The Motability Scheme has removed hundreds of drivers in recent months due to proven and persistent dangerous driving, according to newly released figures. Data obtained by the Disability News Service reveals that between September 2025 and February 2026, 323 individuals were removed from the scheme as a result of the Drive Smart black box programme.
Impact on Drivers
While most affected disabled people were allowed to continue their lease by registering multiple drivers, 52 customers were unable to keep their vehicles and had to return them. In some cases, the named driver was the one removed due to their driving behaviour.
The figures emerge as the scheme became compulsory last week. As of early 2026, approximately 860,000 people across the UK use the Motability Scheme, which provides vehicles such as cars, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, scooters, or powered wheelchairs, along with associated running costs.
Drive Smart Technology
By February 2026, 17,146 Motability customers were using Drive Smart technology. The Disability News Service described this as a "small but significant proportion" of disabled individuals losing their vehicles.
Under the new rules, all lease agreements with a driver under 30 must have black boxes installed and a monitoring app downloaded on every driver's phone. The telematics devices track driving behaviour, including speed and braking, generating weekly green, amber, or red ratings.
Those who accumulate four red ratings within 12 months may be removed from the scheme. The scheme confirmed that a red week followed by two consecutive red weeks could result in vehicle loss. However, safe driving is rewarded with up to £160 annually in vouchers.
The programme has been rolled out in phases across the UK, initially targeting new customers and those with drivers under 30.
Official Statement
A Motability Operations spokesperson said: "The Motability scheme operates a shared insurance model, meaning all customers receive the same comprehensive cover as part of their lease, regardless of personal circumstances. This ensures the scheme remains accessible, but also means managing costs is essential to keeping it fair and affordable for everyone.
"Drive Smart is one of the ways we are tackling rising insurance costs among higher risk customer groups, including new scheme customers and those with drivers under 30 years old. Only these groups will use Drive Smart and most customers will not need to use the app.
"Between October and February, 323 drivers from across the UK enrolled in Drive Smart were removed from scheme leases for proven and persistent dangerous driving. The majority of leases continued with other named drivers.
"Customers who receive a red week are offered feedback and support, including the option to talk it through with us, and only where repeated unsafe driving is clearly attributed to one driver may that person be removed following consecutive red weeks."
