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When do you pay the Motability Advance Payment, and when will your car arrive?

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UKUpdated 6 October 2026 · Written by BuyMeWhiskey Editorial Team · How we check facts

You pay any Motability Advance Payment in full to your dealer before or on the day you collect the car, minus any dealer deposit you paid at order; it isn't refundable. Weekly payments from your allowance start only once you get the vehicle.

Check the Advance Payment and price on the Motability Scheme car search, then ask your dealer which payment methods they accept before collection day.

Motability: Advance Payments explained

From order to collection: what happens when

You apply. You can start online or at a Motability-accredited dealer, then choose a car and the dealer completes the application. Motability runs eligibility and insurance checks. If it's approved, you'll get a letter confirming your order, which usually takes around two weeks.
Your price is fixed. Motability updates prices every three months, usually on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October. The price is frozen when you apply, so a later rise won't affect you. A change to the vehicle's specification or other exceptional circumstances can change it.
You wait for the car. How long that takes depends on the manufacturer and model. Motability says ordering a different make may get you a car faster. Your dealer should tell you about delays and contact you when it's ready.
You collect it. You pick up a car from the dealer. A Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) is brought to your home. If you already have a Scheme vehicle, you can't collect the new one until your current agreement has ended.

How the Advance Payment works

Some larger or higher-spec vehicles need an Advance Payment on top of your weekly mobility allowance. It covers the difference between the cost of the car and what your allowance pays over the lease. Motability is clear that it's not a deposit and it's non-refundable.

When you pay it: in full to your dealer, before or on the day you get your vehicle.
How you pay it: ask your dealer in advance. Dealers don't accept cheques, and most don't accept cash. A bank transfer has to reach the dealer's account before you can collect.
Cars with no Advance Payment: some cars have none. Some even cost less than your weekly allowance, and you keep the difference to spend as you like. Use the search filters to find them.

Dealer deposits when you order

Some dealers ask for a deposit when you order. It's usually taken off your Advance Payment when you collect the car. Some dealers ask for a deposit even on cars with no Advance Payment, so ask when it will be repaid. If someone rings asking for a deposit, check who they are before giving payment details. If you're unsure, hang up and call the dealer directly, using Motability's Find a dealer tool to confirm their details.

When your allowance starts going to Motability

Lease payments start once you get your vehicle. They're paid straight from your allowance provider, so you don't need to set anything up. Leases generally run for three years from the day you get a car, or five years for a WAV.

Adaptations, extras and modifications

Adaptations at the start: there are around 500 adaptations on the Scheme, and many can be fitted at no extra cost if they go in at the start of the lease. Order them with the car, because not every adaptation fits every vehicle.
Factory options and accessories: you can add these when you order, but you pay for them. You won't get the money back, and you can't buy the car at the end of the lease.
Changes after collection: contact Motability's customer services for approval first. For adaptations during the lease, also check your insurance, then use a Scheme adaptations installer. You pay them directly.
Tow bars: allowed, but you pay. Call customer services before it's fitted, and check your licence lets you tow.

Common mistakes

Assuming the Advance Payment comes back at the end of the lease. It doesn't.
Paying by bank transfer on collection day and finding it hasn't arrived yet.
Adding an accessory after collection without asking Motability first.
Cancelling an order without checking the fee first. Dealers may charge an administration fee.

Advance Payment: when the money is paid

Worked example

Choosing a car on the higher rate of PIP mobility (illustrative car prices). The higher PIP mobility rate is £80 a week. Over a three-year lease of 156 weeks, the allowance going to the Scheme is £12,480.

Step	Amount
Advance Payment on the chosen car	£1,500
Deposit paid to the dealer at order	£250
Balance due before or on collection day	£1,250
Weekly allowance from collection day	£80 to Motability

The deposit is taken off the Advance Payment, leaving £1,250 to pay by collection day. The £1,500 total isn't refunded at the end of the lease. If, instead, the customer picked a car priced at £70 a week with no Advance Payment, they'd keep £10 a week of their allowance, which is £1,560 over the 156 weeks.

When do I pay the Motability Advance Payment?#

You pay it in full to your dealer, either before or on the day you collect your vehicle. Check in advance which payment methods the dealer accepts. If you pay by bank transfer, the money must reach the dealer's account before you can collect.

Is the Motability Advance Payment refundable?#

No. Motability says the Advance Payment isn't a deposit and is non-refundable. It covers the difference between the cost of the car and what your allowance pays over the lease.

Will the dealer ask me to pay something when I order a Motability car?#

Some dealers ask for one when you order, even on cars with no Advance Payment. It's usually deducted from your Advance Payment when you get the car. If there's no Advance Payment, ask the dealer when the deposit will be repaid.

When do Motability lease payments start?#

Your payments start once you get your Scheme vehicle, not when you order. They're taken straight from your allowance provider. If you're replacing a Scheme car, you can't collect the new one until your current agreement ends.

How long does it take to get a Motability car?#

It depends on the manufacturer and model you order, and supply can be tight. Choosing a different manufacturer may get you a car sooner. Order confirmation usually takes around two weeks, and the dealer will contact you when the car is ready.

Can I modify a Motability car or add extras?#

You can add factory-fitted options or accessories when you order, but you pay for them and don't get the money back. For changes after collection, get Motability's approval first. Many adaptations are free if fitted at the start of the lease.

Can I add adaptations or a tow bar during my Motability lease?#

Yes, but contact Motability's customer services first. For adaptations, also check with the insurer, then use a Scheme adaptations installer and pay them directly. A tow bar is allowed at your own cost once you've told customer services.

Will my Motability price change if prices go up after I order?#

No. The price is frozen when you apply, even if the quarterly price list changes before you collect the car. It can only change in exceptional cases, such as a change to the vehicle's specification.

Keep reading

Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 6 October 2026. If a rule changes, we update the page and its date.

General information, not personal financial advice. Rules depend on your circumstances; check the official source or speak to a regulated adviser before acting.