Upcoming Changes to the Motability Scheme:
From 1 July 2026, there will be four main changes that apply to new orders for Motability vehicles.
These are:
- Reducing the annual mileage allowance
- Increasing the excess mileage fee
- Changing tyre replacement limits, and
- Introducing a charge if you take your car abroad
Changes will only apply to new leases, with no changes expected to the mileage allowance of existing leases.
Causing no small amount of controversy, is the requirement for all new Motability users/drivers, and anyone under the age of 30 (this includes carers/PAs and family drivers) to have their vehicles fitted with compulsory black boxes, which will monitor driving habits, including speed and braking and will provide a weekly rating based on these.
More than four red ratings, over 12 months, could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme.
In addition to the black box, Motability has also brought in recommendations that motorists should rest every hour and attempt to limit themselves to six trips daily. Going beyond this will trigger a red score for the motorist, although it won’t impact their lease..
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability (currently leading the Timms review of P.I.P) said, while it was believed that 25 per cent of Motability users would be adversely impacted by the change, “Responsibility for the terms and administration of the Scheme sits with Motability Foundation and its Board of Governors.”
Critics say the UK-wide changes will affect disabled people’s freedom and ability to work, but Motability claims it is about “keeping prices down and people safe.”
I suspect Motability drivers are not the most prevalent offenders in traffic-accident statistics but can you imagine the outcry, if this were applied to ALL drivers, across the UK driving population?
Isn’t the differential treatment of those with ‘protected characteristics ‘(like disability) as defined in the Equality Act, unlawful discrimination? That is still the case isn’t it?