Motorists are reportedly avoiding driving bans by telling magistrates they rely on vehicles provided by the controversial Motability scheme. The programme allows people claiming disability benefits to exchange their mobility allowance for a leased car, free from VAT and insurance premium tax.
Courts Show Leniency to Scheme Users
An investigation by The Sun has revealed that more than a dozen drivers have avoided disqualification in the past six months after citing their involvement in the Motability scheme. The analysis of court cases shows magistrates accepting arguments of 'exceptional hardship' if a ban would prevent the use of a Motability vehicle.
In one case, Thomas Alcock, 18, was caught driving at 107mph in a 70mph zone. Lincoln Magistrates' Court handed him a fine and five penalty points instead of a ban. Court records noted the magistrates took into account his clean driving record, a disability, and the fact his Seat Ibiza was a Motability car.
Another defendant, Billie-Jo Morris, 28, was caught speeding in a £50,000 Mercedes on the M6 toll road in Staffordshire. After she told the court she was the main driver of her uncle's Motability car, she received a £40 fine and three points, with the court accepting she faced 'exceptional hardship'.
Furthermore, driver Eshrat Katiraie, 56, escaped a six-month ban despite having 12 points on her licence for using a mobile phone while driving. She successfully argued to magistrates that she needed her taxpayer-funded Toyota to attend regular medical appointments in Nottingham.
Government Crackdown and Scheme Concerns
The revelations come after the Government announced a crackdown on the Motability scheme. There has been sustained criticism that claimants with minor conditions have been driving luxury cars, such as BMWs and Mercedes, at the taxpayers' expense.
In November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said it was 'unfair' for benefits claimants to receive such vehicles, labelling it a 'premium motoring experience subsidised by the taxpayer' that many working families could not afford. This led to the removal of luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Audi from the scheme.
Lord Man criticised the preferential treatment shown in court, telling The Sun: 'There should be no preferential treatment to any driver, and that includes Motability. Any abuses undermine it.'
Scale and Cost of the Motability Programme
Figures highlight the significant scale and growing cost of the initiative:
- Nearly ten per cent of people in some UK areas are eligible to lease a vehicle through Motability.
- The scheme now costs the taxpayer almost £3 billion annually, a rise of nearly 10% last year.
- Of the 300,000 vehicles leased each year, only 10% are adapted for wheelchairs, raising concerns the scheme is easily exploitable.
- Motability vehicles accounted for more than one in five new cars sold in Britain last year, propping up the car market.
Eligibility is primarily for those receiving the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). While 85% of claimants make extra payments to upgrade their models, the focus on luxury has sparked a political backlash.
In response to the court reports, Motability Operations stated: 'We have no involvement in legal proceedings. We expect all users to drive in accordance with the law.' The debate continues over the balance between supporting genuine need and preventing abuse of a costly public programme.
