Motability scheme changes from July 1
People receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) face a £400 increase in their Motability costs following a rule change that took effect on July 1. The Motability scheme, operated by Motability Operations, has introduced significant alterations to leases for disabled drivers, including those on the two largest DWP disability benefits.
Mileage allowances halved
Under the new rules, the standard mileage allowance has been halved from 20,000 miles per year to 10,000 miles. For Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), the total allowance over a five-year lease has dropped from 100,000 miles to 50,000 miles. Any mileage driven beyond these limits will be charged at 25p per mile, or 21p per mile for WAV users. Existing leases remain unaffected by the changes.
Average advance payment rise
As a result, the average advance payment for a three-year lease is expected to increase by approximately £400. The Chief Executive Officer of The British Polio Fellowship commented: “Motability was originally designed to support disabled people in maintaining independence and everyday mobility. Many users, including polio survivors, rely on the scheme because public transport is often not accessible. For them, the ability to make routine journeys is essential, and they’re worried these changes could limit that freedom.”
User reactions
One user responded to the shake-up, saying: “To be honest if someone doesn't need an adapted vehicle then I don't see an issue with the increase, maybe it will lead to people picking a cheaper vehicle to run overall. My wife is disabled but doesn't require an adapted vehicle. We just downsized to a little Suzuki Swift that we bought on the used market when she was first diagnosed and it's the same car we now own 7 years later, it cost £3.8k with only 30k miles on it. Due to being an Auto it's probably still worth around £2.5k today. That's a massive saving over that time frame which has enabled us to spend more on private healthcare and buy things we wouldn't otherwise be able to afford to make her life a lot more comfortable and bearable.”
Impact on claimants
The changes are expected to affect thousands of disabled people who rely on the Motability scheme for their mobility needs. With the reduction in mileage allowances and increased costs for additional miles, many claimants may need to reconsider their vehicle choices or limit their travel. The DWP has not commented on the changes, but Motability Operations has stated that the adjustments are necessary to ensure the scheme's sustainability.
