Always Test Drive Your New Motability Hire

Whether you are hiring your first ever mobility car or you are well versed in the world of accessible vehicle hire, it’s always important to ensure that you test drive your new Motability vehicle. There are a number of reasons why this should be done and we’re going to discuss them in this blog.

Firstly, the obvious reason as to why you should always test drive mobility vehicles before you choose them is to find out if the car is comfortable for you to drive. This may not be so clear if you were to drive the vehicle for a couple of minutes. However, any good Motability dealer will give you the time that you need to work out if a vehicle is for you and your family. A great idea is to test drive routes that you would normally travel on a daily or weekly basis. As this is where your vehicle is going to be mostly used, it’s useful to get a feel for how the vehicle will be on these roads. When it comes to Motability WAV vehicles, this test drive should be experienced by not only the nominated driver but, if applicable, the wheelchair user who will be the passenger. It’s important that both the nominated driver and the regular passenger are able to discuss the car’s positives (and drawbacks). As these are the people who will always be present when the car is being used, both need to find the driving experience to their satisfaction.

This test drive is also a useful experience in order to understand what is missing. For example, you may want some additions or extras to be built-in to support the driver and/or passengers. So make sure to take notes after the drive for anything that the vehicle was lacking. You could even take things that would be a part of your everyday journey too. For example, support equipment that may be required for the driver or passenger(s). This allows you to see if the vehicle has the space to deal with your needs. A big part of why WAVs are important is that they offer ease-of-access for wheelchair users. So make sure to check how easy it is to load and unload a passenger using a wheelchair. Don’t be afraid to test drive multiple wheelchair accessible vehicles either. This will allow you to determine which option is best for your situation. Lastly, a great way to also test vehicles is to attend Motability’s ‘One Big Day’ and ‘The Big Event’. The former is the annual flagship event, while the latter consists of a number of regional events throughout the year. Both will allow you to test drive adapted (and non-adapted) vehicles. So these are just some of the things to consider before selecting your accessible vehicle hire of choice.

When it comes to accessible vehicles, there is no need to feel that you must take the first option in front of you. Since your accessible vehicle hire lease from Motability will last a few years, it’s important that you feel comfortable with your new vehicle. A test drive will help you do just that.