many with both physical and mental disabilities will benefit from.
When Ennals announced the creation of Motability, he envisaged what was essentially an advice service that would also negotiate discounts and other special arrangements.
It has turned into the remarkable enterprise that we see today, and it tributes the founders and the many thousands who have worked for and supported Motability over the past four decades. Furthermore, it’s an object lesson of what can be achieved when the state is prepared to let the private sector help deliver what might otherwise be considered a public service.
At Sandicliffe we have been involved in the Motability scheme since it began so we have more experience than any other dealership in the East Midlands. When you browse our Motability cars you will have a range to choose from, we stock hundreds of Ford, Kia, Mazda, Nissan and Skoda Motability cars. These range in size from small to family estate, SUV to MPV (multi-purpose vehicle). There are many benefits of the Sandicliffe Motability scheme, these include free tyre replacement, 1-year free road tax and many more.
If you are interested in the Motability scheme or think someone you know might benefit from it visit our Motability page or call us on 0115 9395000 and ask about our Nil Advanced payment options across all our brands.
