Adaptations and modifications

An adaptation is a device which has been fitted to enable or improve your driving or travelling experience.

Most customers organise their adaptations at the same time as ordering their car as part of what we call the Motability Managed Adaptations Programme (MMAP). If you arranged your adaptations in this way then any maintenance of these adaptations will be covered in the cost of your lease. If you have any problems with the adaptations, please contact your adaptation installer.

If you had adaptations fitted after your lease started then you will need to arrange and pay for any maintenance required directly with your adaptations installer.

View types of adaptations
Find an adaptation installer

Fitting new adaptations during your lease

If you think you need an adaptation fitted after you have taken delivery of your car, you can visit a mobility centre to discuss your needs with an expert. The Forum of Mobility CentresOpens in new window has 17 independent assessment centres across the UK. Each can give advice and assessments to people with all types of disability. They will be able to make suggestions on driving adaptations, seating options and getting in and out of vehicles.

Any adaptation will need to be agreed with Motability before it is ordered and must be fitted by a Motability Scheme supplier. Please contact our Customer Services team on 0845 456 4566 with the details of the adaptation and installer to hand.

Cost of installing new adaptations

You will have to buy and pay for the fitting of any agreed adaptations after you have taken delivery of your car. The price of adaptations fitted during your agreement may differ from those purchased through MMAP when you first order your car. Our adaptations price list shows the cost of MMAP adaptations but prices for different brands of adaptation may vary. If the adaptation you want isn’t listed, please speak to your local adaptation installer to get an idea of cost.

At the end of your agreement

At the end of your lease, you can return the car with the adaptations in place and there's no need to pay extra to have them removed. Simply contact our Customer Services team on 0845 456 4566 to ensure we have the details.

Transferring adaptations

In some cases an adaptation can be transferred from your old car, although not all adaptations are suitable for transfer, for example, hand controls. If you want to transfer an adaptation, you must check with your installer or manufacturer to ensure that it is possible. You should also inform RSAM for insurance purposes.

Financial help

Many adaptations are available at no additional cost but if you are unable to afford an essential adaptation, Motability may be able to help. You can apply for a grant towards the least expensive solution that meets your needs.

Each application is considered based on a person’s financial situation and in any case, we are not able to fund the total cost of the adaptation.

Modifications

A modification is an optional extra such as:

Spoilers
Alloy wheels
Parking sensors
Tinted windows
Car stereo
Sunroof
Air conditioning
Roof rails, bars and racks
Car alarm

You can choose factory-fitted modifications, such as air-conditioning or a sunroof when you order your car, but you must pay for these.

If you have any problems with modifications, please contact your managing dealer.

Fitting new modifications during your lease

Before adding any accessories or making modifications to your car you should get agreement from Motability and RSAM .

If you make modifications without our agreement your car insurance may be invalid. You will be asked to remove the modification and return the car to its original state at your own cost.

Insurance for adaptations and modifications

All permanently fitted standard equipment is covered by your Motability insurance
Any adaptations fitted are also covered, provided the changes have been agreed by RSA Motability (RSAM) and Motability. Only a Motability Scheme supplier should fit or remove adaptations
All modifications, including tow bars, whether fitted by you, the manufacturer or the dealer must be approved by Motability and RSAM.

Related to Adaptations and modifications

How much do adaptations cost?

You can view a list of prices for adaptations purchased through the Motability Managed Scheme. Please note that the price of adaptations to be fitted during an agreement may differ (speak to a local Motability Accredited Supplier to discuss these), and authorisation must be given by Motability Operations before any adaptation is fitted.

Who pays for the adaptations to be fitted?

If the adaptations are arranged at the start of a new agreement through the Motability Managed Adaptations Programme, the cost of fitting is included in the price quoted by the dealer. Many of our most popular adaptations are supplied and fitted at no extra cost when arranged at the same time as ordering your car.

If you need to fit adaptations to your car during your lease, or you want to arrange the the adaptations yourself, you must use a Motability Adaptations Partner and pay the cost of the adaptations directly to them. See all the prices for adaptations fitted as part of the Motability Managed Adaptations Programme.

Can I add adaptations during the agreement?

Adaptations can be added during your lease, however you will need to inform RSA Motability and Motability Operations first to ensure you have adequate insurance. You must use a Motability Adaptations Partner and pay the cost of the adaptations directly to them.You can contact your local Motability adaptations installerOpens in new window and/or visit a Mobility Centre to discuss the type of adaptation required.

www.mobility-centres.org.ukOpens in new window

What adaptations are available?

If you require adaptations to help make driving, or travelling, easier or more comfortable, you’ll be pleased to know that many of the most popular ones are available at no additional cost when fitted at the start of your lease. There’s lots of useful information about adaptations . The Adaptations in action videos show how adaptations can make a difference to your motoring experience and are divided into three categories – accessing the car, storing wheelchairs or scooters and driving controls. You can also find out more in our brochure ‘Your guide to adaptations’ which is available to download from our Useful downloads page . Your local Motability adaptation installer or the Forum of Mobility Centres are the best places to start your search for an adaptation to meet your needs.

I have adaptations on my car, can I keep it for longer?

If you have medium to heavy adaptations on your car, it may be possible for you to keep the car for an extra 2 years. To discuss this and make a request, please contact our Customer Services team .

Can I transfer an adaptation from my old car?

This may be possible as along as the adaptations are suitable for your new car. Your adaptation installer will be able to advise you of cars that might work with your existing adaptation.In most cases you will need to pay the cost to transfer the adaptation directly to your installer and you must advise RSAM for insurance purposes. However, to make things easier, we now have some larger adaptations which can be reused as part of the programme and have a transfer price listed. Check out our adaptations prices page for more information.

Can I add accessories or make modifications to the car?

You can order factory fitted options or accessories when you order your car, but you will be responsible for the additional costs. If you have any issues or require upgrades to factory fitted options or accessories, please initially contact your managing dealer to discuss this. If you wish to add accessories or make modifications to your car after you have collected it you must contact our Customer Services team for authorisation. Should such modifications be made without our authorisation you risk invalidating your insurance and you will be asked to remove them and return the car to its original specification at your cost.

Can I get financial assistance toward adaptations?

Many adaptations on the Scheme are now available at no additional cost to you, but if you are unable to afford essential adaptations, Motability may be able to help. Financial help can only be given towards the least expensive solution that meets your mobility needs. Contact our Customer Services team for more information. Please note that any application will be means tested, and Motability will not fund 100% of the solution.

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