Motability to force black box trackers on all drivers under 30
The Motability Scheme, which provides cars for disabled drivers, has faced new changes after Government tax hikes
Motability drivers under the age of 30 will soon have compulsory black box trackers fitted to their vehicles.
Through a new ‘Drive Smart’ app, customers of the Motability scheme will have their driving monitored with a weekly rating of green, amber or red. Motability says that safe drivers (ones that stay in the green) could earn up to £160 a year in rewards to spend - however drivers with four red ratings over a 12-month period could be removed from the Motability scheme.
Aspects of driving analysed to complete the rating include speed, braking, overall smoothness, usage (how often and far the car is driven), location and even phone use - such as a smartphone paired with the car.
Motability is a lifeline for many disabled people across the UK, providing accessible transportation in exchange for their PIP (Personal Independence Payment). The new rule will be enforced on new car leases from 13 April and comes ahead of changes to the Motability Scheme from 1 July. These will include higher tax and insurance rates that will increase costs for customers.
‘Black box’ car insurance where driver behaviour is monitored typically lowers insurance premiums and has been a popular choice for young drivers who face higher insurance costs due to their greater risk profile.
The move to fitting black boxes to Motability cars should help offset last year’s Budget - which saw the government remove its tax break on Motability insurance. The scheme now has to cover 12 per cent of each insurance premium, the total cost of which will be around £300m for Motability from 1 July.
The Budget also forced Motability to remove ‘luxury vehicles’ from brands like Alfa Romeo, BMW and Mercedes from its listings. Chancellor Rachel Reeves subsequently told the House of Commons, “the Motability scheme was set up to protect the most vulnerable, not to subsidise the lease on a Mercedes-Benz.”
Motability says its Drive Smart programme will help encourage ‘safer and more mindful driving’. When the main driver or someone sharing the car is under 30, all drivers of that car will be required to drive with a black box fitted and have the app installed to monitor it. Motability also says that the Drive Smart app isn’t compatible with all smartphones. Phones like Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei, Honor, and others that don’t fully support Google Play services won’t be compatible.
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