Tell us what is happening

A survey for Motability customers about all the recent and upcoming scheme changes. About 8 to 12 minutes. You can stop and come back any time.

You are not alone

The Motability Scheme is changing in a lot of ways at once. Drive Smart. The mileage cap. The tyre cap. EU breakdown cover. VAT on advance payments. IPT changes. Premium brands pulled. We have heard from disabled customers worried about all of these.

The campaign needs your voice to know how big the harm really is. Real numbers, real experiences, in your words.

Skip any question. Stop at any point. Your answers up to then will still help.

How this works

One question per screen. You can:

Skip any question by tapping the Skip button
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Save and resume later (your answers stay on this device)
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Your answers are confidential. No name needed unless you want to give one. We never publish your details without permission. Read the privacy notice for full detail.

First, are you a Motability customer?

This helps us understand who is being affected.

Yes, I have a current Motability lease No, but I am thinking about it I used to be, but not any more I am a carer, family member, or supporter of someone who is

If you want, share how long you have been a customer or anything else you want us to know.

Where in the UK are you?

The 1 July 2026 changes apply differently depending on where you live. Scotland is exempt from some of them. Northern Ireland was the pilot for Drive Smart.

England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland I would rather not say

What is your situation with Drive Smart?

Drive Smart is the system that uses an app and a windscreen wedge, or a fitted black box, to monitor driving.

I do not have it yet, but I am told I will have to I have it, no problems so far I have it and I have had problems with it I have already had a warning or a red week I or my named driver has been removed from the policy I have been told I do not need it

In your own words. As short or as long as you like.

How often do you use your vehicle?

Drive Smart flags six or more journeys in a day, and journeys over an hour without a break, as higher risk.

Usually under 6 journeys a day, mostly short trips 6 or more on some days (school runs, appointments, errands) 6 or more most days because of how I live or work Often need to drive over an hour without breaking the journey It varies a lot week to week

Tick anything that fits. These are reasons disabled people often need their car more than the thresholds allow.

Regular hospital or medical appointments Regular therapy, treatment, or rehab Caring journeys for someone else School runs and family journeys I cannot do without a car I live somewhere rural where everything is far apart I drive to work and cannot easily use public transport Stopping for a break is harder for me than for most people Other reason

Anything else you want to add

Has Drive Smart caused any of these problems?

All of these are things real customers have reported on app stores, forums, and to the press. Tick all that apply.

Recorded a journey when I was not driving (walking, passenger, or stationary) Marked me down for emergency or safe braking Marked me down for legal hands-free phone use, or a call that just rang Got the speed limit wrong on my road (e.g. showed 80 or 10 when actually 30) Marked me down for driving in the evening or at night Penalised for high usage even though my driving was safe Drained my phone battery Bluetooth or connection issues, or had to use a second phone Counted medical device alarms (insulin pump, CGM, hearing aid) as distracted driving Misread my hand controls or adaptations as jerky or atypical driving Marked me down for using my phone to pay (drive-through, parking) Could not get it set up properly Made my anxiety or stress worse None of these / I do not yet have Drive Smart

You are not alone PLACEHOLDER

You ticked:

A specific example helps most. Dates, app screenshots if you have them, or just what happened.

Do you rely on your phone for medical reasons while driving?

For example: insulin pumps and continuous glucose sensors, hearing aids, communication aids, or apps that monitor a child or family member.

Yes, my phone runs apps that are part of my medical care Yes, my phone runs apps that monitor someone else's medical care Both of the above No I would rather not say

If you would like to share, what kind of medical use, and has Drive Smart caused any conflict with it.

Halfway through. How are you doing?

It is OK to stop here

You have answered the first half. You can save what you have and come back any time. Your answers stay on this device.

You can also stop completely. We will use what you have given so far, and that is genuinely useful.

If you are happy to continue, the second half is about the cost changes (mileage cap, tyres, breakdown, VAT, IPT, premium brands) and your overall experience.

Will the new 10,000-mile annual cap affect you?

From 1 July 2026, new leases have a 10,000-mile annual cap (down from 20,000), with charges of 25p per mile for going over (up from 5p).

No, I drive less than that I am close to 10,000 a year, it could be tight Yes, I drive more than 10,000 a year I am not sure It does not apply to my current lease

Anything you want to add about your mileage and why it is what it is.

Will the new tyre cap affect you?

