Buying motability car as well as ordering a new one

A question about : Buying motability car as well as ordering a new one

A friend has come to the end of his 3 year motability lease and decided on a new car.

I wouldn't mind buying this car, but I've no idea what happens when the car is given back. Do I approach the garage they bought the car from, or motability, or is it taken to auction and I need to attend that ?

Best answers:

• As I understand it, it's auctioned.
  There is no special treatment given to the original owner, or anyone acting on their behalf.
• rogerblack is correct, as usual, there seems to be a deal kept 'in house' by the Motor Trade - the return dealer will have first dibs before going onto a 'trade only' sales website. If there is no take up, it will then be auctioned.
  Please be aware though that most leasing companies, including Motabilty, agree to the bare minimum of servicing.
  Some Motabilty diesels supplied with long life oil, don't need a service until 18k, meaning that barring any problems any low mileage vehicles will not have seen the dealer for 3 years!
  Sister has a VW and was told by the dealer that they wouldn't see her again, when she picked it up last year.
• If you want to buy the car off Motability, you have to phone them 2 months before the contract ends. They will then send you a quote as to how much the car will cost. Beware that they will want a top price for it, it won't be discounted. If will depend on the milage how much they want for it.
  To pay for the car, you have to pay for it in one lump sum, they don't do car finance.
• Things may have changed, but I bought one of my Motability cars, after the lease had expired, it was a bit cheaper than through a normal sale (not much though), and I bought it through their Motability Finance (although sometimes a bank loan is cheaper).
  Get the claimant to give them a ring to find out what schemes are currently in place.
  There woukd be nothing stoping them buying the car, and then selling it to you.
  Unless something else has also changed, all of my Motability cars were fully serviced, yearly or after 12000 miles, whichever came first.
  Lin
• I'd also be very interested to know about this subject. As it's always been my intension to buy my mobility car at the end of its 3 yr lease . Does anyone have any recent knowledge on the current process?
• Lots of the garages actually put them in their forecourt for a while to see if any members of public want them. May be an idea to contact the dealership and ask what they do with ex cars.