Drivers avoid driving bans by citing Motability car, reports say

A string of motorists have avoided driving disqualifications in recent months by telling magistrates they rely on Motability-leased cars funded by taxpayers, according to reports. The disclosures come as the government tightens its scrutiny of the Motability scheme after criticism that claimants with minor health conditions were driving luxury cars at taxpayers’ expense. An analysis by The Sun of court records found that more than a dozen drivers escaped bans in the past six months after citing their involvement with the scheme.

The Motability scheme lets disability benefit claimants swap their mobility allowance for a lease on a new car, a program also exempt from value-added tax and insurance premium tax. The government says the scheme helps people stay mobile, but critics say the arrangement has been abused, prompting a crackdown that led in November to the removal of luxury brands such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi from the roster. The government has defended measures as necessary to curb misuse while protecting genuine users.

In one case, 18-year-old Thomas Alcock was caught doing 107 mph in a 70 mph zone near Lincoln but escaped a ban after magistrates, noting his Motability car (a Seat Ibiza) and his otherwise clean driving record, imposed a smaller penalty. The court records cited "exceptional circumstances" connected with the disability. In another case, Billie-Jo Morris, 28, who was seen driving a £50,000 Mercedes on the M6 toll road in Staffordshire, told magistrates she was the main driver of her uncle’s Motability car; she was given a £40 fine and three points after the judge accepted she faced "exceptional hardship." A separate defendant, Eshrat Katiraie, 56, who already had 12 points, escaped a six-month ban after admitting to using a mobile phone while driving. She said she needed her taxpayer-funded Toyota to attend medical appointments in Nottingham, and the magistrates chose not to suspend her licence.

Critics, including Lord Man, argued there should be no preferential treatment for Motability users and that abuses undermine the scheme. He told The Sun that ruling out special treatment is essential to maintaining the program’s integrity.

The program’s scale is substantial: about 300,000 vehicles are leased each year, and 85 percent of Motability claimants pay extra to upgrade to better models. Yet only about 10 percent of leased vehicles are wheelchair adapted, raising questions about whether the scheme truly meets mobility needs for the disabled. Observers note the scheme’s reach in the car market as Motability vehicles accounted for more than one in five new car sales last year.

Last year, the cost of the scheme to the taxpayer rose nearly 10 percent to around £3 billion. Motability Operations said in a statement that it has no involvement in legal proceedings and that it expects all users to drive in accordance with the law.

In November, policy-makers and lawmakers debated the role of the scheme, with the chancellor publicly criticizing the subsidized nature of Motability’s premium motoring for claimants. Critics say the subsidies can distort the market and exclude working families, while proponents emphasize the importance of mobility support for people with disabilities. Nearly ten percent of people in parts of the UK are eligible to lease a vehicle through the initiative, according to official estimates, underscoring the program’s reach but also its exposure to scrutiny.

Motability Operations said it remains committed to the program’s core mission—supporting genuine mobility needs—while underscoring it has no role in adjudicating criminal cases. The government has indicated that reforms are possible to ensure support remains targeted to those who need it most, with tighter oversight to prevent abuse while preserving access for legitimate users.