Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants are urging the Labour Party government to abandon planned changes to the Motability Scheme.
A growing petition has called on the government to reduce the Motability Drive Smart age limit from 30 to 25. Under a Motability shake-up set for July 1, users—most of whom are PIP and DLA claimants—will face significant changes.
Under the new rules, Motability users will pay Insurance Premium Tax for the first time and be subject to mandatory black box monitoring.
Petition Demands Fairness
The petition, backed by over 1,500 people, states: "Reduce the Motability Drive Smart age limit from 30 to 25." This change would affect DLA and PIP claimants born after 1996.
It adds: "I want the government to reduce the Motability Drive Smart age to 25 and under because Motability already allows access to certain cars at 25. It's inconsistent to set 30 for Drive Smart. Aligning policies ensures fairness and equal access for all drivers."
The petition argues: "The government should reduce the Motability Drive Smart age to 25 and under because accident risk drops sharply after 25. It's unfair to monitor safer, more experienced drivers up to 30. This change would respect independence, save money, and align with insurance standards. It ensures black box monitoring targets those who truly need it, making the system fairer, smarter, and more efficient for everyone."
10,000 signatures are required for a government response, and at 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Motability's Response
Motability explains: "Drive Smart is a small device that fits discreetly in your car. It looks at how the car is driven, like speed, accelerating and braking. This helps us understand how you use your vehicle and support safer driving." The organization adds: "Insurance is one of the biggest costs on the Scheme. By encouraging safer driving, Drive Smart can help keep insurance costs down for all customers and make the road safer for everyone."