From 1 July 2026, lease tyres are capped at 6 per 3 years (4 for accidental damage), or 10 per 5 years (6 for accidental). Tyres above the cap are charged to the customer.

No, I rarely need tyres replaced I am worried, I get through tyres faster than the cap allows I already use more tyres than the cap allows (kerb hits with hand controls, WAV ramp wear, rural pothole damage, etc.) I am not sure how this will affect me It does not apply to my current lease

If your disability or vehicle adaptations cause more tyre wear, that is genuinely useful evidence.

EU breakdown cover is changing. Does this matter to you?

EU breakdown cover is being unbundled. The Motability Foundation has indicated a per-trip RAC VE103 administration fee of around £22 will apply.

No, I never travel to the EU by car Occasionally, this is annoying but not a deal-breaker Regularly, this will add up significantly Yes, I travel for essential medical or family reasons - this is a real problem I am not sure how this will affect me

If you travel for medical treatment, family, or accessible holidays, that context matters.

VAT on advance payments. How will this affect you?

From 1 July 2026, advance payments on Motability leases will have 20% VAT added. A £2,000 advance payment becomes £2,400.

Will not affect me - I do not pay an advance Small impact, I will manage Significant impact - this will be hard to find This will prevent me getting the vehicle I need I am not sure how this will affect me

If you have a specific vehicle in mind that you can no longer afford, naming it (or just the type, like "WAV" or "automatic") is useful.

Insurance Premium Tax change. How will this affect you?

From 1 July 2026, IPT is being applied differently to Motability leases, increasing the lease cost. The exact amount depends on the vehicle.

Not aware of any impact on me Small monthly increase, I will manage Significant monthly increase, this is a real problem I am not sure how this will affect me

If you have a specific monthly figure or know what your weekly DLA/PIP allowance can stretch to, that helps.

Premium brands have been removed. Does this affect you?

Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz have been removed from the scheme (except for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles where some models remain).

No, I had not chosen one of these brands Yes, I have lost a brand whose specific features I need (e.g. seat support, transmission, cabin layout) Yes, and I cannot find a suitable replacement in the remaining brands Yes, my adapted vehicle was one of these brands and I now cannot replace it Not applicable to me

Naming the brand and the specific feature (e.g. BMW iX1's high seat for hip transfers) is genuinely useful evidence.

All the changes added together: how much more will it cost you per year?

Your best estimate of the total annual extra cost from all the 1 July 2026 changes combined: VAT on any advance payment, the IPT change, possible mileage charges, possible tyre charges, possible EU breakdown fees.

No change for me Under £200 a year £200 to £500 a year £500 to £1,000 a year Over £1,000 a year So much that I am thinking of leaving the scheme I cannot estimate it yet

Even rough working helps. For example: "Advance VAT roughly £400, IPT roughly £100/year, sometimes go over mileage so add £200." Or just say "I do not know yet."

Have you asked Motability or Direct Line for adjustments?

"Adjustments" means anything to do with how the scheme treats your specific disability or circumstances.

No, I have not asked yet Yes, and they were helpful Yes, and they were not helpful Yes, but they kept passing me between Motability and Direct Line Yes, and I am still waiting for an answer

If you have anything in writing from them (email, letter, app message), that is genuinely useful evidence.

Anything else you want us to know?

Optional. Skip if you have said everything you wanted to say.

Would you like us to be able to follow up with you?

Only fill this in if you are happy for us to contact you. You can leave it blank and your answers will still count.

Your first name Email address

What we do with this: Your contact details are kept separate from your survey answers. We only contact you if you ask us to. We never share your details outside the campaign team. You can ask us to delete your information at any time.

Review your answers

Take a look. You can go back and change anything, or submit now.

Your answers are confidential. The information you share builds the evidence base for the campaign. Your name is never published without your permission. Read our privacy notice for full detail on how we handle your information.

Thank you

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What we heard from you, and what happens next

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What happens with what you told us:

Your answers go into the campaign evidence base.
The aggregate numbers (no names) are used for press, MPs, and regulators.
If you gave us your contact details, we may follow up to ask if you would like to share more.
You can ask us to delete your record at any time.

What you can do next

If you would like to do something about your own situation, our DDV letter tool helps you write a letter to Motability or Direct Line.

If you found this survey hard, the following may help:

Citizens Advice for general advice
Disability Rights UK for advice on disability and the law
Equality Advisory and Support Service for help with discrimination issues

Go to the DDV letter tool