Who can drive your Motability car

Once you have your Motability car, there are a few stipulations as to how it can be used, and by whom.

There is a decent amount of flexibility for who can drive your Motability car, but it’s important to know how far that flexibility extends.

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Motability Named Drivers

You can add up to three named drivers on your insurance policy as part of your Motability lease, which can include members of your family, friends, or a carer or guardian.

The car insurance for all drivers is handled by Direct Line Motability (DLM).

There are rules and criteria set by DLM that dictate who is able to drive your Motability vehicle on your behalf.

These are in place to protect the scheme and ensure the vehicles are used and operated for the intended reasons.

Named drivers on Motability insurance must…

Have a full UK driving license

All named drivers must have a full UK driving license that permits them to drive a road-bearing passenger vehicle.

Comply with age restrictions for drivers 25 and under

Drivers 25 or under are restricted to driving cars with an ABI Insurance Group of 16 or lower, and have a maximum of 120bhp.
Meanwhile, Motability only permits one driver under the age of 21 to be insured on a policy, which can include the Motability claimant.
As such, these are aspects you should consider when choosing your vehicle.

Not have any driving convictions in the last 5 years

No driver with outstanding driving convictions or disqualifications will be eligible to drive a Motability vehicle.

Can I have temporary drivers for my Motability car?

A temporary driver can be added to your Motability policy free of charge. Their permissions to use your Motability vehicle will last 30 days, during which time they must abide by all the rules and guidelines that apply to drivers on the scheme.

If you already have three named drivers on your policy, you must swap one of these drivers for the temporary driver - this will only last for the 30 days they are using the vehicle and you can swap the driver back once this period has finished.

If the temporary driver is permitted on your insurance at more than one time throughout the year, they must be identified on your Certificate of Motor Insurance as a permanent driver.

Can a named driver use a Motability car for work?

The policy of Motability states that the main claimant must be a beneficiary of the vehicle, but they do not have to always be present in the car when it is in use.

This means that any of the named drivers on the policy are able to use the vehicle for their own personal needs at times, if the circumstances of the use also benefit the beneficiary.

Furthermore, for a named driver to use the car for work in an instance that does not directly benefit the Motability claimant, this would not typically be permitted.

Any abuse of the vehicle or personal use that breaches the guidelines set by Motability may result in the forfeit of driver permissions or in some cases the vehicle altogether.

In instances where none of the drivers insured on the Motability car live at the same address as the person whose vehicle it is, then a tracker may be fitted to ensure they are benfitting from its use.

Changing a driver on your Motability lease

The easiest and quickest way to change and manage your drivers is through the Motability Online Account, with any changes to be made in the 'Insurance' section.

If you're unable to do this online, you can call DLM on: 0300 037 3737