Disabled drivers take the wheel with the Motability Scheme

More than 8,000 disabled motorists, carers and their friends and families attended The Big Event at the NEC Birmingham on 6-7 July 2018. The flagship two-day event hosts the UK’s largest display of vehicles available for disabled people and offers visitors the chance to discover all they need to know about worry-free motoring with the Motability Scheme.

 

 

Visitors explored a showcase of over 100 vehicles from leading manufacturers including Ford, Vauxhall and Hyundai, plus, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) and a range of vehicle adaptations and scooters.

The Big Event event provided a unique opportunity to test drive a variety of cars and adaptations, with more than 660 visitors taking to the wheel with a professional driving instructor. Test drives gave guests the chance to experience which vehicles might best suit their individual mobility needs. Visitors had the option to test drive the cars themselves, or experience the car as a passenger.

A first for The Big Event this year saw the opportunity for visitors to experience what it’s like to travel in a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV). Over 40 visitors took to the road with a professional driving instructor for a taster of what it’s like to travel in a WAV while remaining in their wheelchair.

Alison Beasley, The Big Event organiser, Motability Operations Ltd, said:

“This was a year of firsts for The Big Event, not only was the NEC a new venue for us, we also debuted passenger WAV taster experiences. Also brand new for our 2018 event, was a series of expert speaker sessions. The popular sessions – which covered subjects such as an introduction to WAVs and how adaptations can improve the driving experience – were also streamed live on our Facebook Page for those unable to visit The Big Event.

“We’re thrilled that our first event in Birmingham was such a success. It’s great to see so many people making the most of their chance to find out all there is to know about worry-free motoring with the Motability Scheme and finding the perfect mobility solution for their requirements.”

Visitors to The Big Event were also able to talk to Motability Scheme advisors and gather useful information from Scheme partners – Kwik Fit, RAC and RSA Motability – as well as advice from Driving Mobility and Disabled Motoring UK. The free children’s entertainment saw lots of families making the most of the day and enjoying the bouncy castle, getting their faces painted and taking selfies with the Motability Scheme mascot, Billy the Bear.

Find out more about The Big Event and One Big Day events, by visiting motability.co.uk/onebigday. For the latest announcements, pictures and videos, visit the ‘Motability’ Facebook page at facebook.com/motability.

For more information on leasing a car, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme, visit motability.co.uk or call 0800 953 7000.

About the Motability Scheme:

The Motability Scheme is the UK’s leading car scheme for disabled people. It provides affordable, convenient, worry-free motoring to over 600,000 disabled customers and their families. Scooters and powered wheelchairs can also be leased through the Motability Scheme.

The Scheme is available to anyone who receives the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment or the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment. Customers transfer their mobility allowance to Motability Operations Ltd to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair.

When leasing a Motability Scheme car, insurance for two named drivers, servicing and maintenance, full RAC breakdown assistance, tyre and windscreen replacement and 60,000 mileage allowance over three years are all included in the cost of the lease. A range of popular car adaptations are also available at no additional cost.

When leasing a scooter or powered wheelchair, insurance, breakdown assistance, servicing, maintenance and repairs and tyre and battery replacement are all included in the cost of the lease. Pricing is standard nationwide.

A wide range of ‘green’ vehicles with emissions of 100g of CO2 per km or less are available through the Scheme.