| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule Posted by eightonedee at 18:07, 4th April 2026 |     |
with MOT exemption for years four and five.
That's one thing on which I would disagree with you, Jaymac. A neglected car can become dangerous (tyres and brakes in particular) long before it's five years old. Cars now seem to last longer than they used to, so I think I'd rather see even longer leases (6 or 7 years) to save a triennial renewal payment. But keep the annual test after three years, possibly with a reduced fee for Motability vehicles.
| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule Posted by JayMac at 13:44, 4th April 2026 | |
Motability is a well intentioned scheme but long overdue for reform (with a small "r"!!!)I
What needs reforming?
I'd start with increasing the lease period to five years per vehicle, with MOT exemption for years four and five. Modern vehicles and mobility products are reliable enough not to need replacing every three year. Then increase the underlying benefit amount. The annual benefit uprating hasn't matched the price inflation in the passenger vehicle market, nor the vehicle conversion and mobility products industries. Meaning people eligible for the the Motability scheme are paying considerably more in upfront costs than a decade ago. A typical wheelchair accessible vehicle on the scheme costs the user anything from £5,000 to £30,000 upfront. And that's repeated every three years. You have to lease a new vehicle every three years. Advance payments are not a refundable deposit and do not roll over. Even regular unmodified passenger cars can have advance payments up to £5,000 for ICE and £7,000 for EV. The UK's current best selling car is the Ford Puma. All but the poverty spec model command advance payments of up to £2,000.
If we look at a PIP claimant leasing a Ford Puma with an advance payment of £1000 plus the £80 a week from their PIP then their monthly leasing cost is £430. Even with insurance, servicing, and breakdown recovery included, Motability leasing costs aren't that much cheaper than the Joe Public lease offerings.
One area that really does need reform is the claiming, initial assessment and periodic reassessment processes for some of the underlying qualifying benefits. Processes which are long, complicated, and soul destroying.
As for the small minority abusing the scheme, then yes, take back their vehicles. And I've no issue with younger Motability vehicle users being required to have a 'black box' fitted to monitor driving style. Motability cover the vehicle's insurance premiums so it's perfectly acceptable for them to lessen their risk exposure. What isn't acceptable is penalising ALL motability users (actual and potential) for the actions of a few by making an already hard scheme to qualify for even more restrictive.
| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:56, 4th April 2026 | |
There is more detail in a BBC article:
Motability drivers 'horrified' by compulsory black-box trackers
Motability drivers under the age of 30 say they are "horrified" by rule changes that mean their vehicles will be fitted with compulsory black boxes.
They will monitor driving habits, such as speed and braking, and will provide a weekly rating.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme, which allows eligible disabled people to lease a new car using part of their benefit payments.
Critics say the UK-wide change will affect disabled people's freedom and ability to work, but Motability says it is about "keeping prices down and keeping people safe". It says it has removed 300 drivers since a pilot scheme began in Northern Ireland in September.
...
During last year's Budget, the government removed its tax break on insurance and it must now cover 12% on each insurance premium. It must also now pay VAT on some vehicles meaning the scheme will need to pay out an additional £300m from 1 July.
Nigel Fletcher, chief executive of the Motability Foundation, said that would be the equivalent of a price rise of £1,100 for every driver on the scheme. "A lot of disabled people won't be able to afford that, so we're now having to try and work out how can we make changes to the scheme that protects pricing as much as we possibly can," said Fletcher.
He added that black box was about "keeping prices down and keeping people safe" and its data had also found younger drivers to be the highest risk.
He said, of the 300 drivers removed from the scheme, one had driven 117mph in a 30mph zone.
"This a serious safety issue, not just for that individual, but everyone else in that community. They will get lots of warnings before they get taken off the scheme. And then if they are taken off the scheme, we will need to start looking at what our policies are around allowing them back onto the scheme in the future."
(BBC article continues)
Motability drivers under the age of 30 say they are "horrified" by rule changes that mean their vehicles will be fitted with compulsory black boxes.
They will monitor driving habits, such as speed and braking, and will provide a weekly rating.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme, which allows eligible disabled people to lease a new car using part of their benefit payments.
Critics say the UK-wide change will affect disabled people's freedom and ability to work, but Motability says it is about "keeping prices down and keeping people safe". It says it has removed 300 drivers since a pilot scheme began in Northern Ireland in September.
...
During last year's Budget, the government removed its tax break on insurance and it must now cover 12% on each insurance premium. It must also now pay VAT on some vehicles meaning the scheme will need to pay out an additional £300m from 1 July.
Nigel Fletcher, chief executive of the Motability Foundation, said that would be the equivalent of a price rise of £1,100 for every driver on the scheme. "A lot of disabled people won't be able to afford that, so we're now having to try and work out how can we make changes to the scheme that protects pricing as much as we possibly can," said Fletcher.
He added that black box was about "keeping prices down and keeping people safe" and its data had also found younger drivers to be the highest risk.
He said, of the 300 drivers removed from the scheme, one had driven 117mph in a 30mph zone.
"This a serious safety issue, not just for that individual, but everyone else in that community. They will get lots of warnings before they get taken off the scheme. And then if they are taken off the scheme, we will need to start looking at what our policies are around allowing them back onto the scheme in the future."
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule Posted by ChrisB at 10:36, 4th April 2026 | |
A test in Northern Ireland saw 300 vehicles taken from the disabled - one was recorded doing 117mph in a 30mph zone
I find that hard to believe without further press coverage Practically impossible?
| Re: Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:19, 4th April 2026 | |
From Belfast Live
Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles as compulsory black box rules come in on April 13
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme and the car seized
Motability users have been informed about new mandatory changes taking effect from April 13 for drivers. Newly leased vehicles will be equipped with telematics devices that will track driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, and will generate a weekly performance score.
Receiving more than four red ratings within a 12-month period could result in drivers being removed from the Motability scheme, which enables eligible disabled people to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments. The new requirement will apply to all new first time leases, all customers aged under 30 and any which have a named driver under 30.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme and the car seized
Motability users have been informed about new mandatory changes taking effect from April 13 for drivers. Newly leased vehicles will be equipped with telematics devices that will track driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, and will generate a weekly performance score.
Receiving more than four red ratings within a 12-month period could result in drivers being removed from the Motability scheme, which enables eligible disabled people to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments. The new requirement will apply to all new first time leases, all customers aged under 30 and any which have a named driver under 30.
Motability is a well intentioned scheme but long overdue for reform (with a small "r"!!!)
| Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles at new black box rule Posted by grahame at 05:54, 4th April 2026 | |
From Belfast Live
Motability takes back 300 Northern Ireland vehicles as compulsory black box rules come in on April 13
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme and the car seized
Motability users have been informed about new mandatory changes taking effect from April 13 for drivers. Newly leased vehicles will be equipped with telematics devices that will track driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, and will generate a weekly performance score.
Receiving more than four red ratings within a 12-month period could result in drivers being removed from the Motability scheme, which enables eligible disabled people to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments. The new requirement will apply to all new first time leases, all customers aged under 30 and any which have a named driver under 30.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme and the car seized
Motability users have been informed about new mandatory changes taking effect from April 13 for drivers. Newly leased vehicles will be equipped with telematics devices that will track driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, and will generate a weekly performance score.
Receiving more than four red ratings within a 12-month period could result in drivers being removed from the Motability scheme, which enables eligible disabled people to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments. The new requirement will apply to all new first time leases, all customers aged under 30 and any which have a named driver under 30.
